No vegetable matter is permitted to decompose, nor are objectionable substances allowed to remain aboveground.
"The Story of Malta"
Maturin M. Ballou
Geologists had claimed for some time that there must be coal in these north Texas counties, a contention perhaps based upon a comfortable belief in the law of compensation, upon a theory that a region so poor aboveground must of necessity contain values of some sort beneath the surface.
"Flowing Gold"
Rex Beach
The large apartment aboveground, known as the cellier, contains wine in cask already blended, and to bottle which preparations are now being made.
"Facts About Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines"
Henry Vizetelly