106 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



of nature is the survival of all living things, and the most 

 perfect fulfillment of its purpose in creation. And we see 

 an instance of the perfect order and wise adaptation of 

 means to ends in nature, in this excess of silica in the stem 

 of a ripe herb, for it requires stiffness and strength to enable 

 it to hold up the seed until it ripens. Were it not for this 

 silica in ripe hay and the straw of the grains, the stems 

 would not have strength enough to stand upright and 

 would fall and rot on the ground and the seed would 

 perish. 



These variations are not accidental, for they exist every- 

 where, on all soils and in all climates. They must there- 

 fore originate in some natural and universal law. That, 

 they are so, inures to the advantage of the farmer and 

 makes agriculture possible. For otherwise, there would be 

 no certainty that after he had prepared the soil and had 

 sown his seed, he would reap the crop he desired ; or that 

 what his land produced would suit the purpose for which 

 he intended it, either for the subsistence of mankind or for 

 feeding his animals. But being based upon a universal 

 law, the farmer has a safe and constant rule for his guid- 

 ance, and may be able to furnish his crops with precisely 

 what they need, when he has by long use lessened the orig- 

 inal fertility of the soil to the point of impoverishment. 



Moreover by this law the farmer can find a reason w r hy 

 various trees preponderate in the forest and learn from it 

 sufficient of the character of the land under the surface soil 

 to guide him in the choice of a farm. When he sees the land 

 covered with plants of the heath family, the huckleberry; 

 cranberry; &c.: or with a forest of balsam fir; or with 

 birch or beech timber; he 'can as safely judge that the soil 

 is light and sandy, as if it were all exposed to view; and 

 on the other hand where oaks, elms, maples and basswood 

 flourish and grow to a large size, he may be sure that the 

 land is rich in potash, lime, and phosphoric acid; the most 

 important elements of plant food ; and that with judicious 

 cultivation of such soil his labor will be rewarded witk 

 abundant crops. 



