STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 105 



Nos 31 and 32 were taken in Mr. Hammond's orchard, the soil 

 being a dark, clayey loam, somewhat peculiar to that region. A. 

 crop of rye was plowed under about the first of June — as well as 

 the previous year ; the land was plowed once afterward and har- 

 rowed several times. Nos. 33 and 34 were taken in a new meadow, 

 15 rods from where samples were taken in orchard, the soil being 

 similar. The soil in the orchard contained 24.6 per cent, of water, 

 while that in the meadow contained 12.1 per cent., or in other words, 

 that in the orchard contained almost exactly twice as much as that 

 in the meadow. In regard to this, Mr. Hammond writes : ''This 

 work has been a great surprise to me. In the orchard there was no 

 dividing line between the dry and moist earth, but moisture extended 

 to depth dug, while in every other instance the top was moist two or 

 three inches, caused by late rains, and the rest of the way down it 

 was hard and dry.'' 



Nos. 35 and 36 were taken from potato field of J. T. Johnson 

 on the bluff (Loess soil) overlooking the Mississippi. The soil had 

 received no cultivation except digging the potatoes, since June 1st. 

 Nos. 37 and 38 were taken on similar soil from a wheat stubble field 

 100 feet distant. The potato field contained 8.0 per cent, of water, 

 while the wheat stubble contained 9,0 per cent, of water, or one per 

 cent, more water in uncultivated fields. The cultivation was not at 

 the right time or of the proper kind to check evaporation in time of 

 drouth. 



Nos. 39 and 40 were taken in a corn-field six feet from tile drain. 

 Nos. 41 and 42 were taken 100 feet distant. The land was almost 

 flat, the last mentioned samples being taken possibly six inches 

 higher than those near tile drain. The soil was a clay loam very 

 similar throughout. There was a difference of 5.6 per cent, of water 

 ]>etween Nos. 39 and 40. In regard to this, Mr. Hammond writes : 

 " In digging these holes No. 39 seemed to be drier than No. 40, and 

 the weight shows less moisture, but I could see no local reason why 

 it should be so." Of course, this difference between duplicates des- 

 troys, in large measure, the value of the results. The samples, 

 however, near tile drain were found to contain on an average 2.1 

 per cent, more water than those 100 feet from tile drain. 



Id all the comparisons between cultivated and uncultivated soil 

 there existed certain conditions, the effect of which could not be 

 determined. An old stubble has been exposed a greater or less time 

 to the direct rays of the sun. The stubble may be a protection. How 

 much is unknown. The corn field is shaded by the growing corn, 

 but the latter is rapidly evaporating large quantities of water from 

 its leaves. The amount can be only vaguely estimated. The oat 

 stubble evaporates practically none. 



EAETH IN CANS. 



To eliminate these sources of error, I had two cans made, 12 

 inches deep and 6 inches in diameter, with an air-tight receptacle at 



