How Far Will Nature Restore Her Gifts? 45 



different from those around us, we should discover that the 

 surface of the earth was quite different from that of today. 

 We should then see mountains and hills where now we find 

 valleys, and dry land where now lies the blue ocean. 



Nature has been such a long time making the beautiful 

 world in which we live, that we ought to treat it with great 

 consideration. It is also a wise thing for us to be heedful 

 of her requests, for, if we will work with her, the earth with 

 all its treasures will be at our command. 



Shall we not now seek to learn which of the natural re- 

 sources of our land will never be replaced if we squander 

 them? Let us also learh which may be made good again 

 by Nature, if we are willing to wait long enough, as well as 

 to assist her in her slow work. 



Each year the growing plants take certain substances 

 from the soil. It is necessary for us to put back like sub- 

 stances if we would keep up the fertility of the soil. If we 

 are neglectful of this law, or allow water to wash the soil 

 away until only the bare rocks remain, poverty will be our 

 lot for many years. 



Nature will, however, if we give her a chance, renew the 

 soil. The rocks will crumble and, by and by, seeds will 

 sprout and tiny plants obtain a foothold. But it may 

 take a whole lifetime, or hundreds of years, even, for a new 

 and fertile soil to come again. 



During the early years of placer mining in California 

 thousands of acres of rich lands in the foothills were de- 

 stroyed. Only boulders were left. Now fifty years have 

 passed and a new soil is being formed, but it will be a long 

 time yet before it will be as good as it was in the first place. 



■jjpon the Western prairies only grain has been raised for 



