My dear F.

I have just been reading a notice (& must refer to several original German papers) on very ancient furrowed fields in Germany & Scandinavia & Scotland—believed to be prehistoric.² They are on mountain sides & apparently at a considerable elevation.— Did you not tell me of some such old furrowed land in N. Wales. I wish you w^d. enquire & have a look at any such place. It is a bad time of year, & too soon for many castings. Could you take a light spade & see if you can find worms? If such places are not distant w^d. M^rs Atkins³ look in Autumn at them & see if there are castings on the old furrowed land? If there are many, it is a most serious difficulty in the way of my belief of the smoothing power of worms.— I see in my notes I c^d. see no castings where there is much Heath growing: Is this true? I have been miserably compelled to take up my worm-notes.

C. D.—

Are there more castings at the bottom of the furrows than on the summits or convex part?

Thanks for today’s pleasant acct⁴ | ED