FORMATION OF DEW. 51 



falls and settles in fine globules upon the vegetation, the 

 soil, and upon all other objects which have been sufficiently 

 cooled. This process goes on mostly at night, but constantly 

 at other times when the temperature falls, and especially in 

 the soil, in which with the constant circulation of air (prev- 

 iously described) there is always the accompanying mois- 

 ture ; which is condensed and deposited in the interstices 

 and so supplies the demands of the plants. The more com- 

 pletely the soil is made fine and pulverized the larger is the 

 deposit of atmospheric moisture. 



This behavior of water under the beautiful and compre- 

 hensive laws to which it is subject, affords an instance of the 

 provident as well as bountiful operations of nature. Every 

 one of these operations tend towards the good of mankind. 

 It is the cultivator of the soil who reaps the benefits of these 

 universal and beneficent laws. Yet the rewards are not 

 given to all alike. We are told that the rains descend, the 

 dews are distilled and the sun shines upon the just and the 

 unjust ; upon the industrious as well as the idle and neglect- 

 ful. An impartial and kind Providence offers these bene- 

 fits with an open and generous hand ; overflowing with good 

 to mankind. But Providence does nothing more. The 

 farmer who avails himself of these invaluable gifts and does 

 his part by studying the nature of them and their adaptation 

 for his purposes ; and thus adapts them with skill and in- 

 dustry to the preparation cf the soil and the culture of his 

 crops, gains the highest rewards. The prizes are his ; but 

 the blanks in the distribution are for those who neglect 

 these grand provisions and refuse to avail themselves of them. 

 It is "the hand of the diligent which maketh rich:" the 

 neglectful careless tiller of the soil has no promise of wealth 

 from the free gifts of nature ; these are for the farmer who 

 uses every possible means to secure these gifts by the prac- 

 tice of an intelligent and effective culture of crops. 



