328 NATURE REPRODUCTIVE AND PROGRESSIVE. 



from them, which, by continued attention, becomes perma 

 nent. 



When pasturage is superseded by grains and roots, their 

 increased returns above pasturage is the reward of cultiva 

 tion ; and drainage, manures, and labours greatly increase 

 the returns. In such a system of farming man acts a pro 

 minent part with nature, and skilful industry is required to 

 continue the increase. Without skill and industry the returns 

 from cultivation yearly diminish, and ultimately fall short of 

 those from pasturage or undisturbed nature. In this case it 

 is not nature but man which fails to do his part, and the de 

 crease may be considered a just retribution. 



A reflecting mind will discover much evidence of nature s 

 economy throughout the universe and the farm supplies fami 

 liar illustrations. Cows and sheep by consuming grass, yield 

 butcher meat, milk, butter, cheese, and leather. These va 

 ried fabrics emanate from the same source, and when reduced 

 to their elements, may again enter into the composition of 

 grass. The straw of grain crops and other vegetable matter, 

 after being eaten by or trampled under the feet of animals, 

 decomposes and enters into wheat, barley, and turnip, or any 

 other plant. In this manner the vegetable and animal king 

 doms assist each other, and so perfect is the economy of na 

 ture, that none of her materials are lost in the intercourse. 



By judicious management the fertility of a farm may be 

 maintained, or its productions reproduced year after year ; 

 the produce usually disposed of being the reward of cultiva 

 tion. If such produce was to be consumed on the farm, its 

 fertility would be augmented, and the reproductive and pro 

 gressive increase of nature, when assisted by man, exempli 

 fied. But the progression in fertility is checked by excessive 

 luxuriance, which diminishes the returns. Thus lavish and 

 niggardly cultivation are both punished, and illustrative of 

 the maxim, to use the things of this life without abusing 

 them. 



Man seems to have been endowed with rational powers for 

 supplying himself with the means of subsistence, which 

 he accomplishes chiefly through the vegetable and animal 

 kingdoms. Vegetables directly minister to his wants in va- 



