766 Rural School Leaflet. 



Method. Number the cans i and 2. Put prepared soil in both cans. 

 In number i leave the soil as loose as possible, and cover the seeds planted 

 in it with loose soil. In number 2 tap the can lightly as you are filling 

 it, then plant the seeds at the same depth as in number i, but lightly 

 firm the soil over the seeds in number 2. Observe which seeds germinate 

 first. 



Second Lesson. 



Purpose. To determine the effect of firming soil upon the movement 

 of soil water. 



Material. Two tin cans, pie-tin, soil, and water. 



Method. Make holes in the bottoms of the tin cans. Number and 

 fill with soil as in experiment one, taking care, however, to get equal 

 amounts of soil in both cans. Firm the surface soil in number 2 so that 

 it is smooth and level ; sprinkle dry soil or dust over the surface of both 

 soils. Set the cans of soil in the pie-tin. Fill the tin with water to the 

 depth of a quarter of an inch. Observe in which can the water from 

 below first dampens the surface soil. 



Discussion. In both of these experiments you have been observing a 

 phenomenon called capillarity. Capillarity in this case is the passage 

 of water through the minute spaces between soil particles. When the 

 particles of soil are far apart, and there are many large air spaces, the 

 water cannot pass readily by means of capillarity. 



In the first experiment the seeds in firmed soil were so closely sur- 

 rounded bv moist soil that capillarity was set up between the seeds and 

 the soil. Thus favorable moisture conditions were established for seed 

 germination. In the second experiment the water from the pie-tin 

 (that represents the water in the subsoil) rose most rapidly in the soil 

 having the soil particles close to each other. 



Soil may be so fine and so closely packed that capillarity acts slowly. 

 This is the case with clay soils. In sandy soils capillarity acts quickly. 

 This, however, is starting you on another problem which will be given 

 later. 



Experiment III 



How to Grow Good Musk Melons 



By Ada E. Georgia 



The family to which the musk melon belongs does not like to be dis- 

 turbed in its growth, and seldom thrives again after the check of trans- 

 planting. It is such a lover of warmth that outdoor planting must be 

 late, thus making a short season for growth and ripening. But the 



