Why were there no earthworms in Canada?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

March 27, 2002

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In 1881, Charles Darwin published The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms. He showed that earthworms in one acre of land could change the detritus of plants into 18 tons of castings--recycling the nutrients and enriching the soil. Worm tunnels allow water and oxygen to enter soil.
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In 1881, Charles Darwin published The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms.
Charles Darwin, after Charting the "Descent of Man" He Goes Even Lower and Studies Worms Giclee Print
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The earthworms (Class: Oligochaeta) are considered the 'gardener's friends'.

Earthworms are not universally liked. Their burrows and castings keep lawns and golf courses from having a carpet-like appearance. Earthworms may attract moles which find them tasty. Old garden manuals often recommended killing earthworms to prevent moles. After several decades of study, no scientific proof exists that the intentional dumping of tons of pesticides had any impact on mole damage to lawns.

Although, generally beneficial to gardeners and farmers, the earthworm is under closer scrutiny by ecologists.

In North America the last Pleistocene glacier, the Wisconsin, melted about 10,000 years ago. Ninety or so native species of earthworms remaining in the southern parts of the continent never recovered the range lost under the ice.

The forests and grasslands of the northern states and Canada evolved without the presence of these soil tillers. The thatch of the grasslands and the duff (humus) of the forest floor were recycled slowly through the action of bacteria and fungi.

Multitudes of Large-Flowered Trillium Flowers Bloom Beside a Trail George F. Mobley Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

Old World earthworms arrived in the soil of plants and on the hooves of animals settlers brought to this continent. The exotic (non-native) earthworms had no competition in the northern soils; their spread was aided by the cultivation of the land.

Voracious eaters, the exotic species reduce the thatch and duff in natural systems. Spring ephemerals (short-lived plants) like yellow violets, Solomon's seal, and trilliums depended upon the layers of humus. Ecologists have noted the disappearance of ephemerals in areas the exotic earthworms now inhabit.

The U.S. Geological Survey has species maps and photographs of the earthworm species found in North Dakota.

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/inverts/wormsnd/index.htm

The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online has a copy of Charles Darwin's treatise The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms. To read Charles Darwin's treatise, click on the link:

Click here to read Charles Darwin's treatise

About VEGETABLE MOULD AND EARTH-WORMS. DARWIN, LONDON: JOHN MURRAY. To learn more about the treatise's publishing, click on the link:

Click here to learn more about the treatise's publishing

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Specially selected, ready-to-hatch earthworms boost garden fertility

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Greatest Living Natural Soil Boosters
Gardeners covet earthworms' presence in their plots because:

their castings boost nitrogen in the soil.
they move deep-soil nutrients closer to plant roots.
their tunnels loosen soil, improving aeration.
their activities help soil particles bond, balancing moisture retention and drainage.

Earthworms perform this same magic in compost, speeding the development of nutrient-dense, moisture-dispersing humus. In sufficient numbers, earthworms will rejuvenate depleted soil. They will shift soil pH closer to neutral and even control harmful nematodes. With their aid, sandy soil will drain more slowly, clay-type earth will drain more quickly, and the availability of nutrients will improve.

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Until now, it was tough to be certain you had enough of these beneficial organisms in your garden. With Encapsulated Earthworm Cocoons, you can plants worms in every square foot, wherever you need them.

These aren't the redworms that speed processes in your compost bin. Our Encapsulated Earthworm Cocoons hatch species such as Lumbricus rubellus (litter worm or red wriggler) that can live in soil -- and transform it. Once planted, they will begin hatching and will continue to hatch over the course of weeks and months, sending out hungry worms to enrich your garden soil.

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We ship Encapsulated Earthworm Cocoons at the proper time for your area, or on the date you specify. The cocoons (eggs) have a shelf life of 2-4 months when refrigerated, so you can buy them to hatch now or later. Hatch outdoors or in. Keep the encapsulated cocoons refrigerated until you are ready to hatch or plant them -- however, the sooner you start the hatching process, the greater the hatching rate. Hatching times will vary.

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Included in this garden are three different varieties of hosta, which are delightful in combination with the arching fronds of hardy Ostrich Plume Fern. And for color, there are shade-loving plants which will be in bloom from spring well into late summer. All are easy to plant, and like a true naturalized garden, require only a minimum of care to provide years of charm and beauty. These coordinated plants can be arranged as a border, bed or to bring beauty to a north-facing corner or foundation - a place where you thought nothing except weeds would ever grow!

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3 Ostrich Plume Ferns
1 Pink Bleeding Heart
15 Perennial Lily Bargain Bag
7 Daylily Bargain Bag
3 Mixed Monarda
1 Blue Hosta
1 Green and White Hosta
1 Royal Standard Hosta
1 Pink Dwarf Bleeding Heart
3 Chantreyland Violas
6 Lily-of-the-Valley
3 Forget-Me-Nots
3 Red Coral Bells

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This collection includes:

Ostrich Plume Fern (3), Luxuriant, graceful fronds reach a length of 24-36'' long and are 18'' wide.
Pink Bleeding Heart (1), Long, arching sprays drip with dozens of inflated pink heart-shaped flowers with dainty white tears.
Perennial Lily Bargain Bag (15), Asiatic lily varieties produce rich colored blooms.
Daylily Bargain Bag (7), The mainstay of the summer garden!
Mixed Monarda (3), A delightful mixture of white, pink, purple and red flower heads adorn gardens and borders for weeks.
Blue Hosta (1), Unusually large, blue-green leaves. Lavender blooms. This is a low maintenance ground cover.
Green and White Hosta (1), Two-tone ornamental with lilac flowers grows 15-20'' tall. Is a low maintenance ground cover.
Royal Standard Hosta (1), Shapely, lush foliage. Scented white flowers. Grows 24-30'' tall, 48'' across. Is a low maintenance ground cover.
Pink Dwarf Bleeding Heart (1), Super-hardy, carefree plant is covered with pink pendant flowers spring through early summer, again in fall.
Chantreyland Viola (3), "Everblooming" variety brings reliable rays of sunshine from early spring through summer.
Lily-of-the-Valley (6), Clusters of fragrant white bells on 8-10'' stems appear in mid to late spring amid emerald-green leaves.
Forget-Me-Nots (3), Decorative, low-growing perennial is loaded with hundreds of bright blue flowers.
Red Coral Bells (3), Graceful 15-20'' spikes with crimson flowers above mounds of light foliage .