Show 1 i OUR DEPENDENCE UPON THE SOIL t 1 The growing observance of National Sot Soil Stewardship Steward Steward- ard r f 0 ship We Week J by both bosh individuals and groups not only mans man's feeling of kinship to the soil but al also o society's growing growing grow V ing re recognition rion of its dependence o on sod soil and water ater resources National Soil Sal Stew Stewardship p week will witt be o observed ober er ed May 11 through 18 The event is sponsored by the Nation Nation- National al Association of Soil Conservation Districts and national church organizations The scope of t this is years year's observance p. p ance is expected to exceed the participation of ofa a a year ago ago judging from rom reports of District and church leaders The observance e of mans man's responsibility as steward as-steward of our out God given soil sod and water resources has shown own a steady teady growth It started in scattered localities under various names ames before World orld War II As the idea spread organizations lions ns churches magazines press radio and C civic CC C and professional professIOnal professional groups adopted it They found in it a mutual meeting meeting meet meet- ing mg ground the ground the universal love and respect for life giving Throughout the ages the sun the soil and the rain have held an honored place in mans man's beliefs His dependence depend depend- ence on the soil for or his very life gives mans man's use of this life- life supporting resource a deep spiritual significance It is appropriate appropriate appropriate ap ap- that the clergy and churches join with farmers and soil conservation districts in emphasizing to all of us the imp importance o of each doing a good job of stewardship God provided the productive soil and the rain and the sun to care for our material needs As stewards or husbandmen of the soil we honor God and preserve His earliest creation We also hold in our hands our own welfare welfare welfare wel wel- fare and that of coming generations In this modem modern world we have solved the mystery of the at atom m. m We are probing the mysteries of outer space While we still probe some of the mysteries of soil and of plant growth we have learned how to use soil wisely and keep it productive without waste We have made great strides toward stabilizing conserving and using soil and water resources for the common good But we have much further to go Do we as a nation have the intelligence and stamina to to continue that progress in management of basic resources Will we continue the development of the science science and and artof art 0 of using land according to its capabilities and treating it according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to its needs neds at the same time w we further develop theother theother the theother other important sciences Time will tell But indications are good We find organized society recognizing and acting on its responsibility to encourage and assist farmers ranchers and landowners in caring for public resources From those resources come food clothing and raw materials and water for homes irrigation ird- ird irrigation gation industry and a hundred other uses These are the material materi l' l benefits we enjoy and will wilt continue to to- enjoy if jf we we resO Soil S Soil Cons Conservation are are good st stewards war s of our our basic resources Service I |