The Land of the Poor People 33 



water from running away, so that it sank into the ground. 

 Instead of making floods in the rivers, it fed the springs 

 gradually and steadily through the long, dry summers. 



The people of this land had learned the secrets of the 

 growing plants and how these plants could be made better 

 by cultivation. They had also learned to tame the wild 

 animals and make them useful. The farms were managed 

 with great care so that they never grew poor. The soil 

 never refused to grow their crops. The people had learned 

 during their earlier years of struggle that they must not 

 clear the forests from the hillsides, for, if they did, the 

 soil would begin to wash away. They had learned that 

 they must leave the forests on the mountains in order 

 to save the springs. 



Rain did not always come when it was needed for the 

 crops, and at other times it rained too much. Reservoirs 

 were built to hold the surplus water for use in time of 

 drought. Canals were dug to carry it to the fields. 



The wild animals and birds bothered the crops, and the 

 first thought of the people was to kill them. But it was 

 soon discovered that this was not wise. Those who de- 

 stroyed the wild creatures about their farms began to suffer 

 from rats, mice, rabbits, and a multitude of little insects 

 that all but devoured the crops. 



It did not take these people long to learn that Nature was 

 not to be trifled with. If they took too much from the 

 earth one year, she made them pay for it the next. They 

 not only became wise enough to take care of every good 

 thing that Na:ture had given them, but improved upon 

 many things that she had left unsuited to their use. 



Thus the land was kept beautiful and fertile. The in-. 



