74 



Conservation Reader 



The roots of the tree form a wonderful network underground from which the water 

 cannot tear the soil. 



the streams tell a different story. Before men came the 

 water of these streams was clear throughout the greater 

 part of the year. It was only when the rains were very 

 heavy that the soil washed away, for the vegetation held 

 it well. Now the gullies on the hillsides and along the 

 roads tell us as plainly as though they could speak that our 

 country is losing wealth here. 



The soil is our most valuable possession. The people of 

 many lands are suffering from poverty today because their 

 forefathers did not take care of the soil as they should. In 

 such lands the people who live on the mountain sides are 

 poor, because the best of their soil has been washed away. 

 Those who live in the valleys are often poor because of the 

 sands and gravels which floods have spread over their fer- 

 tile fields. 



While it is raining, let us fill a bottle from some muddy 



