The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their HabitsDarwin, Charles
Science
The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms: With Observations on Their Habits
Darwin, Charles
Earthworms; Humification; Soils
{269} Mr. E. Tylor in his Presidential address (‘Journal of the
Anthropological Institute,’ May 1880, p. 451) remarks: “It appears from
several papers of the Berlin Society as to the German ‘high-fields’ or
‘heathen-fields’ (Hochäcker, and Heidenäcker) that they correspond much
in their situation on hills and wastes with the ‘elf-furrows’ of
Scotland, which popular mythology accounts for by the story of the fields
having been put under a Papal interdict, so that people took to
cultivating the hills. There seems reason to suppose that, like the
tilled plots in the Swedish forest which tradition ascribes to the old
‘hackers,’ the German heathen-fields represent tillage by an ancient and
barbaric population.”
{284} White of Selborne has some good remarks on the service performed
by worms in loosening, &c., the soil. Edit, by L. Jenyns, 1843, p. 281.
{285} ‘Zeitschrift für wissenschaft. Zoolog.’ B. xxviii. 1877, p. 360.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account