52 



Conservation Reader 



H. W. Fairbanks 



These jagged rocks are formed of once molten lava. By and by they will crumble 

 and be covered with a layer of soil. 



Much of New England is hilly and has a poor, rocky soil. 

 The farmers who first settled there toiled hard, working 

 early and late, and yet got few of the comforts of life. 

 Most of the farmers did not know how to improve the soil 

 or even to keep it in as good condition as it was when they 

 first cleared away the forests and began cultivating it; 

 so many left their farms to seek a living elsewhere. There 

 are now many abandoned farms that are growing up to for- 

 ests again. 



In spite of this poor land, the New England states form 

 one of the most wealthy and prosperous parts of our country. 

 There are many great cities containing hundreds of thou- 

 sands of people in this territory. The inhabitants enjoy 

 luxuries of every kind sent from all parts of the world. The 

 farmers of New England certainly do not produce this wealth 

 from their rocky soil. Where, then, does it come from ? 



Industries of almost every sort except farming are carried 

 on in the cities of New England. All these people have to 

 be fed and the farms of this region would hardly support 



