340 ANNUATv REPORT OF THE Ofif. Doc. 



SOIL MOISTURE. 



Bv M. S. McDowell, state VoUeiji: 



Soil moisture, too littlo and in some cases too much of it, is oue 

 of the niost oft recurring and i)erplexing problems which present 

 themselves to the farmer for solution. It is more often than any 

 Other the potent factor which inlluences success or failure in farm 

 operations. In the brief tinu- allotted, it will be our endeavor to 

 enumerate a few of the more salient points which bear directly 

 upon the moisture-content of the soil, and, in addition, to develop 

 a few observations relative to a phase of the moisture question 

 not usually touched upon in considering this subject. W^ are 

 familiar with the discussions on our farms and in the cities and 

 loA^hs of our State concerning a pure and sufficient water supply 

 for use in the home, and it is a matter which in many quarters re- 

 quires continual agitation. Ture water in large quantities is a 

 necessity to the human race. Water is just as important a factor 

 in plant life, and is ca[)able of receiving as careful consideration. 

 Notwithstanding the fact tliat the amount of water required by 

 growing plants has been frequently emphasized, we often fail to 

 realize how large this quantity is under ordinary circumstances. 

 The plant is composed largely of water. From (i~^ to 95 per cent, 

 or from Go to 95 pounds, and in some cases as high as 98 pounds, 

 in every 100 pounds is made uj) of water. A\'hen clover hay or 

 grass is first cut, it contains on an average about 71 pounds of 

 water to every 100 ])ounds of grass; when corn is cut for silage it 

 contains about 79 ])oiuh1s of water to every 100 pounds of corn; 

 ulien a bushel of apples is picked, water represents 80 to 85 per 

 cent, of the weight of those apples. So we might go on enumerating 

 llie various agricultural plants and indicating the amount of water 

 contained in each. These few incidents, however, will suffice to 

 emphasize the large proportion of water delnanded by i)lants as a 

 necessary part of their structure. And yet this large quantity 

 rex)resents but a fractional part of the total amount of moisture 

 consumed in Iheir development. We eat the food which is placed 

 before us without reference to its solid or liquid condition. The 

 infant, on the other hand, must be sui)plied with liquid food. It can 

 not handle solid food. So it is willi I lie |)!ant. The material it 



