Humus is not just soil, it is a community of living things. Organic matter is a breeding ground for many types of microbes, including bacteria and fungi which break down plant material, and for other microorganisms that help plants roots absorb necessary nutrients.
I agree with your analysis, but I disagree that cagers refers to an entire class of persons, all motor vehicle drivers. To me, and maybe I am not using the right definition, a cager is an @sshole motor vehicle driver.
A damper is a device that deadens, restrains, or depresses. Damper may refer to: 1  Dashpot, a type of hydraulic or mechanical damper, 2  Shock absorber (British or technical use: damper), a mechanical device designed to dissipate kinetic energy. 3  In electronics, a kind of diode, intended to absorb energy peaks, normally generated by inductive circuitry.