Charles H. Martin Papers, 1939-1942

The Charles H. Martin Papers consist of three narrative research reports on garden symphylids compiled by Martin while he was a researcher at the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station.  In addition to narrative text, the reports include tables and charts of experimental results as well as photographs of experimental methods and processes.

Garden symphylids, also known as garden centipedes, are soil-dwelling arthropods.  They consume decaying vegetation and can do considerable harm to agricultural crops by consuming seeds, roots, and root hairs in cultivated soil.  Symphylids are described as a "serious agricultural pest" in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, and cause extensive damage in home gardens, nurseries, and greenhouses.  Consequently, there have been active research and extension programs at Oregon State University pertaining to garden symphylids since the 1930s.