The Story-Book of the Fields 



can be seen, holds chalk in solution, invisible 

 as sugar dissolved in water, so that when we 

 drink a glass of water, at the same time we 

 drink a small quantity of stone. Our bodies, 

 to provide for their growth and strength, 

 require a considerable amount of stony matter, 

 which goes to form the solid framework of the 

 bones. These materials, which are absolutely 

 necessary, cannot originate from ourselves 

 but must be derived from our food and drink. 

 Water provides chalk for us and also for 

 plants which all contain a greater or less 

 proportion of this mineral substance. 



Calcareous soils are whitish because they 

 are chiefly composed of chalk. If the pro- 

 portion of chalk is overwhelming they will be 

 barren, but fairly productive when this is 

 combined with clay and specially favourable 

 to the vine, sainfoin, lucerne and clover. 



The characteristic plants of the chalk are 

 the box, the compact and fine-grained wood 

 of which is so highly esteemed by turners, and 

 the dogberry. 



Wood, leaves or plants which are exposed 

 for long to the air and damp undergo a slow 

 combustion or rot. The result of this decom- 

 position is a brown substance called humus. 

 The inside of old hollow willows is converted 



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