MAN THE CUSTODIAN OP THE; SOIL. 29 



been made to describe the finer points and niceties which enter 

 into the production of so-called "sanitary" and "certified" milk 

 as the demand for these latter products is very limited, and can 

 only be catered to by men of wealth or by a few exceptionally 

 located farmers. But "pure milk" is within the reach and 

 should certainly be the goal of every honest, self-respecting 

 producer. 



The farmers of Maine have reason to feel justly proud of the 

 high standing of their butter and cream in Boston market. But 

 while your butter makers and creamery men have by careful 

 and painstaking effort succeeded in capturing these prizes for 

 the excellence of their products they will soon slip from their 

 grasp unless you, the producers of the milk, co-operate with 

 them by furnishing them "raw material" of the purest possible 

 quality. My brief visit to your State has convinced me that a 

 glorious opportunity, unexcelled by any of similar character 

 in Massachusetts or elsewhere, awaits those of your farmers 

 who will put the necessary time and effort into the production 

 of pure milk. 



MAN THE CUSTODIAN OF THE SOIL. 

 By A. S. Elliot, Gait, Ont. 



The soil is the natural inheritance of man and the only source 

 of life. Since life was first called into existence it has been 

 sustained and perpetuated only from the soil, nor is there any 

 other source by which it in time to come can be maintained. 



The soil is the fundamental creative power of the world ; all 

 other forces are called into existence by the ability of the soil 

 to produce food and protection from the elements, which are 

 after all the only prime necessaries of man. For those the prince 

 and the peasant, the millionaire and the beggar are alike depend- 

 ent on the soil. My lady, her table laden with the choicest 

 viands — the product of five continents, her body clothed in silk 

 and fine linen, alike with the humblest dependant on her bounty, 

 clothed in rags and eating his hand-out in the shelter of a hedge, 

 depends upon the soil for all of life's needs. 



The manufacturer takes of the products of the soil, and by 

 the help of skill and labor develops what is required by our com- 



