My dear Darwin

I have delayed writing to thank you for your book on Worms till I had been able to read it, which I have now done with great pleasure and profit, since it has cleared up many obscure points as to the apparent sinking or burying of objects on the surface & the universal covering up of old buildings.¹ I have hitherto looked upon them chiefly from the gardener’s point of view—as a nuisance, but I shall now tolerate their presence in view of their utility & importance.² A friend here to whom I am going to lend your book tells me that an agriculturist who had been in West Australia—near Swan River—told him many years ago of the hopelessness of farming there—illustrating the poverty and dryness of the soil by saying—“there are no worms in the ground”.

I do not see that you refer to the formation of leaf-mould by the mere decay of leaves &c. In favourable places many inches or even feet of this is formed—I presume without the agency of worms. If so would it not take part in the formation of all mould? & also the decay of the roots of grasses & of all annual plants,—or do you suppose that all these are devoured by worms?

In reading the book I have not noticed a single erratum.

I enclose you a copy of two letters to the “Mark Lane Express” written at the request of the Editor, & which will show you the direction in which I am now working and in which I hope to do a little good.³

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace.

Charles Darwin Esq.