Page:Maury's New Elements of Geography, 1907.djvu/25

Rh Besides the animals on land, we must remember those of the sea. Whales and many fish dart about through the waves. Some fish live only in very cold water; others only where it is warm.



A growing corn plant: the dark layer at the top is soil; next below comes gravel, then clay, gravel again, and, finally, hard rock.

The water at the bottom of the deeper parts of the sea is always cold, but its surface waters have zones very much like those of the land.

Minerals—We have learned about many plants and animals that are useful to us. Besides these there are also many very useful things that we dig out of the earth. The coal that we burn in our fires, the kerosene oil that gives us light, the granite and sandstone used in building, the salt that we eat at our meals, the diamond that shines like a sunbeam—all come out of the earth.

The rocks, coal, and other things of which the solid earth is composed are called minerals.

Metals.—Some minerals, such as iron, copper and lead, gold and silver, are called metals. The last two, gold and silver, are called the precious metals. They are made into money.

Soils.—But perhaps the most useful part of the earth is the part that we call soil. You have seen soil in the gardens and fields, and you have noticed its color. If you will look closely at a handful of this soil you will see that it is made of fine grains like those of powdered stone. What is called rich soil often contains also particles of decayed leaves or other vegetable or animal material.

Most people earn their living by doing some kind of work. We call people's work their occupation. Let us see what are the great occupations of the world.

We all eat food made from plants, and from plants we get cotton and linen for clothes.



Now we all know that cabbages and potatoes do not grow of themselves. Just so wheat and corn, the cotton plant, and the flax or linen