VALUE OF BIRDS TO MAN. 25 



if they are to maintain their artificial characters and excel- 

 lences. Left to themselves, the various breeds of domesti- 

 cated Pigeons Avould all disappear, merging into the original 

 Dove from whence they sprang. All artificial varieties of 

 animals, plants, and fruits would, under nature, become, in 

 time, like the wild stock from which they originated. Hence 

 man must wage war continually against organic nature, in 

 order to maintain his artificial standards against her inex- 

 orable laws. 



The beginning of agriculture was the first step toward 

 civilization as well, for the necessity of remaining near his 

 crops to guard them from their enemies compelled the prim- 

 itive farmer to erect a permanent habitation. This took his 

 attention from war and the chase, for much of his time was 

 now occupied in tilling the soil and caring for his crops and 

 animals. 



The slow growth of primitive agriculture in the older 

 civilized countries gave time for a gradual adjustment of the 

 forces of nature to the new conditions established and main- 

 tained by man. The gradual or partial clearing away of the 

 forests occupied centuries. The planting of crops merely 

 kept pace with the natural increase of population, while 

 the destruction of wild animals and their replacement with 

 domesticated species were similarly gradual and progressive. 

 So, although in the older countries agriculture suffered much 

 from the pests to which its operations must always give rise, 

 it remained for the peopling of newer lands to develop the 

 greatest difficulties in the path of the farmer. 



Agriculture produces an increased food supply. The 

 population increases correspondingly, and the overflow seeks 

 new fields. In these new lands, of which America is the 

 most prominent example, the conditions of civilization and 

 agriculture have replaced with marked rapidity those of 

 savagery and primeval nature. 



MAN AT WAR WITH NATURE IN THE NEW WORLD. 



All the greater changes that were effected gradually by 

 man in Europe, where, in the course of centuries, civiliza- 

 tion was slowly evolved from savagery, — all these stupen- 



