NOT A “WATERWORM"

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1235, 19 June 1947, Page 6

NOT A “WATERWORM"

The humlble earthworm is not a lover of water-10/gged conditions in the soil, and adequate drainage of heavy lands tends to encourage its activities. ’These organisms pass large quantities of soil through theirr bodies in the process of absorbing organic food:, and they contribute in no small measure to im-

provement in the structure of the soil and the readiness- with which it is- permeated: by water. Under habitually wet conditions the worm population is- comparatively small; and undesirable species ot plants such as rushes, sedges?, buttercup, pennyroyal, docks and glyeeria tend to (become dominant. These plants thrive better, or are alble to tolerate excess, water in the soil to a greater extent than the more useful plants. By restricting the growth c-f better species, excels water also restricts the effects to be obtained from the application of lime and fertilisers, and consequently renders the use of these less’ profitable. Wet conditions contribute to the p?*evalence of stock ailments- such as- footrot, chills, udd-err trouble and inlYTial parasites.