146 SEVENTH REPORT. 



1. The organic matter, by burning a quantity of eacla soil. The soil may be placed in a can cover 

 and the cover and contents placed over the alcohol flame or on a bed of hot coals or upon a hot stove 

 top. 



2. The coarse, sandy material may be determined by placing a quantity (about one ounce) of soil 

 in an ordinary glass timibler. Fill the tumbler half full of water, add a few drops of ammonia and 

 allow to stand for twenty-four hours stirring from time to time. After twenty-four hours fill the 

 tumbler nearly full of water, stir well and after standing one miiuite, pour off tlie water with every- 

 thing left in suspension, repeating till nothing is left in suspension at the end of one minute. 



3. The finer cla.vey material would be estimated ljy difference. 



By the u.se of the^ 90 cent kitchen scale this work could be done quantitatively with aproximate 

 accuracy, though larger quantities of material should be used. This would require, also, that the 

 material be air dried before and after separation before weighing. 



Soil History. 



It would be possible at this point to give some attention to the manner in which some 

 of the soils have been formed. The alluvial soils and the muck soils are especially suited 

 to give the pupil an opportimity, imder the direction of the teacher, to develop something 

 of their history for himself. The teacher might give a few of the simpler facts concerning 

 the formation of all the soils brought in by the pupils. Visits might lie pr-sfitably made, 

 at times, to soil deposits. 



Physical Characteristics. 



Simple experiments may be performed to illustrate some of the more important qualities 

 of soils such as: 



(a) Water holding power. If funnels of glass are not at hand a quart tin tomato can 

 as described above, will do. With a nail or other tool, punch a small hole in the bottom 

 close to the side. 



1. Weigh the can. 



2. Weigh in one pound of air dry soil, first placing a moistened piece of old fine muslin over the 

 hole punched in the bottom. 



3. Now introduce more than sufficient water to saturate the soil. 



4. Place the can with its contents in a tilted position with the hole down, and allow to drain until 

 water ceases to drip. 



5. Weigh and determine the amount of water retained in the soil. 



It is best to use two to several kinds, or types of soil at the same time. Cans are not expensive to 

 obtain. 



(b) The rate at which soils give up moisture. 



1. Fill two one gallon jars even full with a soil containing about the amount of moisture it would 

 require in the field to plow well. Pack the soil reasonably well. Number the jars. 



2. Weigh jars and contents and record v/eights. 



3. At the end of one week, weigh again, record weights, and estimate losses. 



4. Add water sufficient to bring weight of jar back to original weight. 



5. At the end of another week, weigh again and proceed as in (4). 



It would be well to carry this work through a number of weeks using three or more lots of soil. 



(c) Effects of standing water. 



1. Place in bottom of a glass tumbler a piece of moistened paper large enough that when fitted well 

 down against the bottom it will reach half way up the sides of the tumbler. 



2. Introduce into the tumbler one ounce of air dr.v soil. 



3. Cover with water and allow to stand twenty-four to forth-eight hours. 



4. Without stirring, pour off excess of water and allow tumbler to stand in a warm place till the 

 soil in the bottom becomes thoroughly dry. 



Soils of different kinds should be so treated at the same time for convenience in comparison. 

 Compare effect of this treatment on ditterent soils. 



5. Have pupils observe whether field soils in the neighborhood are made hard by heavy rains, or by 

 water standing on the field, and how such a condition of field soil effects the crop. 



Effect of Cultivation on Moisture Losses. 



1. Fill full four one gallon jars of the deep sort, with any good soil in well moistened 

 condition. Pack well. "Strike off" the surfaces with a straight edge. Number the jars, 

 1, 2, 3 and 4. 



2. With a table fork, thoroughly stir the surface soil of jars 3 and 4 to a depth of an inch, 

 and "strike off ' with straight edge. 



3. Weigh all four jars and record weights. 



4. Place jars either in open room or out of doors, but not where rains may strike them. 



5. At end of one week weigh again and record weights, estimate and compare losses 

 from the jars cultivated with those not cultivated. 



6. Add sufficient water to each jar to bring it bach to its original weight and after a 

 little time stir the surface of the jars 3 and 4 again. 



7. Repeat (4) and (5). 



