SOIL IS A WORKSHOP. 329 



rious ways, and indirectly through domestic animals, which 

 are altogether dependent on them. The farm illustrates the 

 direct supply in the production of wheat, potatoes, and flax, 

 the indirect supply, in butcher meat and wool. In farm eco 

 nomy, vegetables and animals may be viewed as manufactur 

 ing machines, assisting man and each other, and the united 

 results of which are necessary to the formation of certain 

 fabrics, such as milk. From this source man is supplied with 

 many of the luxuries as well as the necessaries of life, The 

 results of the mulberry-tree, silk-worm, and cochineal insect, 

 are united in some of the lustrous clothing of the fair sex. 



The materials entering into organized life may be varied, 

 and partly unknown to man. The most important elements 

 of them, however, are to be found in air and water, and may, 

 therefore, be said to pervade the universe. Should a dif 

 ference of opinion exist regarding them, it is encouraging for 

 the farmer to know that they abound every where within the 

 sphere of his operations. 



The localities for manufacturing sustenance are almost as 

 varied as the machinery or plants. The sea, air, and exterior 

 of every organized body are stations, but the surface of the 

 earth or soil is the chief. The localities may be considered 

 workshops, differing in merit, without generally contributing 

 materials towards the manufactures. Sustenance manufac 

 tured in the sea and on the surface of the earth, equally sus 

 tain human life, and contain the same elements. 



Soil is not often regarded simply as a workshop, although 

 no other view of it accords with the operations of nature and 

 of man. It does not in any case appear to contribute mate 

 rially to the formation of plants, and is only useful to them 

 by affording support to their roots, and holding their suste 

 nance, being a receptacle of air, water, decomposing organized 

 bodies, and mineral substances. Soil may be rendered fertile 

 or unfertile by imparting or withdrawing whatever promotes 

 vegetation. 



In the preparation of human sustenance, then, soil is a 

 workshop ; air, moisture, light, heat, and decomposing orga 

 nized bodies, raw materials ; plants and animals, machinery ; 

 certain minerals and labours, oil for the machinery. In manu- 



