91av

Virgil is an unlikely character to come across these days, but because of his love of the land he finds a place in the heart of William Bryant Logan and in his book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth (Riverhead, New York, $21.95. ISBN 1 57322 004 3). It’s a praise song for dirt, soil, earth, muck, call it what you will. Logan examines how forest litter turns to humus, with a minor excursion into artwork showing the hidden dyes and colours of rotting leaves, and discovers lost wells choked with sticky clay, as he explores the soil. At times, it’s treacly with emotion but persevere for the anecdotes and questions. Why do children always wont to dig right through the Earth to the other side? And what makes them think they’ll come out headfirst?