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PATIENT NATURE 



A HARMONY OF FORCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF MAN 



It were happy if we studied nature more in natural 

 things; and act according to nature, whose rules are 

 few, plain and most reasonable. 



-WILLIAM PENN. 



IN THIS section we are concerned primarily with Nature's 

 basic arrangements unmodified by the practices of Man. 

 Air, sunlight, soil, and water are the four factors absolutely 

 essential for Man's existence. There must be air to breathe. 

 Sunlight is essential to higher forms of plant and animal 

 life. The soil and its elements provide the materials for 

 food, clothing, and shelter. Without water, Man, animals, 

 and plants could not live, and the soil could not produce 

 food, clothing, and shelter. Man could survive without 

 metals, although his civilization would still be that of the 

 stone age; but if air, sunshine, soil, or water were lacking, 

 he could not even exist. If their quantity or quality were 

 seriously impaired, existence would be difficult. 



Broadly speaking, air and sunshine are beyond the influ- 

 ence of Man, but the benefits of land and water can be af- 

 fected by the manner in which he uses them. Civilization is 

 most secure where soils are fertile, water is abundant, and 

 both are properly used. The highest civilization is realized, 

 of course, where metals are added to these, but a metal 

 culture must have a land-water culture as its foundation. 



