PRACTICAL EXPERIMENTS IN THE SCHOOLROOM 



By M. LOUISE VAN NOSTRAND 

 Lafayette School, Passaic 



All work done by pupils, 6th grade. 



First experiment: To show that water rises in soil and to 

 compare soils in their power to absorb and retain moisture. Two 

 glass tumblers were filled; one with rich soil, the other with 

 sand. A piece of muslin was tied over each, each tumbler 

 then weighed one pound. They were inverted in saucers 

 containing water. At the end of three days they each were 

 heavier in weight, proving that the water had risen. For 

 several days the tumblers were left on the window-sill and then 

 by the use of the scales the sand was found to have lost much 

 more water than the rich soil. So after a rain water not only 

 sinks into the soil, but rises again and this is of great value to 

 plants. With house-plants it is well to keep w^ater in the saucers 

 so the water will rise through the roots to the entire plant. As 

 rich soil retains moisture the longest, it is better to plant most 

 of our seeds in that. 



Second experiment: To show T how moisture can be kept in the 

 soil. Two tumblers were filled with the same kind of moist 

 soil and their weight was the same. One tumbler was then left 

 untouched. The soil in the other tumbler every night and 

 morning was loosened for a depth of about three-fourths of an 

 inch. After several days the weight of the tumblers showed 

 that the one whose soil was loosened twice daily retained more 

 moisture. Thus it was proved that to keep a garden well watered 

 hoeing must often take place. In other words, the soil must be 

 cultivated to keep in the water. 



Third experiment: To show 7 air relation of soils. Tw^o 

 tumblers were filled with rich soil and peas were planted in each. 

 One tumbler was kept moderately moist, while the other had the 

 soil covered with water all the time. A fine healthy plant was 

 soon thriving in the soil which was kept moderately moist, 

 while in the tumbler where the soil was saturated the seeds 

 rotted. So water acts like a blanket, keeping out air as well 

 as sunshine, and plants cannot grow without air. 



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