When nature is left alone, a balance is reached among the animals and plants living in one area.
When
nature
is
left
alone
,
a
balance
is
reached
among
the
animals
and
plants
living
in
one
area
.
But when man starts his work in nature, the balance is likely to be destroyed.
But
when
man
starts
his
work
in
nature
,
the
balance
is
likely
to
be
destroyed
.
He grows a crop and takes it away to eat; then there are no dead leaves to fall on the ground, holding water while it sinks into the surface, or decaying and adding humus to the soil.
He
grows
a
crop
and
takes
it
away
to
eat
;
then
there
are
no
dead
leaves
to
fall
on
the
ground
,
holding
water
while
it
sinks
into
the
surface
,
or
decaying
and
adding
humus
to
the
soil
.
Unless a farmer acts with knowledge and skill, he is therefore most likely to make the land poorer.
Unless
a
farmer
acts
with
knowledge
and
skill
,
he
is
therefore
most
likely
to
make
the
land
poorer
.
To take the place of the useful matter in the crops that he removes, he uses some kind of fertilizer.
To
take
the
place
of
the
useful
matter
in
the
crops
that
he
removes
,
he
uses
some
kind
of
fertilizer
.
Chemical fertilizers are of great help, but the waste products of animals and decaying remains of plants should also be put on the land.
Chemical
fertilizers
are
of
great
help
,
but
the
waste
products
of
animals
and
decaying
remains
of
plants
should
also
be
put
on
the
land
.
In some places, it is a habit to burn waste material lying about, but such burning destroys the useful matter in the dead plants.
In
some
places
,
it
is
a
habit
to
burn
waste
material
lying
about
,
but
such
burning
destroys
the
useful
matter
in
the
dead
plants
.
Although the ashes that are left are valuable when put on the land, a better practice is to bury the waste so that it decays and increases the humus in the soil.
Although
the
ashes
that
are
left
are
valuable
when
put
on
the
land
,
a
better
practice
is
to
bury
the
waste
so
that
it
decays
and
increases
the
humus
in
the
soil
.
In the past, when the world population was much lower than it is now, a man had little difficulty in ordinary times in growing the food that was needed.
In
the
past
,
when
the
world
population
was
much
lower
than
it
is
now
,
a
man
had
little
difficulty
in
ordinary
times
in
growing
the
food
that
was
needed
.
When a field had been used some years and had become tired, the farmer could move to another place.
When
a
field
had
been
used
some
years
and
had
become
tired
,
the
farmer
could
move
to
another
place
.
The tired land then slowly recovered.
The
tired
land
then
slowly
recovered
.
Gradually grasses and other plants would appear on it and its productive power would slowly return to normal through their decay.
Gradually
grasses
and
other
plants
would
appear
on
it
and
its
productive
power
would
slowly
return
to
normal
through
their
decay
.
But nature, left alone, would take a long time to bring back the land to its former state; the length of time required would depend on local conditions, but it might well be ten years.
But
nature
,
left
alone
,
would
take
a
long
time
to
bring
back
the
land
to
its
former
state
;
the
length
of
time
required
would
depend
on
local
conditions
,
but
it
might
well
be
ten
years
.
It is a bad practice to grow the same crop in a field year after year.
It
is
a
bad
practice
to
grow
the
same
crop
in
a
field
year
after
year
.
If the crop is changed, the land will suffer less because it is treated and used in a different way.
If
the
crop
is
changed
,
the
land
will
suffer
less
because
it
is
treated
and
used
in
a
different
way
.
Different plants have different effects on the soil.
Different
plants
have
different
effects
on
the
soil
.
Therefore, a change of crop will do less harm than the growing of the same crop year after year and a regular change to grass will do good to the soil.
Therefore
,
a
change
of
crop
will
do
less
harm
than
the
growing
of
the
same
crop
year
after
year
and
a
regular
change
to
grass
will
do
good
to
the
soil
.
Much will therefore be gained if different crops are grown one after another, a method known as the rotation of crops.
Much
will
therefore
be
gained
if
different
crops
are
grown
one
after
another
,
a
method
known
as
the
rotation
of
crops
.
When nature is left alone, a balance is reached among the animals and plants living in one area. But when man starts his work in nature, the balance is likely to be destroyed. He grows a crop and takes it away to eat; then there are no dead leaves to fall on the ground, holding water while it sinks into the surface, or decaying and adding humus to the soil. Unless a farmer acts with knowledge and skill, he is therefore most likely to make the land poorer. To take the place of the useful matter in the crops that he removes, he uses some kind of fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers are of great help, but the waste products of animals and decaying remains of plants should also be put on the land. In some places, it is a habit to burn waste material lying about, but such burning destroys the useful matter in the dead plants. Although the ashes that are left are valuable when put on the land, a better practice is to bury the waste so that it decays and increases the humus in the soil.  In the past, when the world population was much lower than it is now, a man had little difficulty in ordinary times in growing the food that was needed. When a field had been used some years and had become tired, the farmer could move to another place. The tired land then slowly recovered. Gradually grasses and other plants would appear on it and its productive power would slowly return to normal through their decay. But nature, left alone, would take a long time to bring back the land to its former state; the length of time required would depend on local conditions, but it might well be ten years.  It is a bad practice to grow the same crop in a field year after year. If the crop is changed, the land will suffer less because it is treated and used in a different way. Different plants have different effects on the soil. Therefore, a change of crop will do less harm than the growing of the same crop year after year and a regular change to grass will do good to the soil. Much will therefore be gained if different crops are grown one after another, a method known as the rotation of crops.