Sunday, March 15, 2009

Diet of Worms


Today I did my worm survey. Pictured above are some of my finds. The chickens were utterly undiscerning when they dispatched them later, the different varieties are apparently equally tasty.
It was sunny and warm and I planted out some little pea plants (Magnum Bonum from Rebsie and self-saved Uncle Fred). Also sowed Champion of England pea in situ and, in modules in the greenhouse, Cabbage 'Mammoth Red Rock' and two interesting (new for me) brassicas from a Portugese friend, 'Couve Galega' and 'Repolho Bacalan Grande'. She says the stem of Couve Galega can grow many many feet tall and the head of Bacalan Grande will be 50 cm. across. Here's hoping.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

"Lands that are subject to frequent inundations are always poor; and
probably the reason may be because the worms are drowned. The
most insignificant insects and reptiles are of much more
consequence, and have much more influence in the Economy
nature, than the incurious are aware of; and are mighty in their
effect, from their minuteness, which renders them less an object of
attention; and from their numbers and fecundity. Earth-worms,
though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of
nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm." --Natural History of Selborne, Letter XXXV

Hope you're having a nice start to spring! :D -- Sydney

Misshathorn said...

Hi Sydney and thanks for Rev. White's observations. The small & despicable worm has had it's champions. Both George Sheffield Oliver's 1941 'Friend Earthworm' and Darwin's 'Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms' can be read online @ the Agricultural Library.

Bea said...

Man, how do you really tell the worms apart? I tried collecting several sorts from my garden and they all looked in between the "types" of worms I've seen

Thanks for posting this btw