No. 6. DlOl'AKTMENT OF AGIUCULTUHE. 33y 



Thv CHAIKIMAN: We will procecfl at once to tuUt^ up (Ir- pro 

 m-iuu us piil)lislKMl. The lirsi: tliiii;^- is "Soil Moisim-o," by Mr. M. 

 y. McDowell, of Stale College, Pa. 



MR. McJ>O^VELL: In view of the exceedingly dry weather that 

 we have been experiencing in nearly every part of the State, and 

 in view of the damage which has resulted, it would seem pre- 

 posterous for us to say that it would be possible to get along with- 

 out some rain. The majority of us must have some rain, and yet 

 to illustrate what may be done under the most favorable conditions, 

 we meet those here who claim to be getting along with a small 

 amount of it. Mr. Detrich considers summer rains somewhat in 

 the nature of a nuisance, and Professor Watts has been solving 

 the question so that he can get along fairly well with a small amount 

 of rain. Those facts go to illustrate what can be done under the 

 most favorable conditions, and that it is possible by study and 

 mastering the principles which underlie them to solve them to a fair 

 degree at least. 



Mr. McDowell then presented his papei' as follows: 



