lO Introductory 



where nature's husbandmen have not yet been at work, 

 so that he may keep either to himself, and show what 

 he can do when he is not interfered with. Let him 

 try his modern steel plough, driven by steam, too, if 

 he will, upon either of these. 



But there is no soil ! Of course not ; is the soil put 

 ready for nature's labourers ? Do they not have to 

 make it, and out of these, or similar materials ? But 

 one cannot plough the bare rock, even with the help of 

 steel and steam ; and before these can do anything 

 with it, it must be broken up and crumbled by other 

 workers, much more humble and feeble in appearance, 

 most of them absolutely noiseless, some quite invisible, 

 and yet — far more powerful. 



Wonderful things, no doubt, are being done with 

 machinery, and the time may possibly come when we 

 shall be able to grind up the rock without too great 

 expenditure of time and labour ; but even then, 

 powdered rock is not soil^ and will not grow any 

 crop worthy of the name. It must be mixed as 

 well as pounded before it can be converted into 

 fertile soil, such as the farmer will find it worth 

 his while to cultivate. And who is to mix it ? It 

 will not pay him to attempt the work himself 

 on any large scale ; but it has been done, and is 

 constantly being done, on all parts of the great natural 

 farm. 



On the whole, then, the farmer will probably find it 

 best, at least for the present, to accept what has been 

 done for him, and to cultivate the soil which he finds 

 ready made. 



* Ready made ?' but doesn't he still have to plough 



