Show Lowly Earthworm Gets Niche In World as Useful Critter Again with spring at hand people turn to the earthworm as asa asa asa a lure for fish and a fertilizer of gardens Sometimes called caned angleworms dew worms and rain worms the multi multi- wigglers have served mankind since antiquity the National National Na Na- Geographic Society says Cleopatra guarded the rich Nile Valley worms as a state secret Naturalist Charles Darwin doubted doubt doubt- ed cd whether there are as many other animals which have played so Important a part in the history of the world as have these lowly organized creatures Others have called them the worlds world's first plowmen plowmen plowmen plow plow- men chemists irrigation system and fertilizer factories From burrows lacing the soil soli the worms venture to the surface at night to feed on decaying plants and other organic material Sometimes Sometimes Some Some- times they drag the provender underground to eat at leisure The digested product Is a black substance substance sub sub- stance called earthworm castings i a powerful natural fertilizer Some authorities say that fruit and vegetables vegetables vegetables grown In such enriched soil soli have more flavor and often otten greater size The worms' worms burrows help the earth to hold air and moisture Upward of earthworms Inhabit inhabit inhabit In in- habit each acre Darwin estimated Over 15 tons of soil per acre may maybe maybe maybe be brought to the surface each I year by the untiring cultivators Earthworms came into commercial com com- commercial mercial Importance in recent years An Ohio tackle fishing-tackle firm recently ordered lob lob- worms lugworms that burrow in sandy places from England Mil Mil- lions ions of Egyptian worms have been jeen exported to the United States to o fertilize soils A Washington DC D.C. fishing hobbyist decided to raise a few for his personal use I later to find himself In the earthworm earthworm earthworm earth earth- worm business with an of worms An Arlington Virginia resident some years ago treated his barren backyard with earthworm cast cast- ings Today tomato vines climb almost to the eaves of his bunga bunga- low His flowers are the envy of his neighbors A New York City student earned earned earned earn earn- ed his way through college selling worms to anglers A worm farm near Hereford England sold more than han specimens between last June and September to fishermen fishermen fishermen fish fish- ermen seeking trout perch roach and grayling The redder worms are anglers say the more attractive attractive attractive tive they are to the fish To satisfy Increasing demands worms often are packed in tins with preparations that feed and in insulate insulate insulate in- in them from undue heat and cold Tins for individual fishermen fishermen fishermen fisher fisher- men may contain only a hundred specimens Huge commercial shipments shipments shipments ship ship- ments for fishing interests and agriculturists move by truck or train Earthworms live in aU all parts of the world where conditions are favorable They have been found at foot elevations in the tle Andes Mountains In Australia worms sometimes grow 10 feet long ong as compared to the inch 10 whopper of the United States Some peoples including the Maoris Maor Maor- I is of New Zealand use worms for food Twin-tailed Twin African ea earthworms have been raised at the New York Zoological Park as feed for duckbilled duckbilled duck- duck billed platypuses The double double- tailed kind occurs perhaps once among every of the creatures One of the worms outdoing its own kindred showed up with three tails |