But，besideallthis，thereisaquestion，whichoughttobeacuriousonetoyou（forIsuspectyoucannotanswerit）——Whydoesthefarmertakethetroubletosendhiscartandhorseseightmilesandmore，todrawinchalkfromOdihamchalk—pit？
Oh，heisgoingtoputitontheland，ofcourse。Theyarechalkingthebitatthetopofthenextfield，wherethecopsewasgrubbed。
Butwhatgoodwillhedobyputtingchalkonit？Chalkisnotrichandfertile，likemanure，itisaltogetherpoor，barrenstuff：youknowthat，oroughttoknowit。RecollectthechalkcuttingsandbanksontherailwaybetweenBasingstokeandWinchester——howutterlybarrentheyare。Thoughtheyhavebeenopenthesethirtyyears，notabladeofgrass，hardlyabitofmoss，hasgrownonthem，orwillgrow，perhaps，forcenturies。
Come，letusfindoutsomethingaboutthechalkbeforewetalkaboutthecaves。Thechalkishere，andthecavesarenot；and\"Learnfromthethingthatliesnearestyou\"isasgoodaruleas\"Dothedutywhichliesnearestyou。\"Letuscomeintothegrubbedbit，andaskthefarmer——thereheisinhisgig。
Well，oldfriend，andhowareyou？Hereisalittleboywhowantstoknowwhyyouareputtingchalkonyourfield。