THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



our Mr. Fred's reverence for ancestral achieve- 

 ment had dwindled during his wanderings, so 

 he was amenable to reason, and willingly gave 

 everything w r e elected to try a fair chance. 



Our holding, like the majority in the neigh- 

 borhood, was suffering from indiscreet tillage 

 and cropping. Past generations have labored 

 under the impression that if corn, potatoes, or 

 cabbage " done fine " on a certain patch of 

 ground, they had an affinity for that particu- 

 lar spot, and there they were planted year after 

 year. 



In pioneer days the virgin soil contained 

 such a bountiful supply of plant food that it 

 endured many seasons of man's mismanage- 

 ment before showing signs of the ruin which 

 j was being wrought. The decline was so grad- 

 ual at first, that it was only when climatical 

 conditions were adverse, that the soil's inability 

 to nourish crops was noticed with any alarm. 

 Then the farmer did not blame himself or his 

 forefathers, because his want of knowledge 

 prevented his realizing that they were at fault. 



52 



