... hunter-gatherer ancestors had used to dig up edible roots and tubers, the farmers stirred up this virgin soil and planted their seeds. The new crop of grain would have grown magnificently, providing a rich harvest. But, inevitably, with the first forest growth gone, the decline in the soils fertility began again. Meanwhile the land that had been abandoned earlier would slowly grow up to bushes ... and trees. The trees would drop leaves and twigs onto the ground, where through the process of decay, they would deposit nourishing chemicals in the worn-out soil. Other refreshing and essentia...

• Word Count: 3974
• Approx Pages: 16
• Grade Level: Undergraduate