54 IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL. 



blessings, will very much depend upon the honesty, in- 

 telligence, and fidelity with which they acquit themselves 

 in their several duties. Every person should consider 

 that he comes into the v/orld for some purpose of useful- 

 ness ; — that nothing has been made in vain ; — that he ought 

 at least to provide for himself and his own ; and that he 

 fulfils the high duties of life in proportion as he contrib- 

 utes, by his means, his example, and his influence, to 

 improve the condition of society at large. And as his 

 capacities for improving t]ie soil will depend very much 

 upon the developement of the powers of his mind, the 

 culture and improvement of the mind should receive the 

 early and constant care of the husbandman. 



The natural elements and agents of fertility in the soil, 

 are organic matters, which constitute the food of farm- 

 crops, and heat, air, and moisture, which are essential in 

 the preparation of this food, and to its conversion into 

 grain, grass, roots, &c. The first of these is constantly 

 accumulating upon the surface, by the death and decay 

 of animals and vegetables ; the sun gives the second, the 

 atmosphere gives the third, and the clouds the fourth. 

 Without the aid of heat, air, moisture, and manure, labor 

 and art can do little to render the soil productive ; — with 

 them, skill and industry need never exert their powers in 

 vain. It is the province of the husbandman to understand 

 the laws by which these agents are rendered most sub- 

 servient to his use ; and to assist, and in some sort to 

 regulate, their influence upon the soil and upon vegetable 

 growth. This he does by clearing and cultivation, — by 

 rendering the soil permeable to heat and air, and to the 

 roots of plants, — by regulating, as far as practicable, the 

 supply of moisture, and by furnishing to the soil the ele- 

 ments of vegetable food as these become exhausted by 

 cultivation. 



The clearing of land for the purposes of husbandry, is 

 too well understood, when it is required to be practised, 

 to need illustration here. It consists in cutting down, 

 burning, or carrying off the timber, brush, and other mat- 

 ters which obstruct the plough, and in baring and open- 

 ing the soil to the ameliorating influence of the sun and 



