PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 295 



The Northwest Journal of Education for November, 1905, contains 

 an article by Prof. George Severance, of Washington State College, 

 on Teaching Agriculture in the Common Schools, in which a series 

 of nine interesting exercises concerning the amount of water held in 

 field soils under different conditions of culture is given. This is a 

 matter of primary importance in regions of limited rainfall, and we 

 therefore quote three of the exercises: 



Exercise 1. 



Object. — To compare the amount of water held at different depths under stiff sod or 

 hard stubble land and under loose well tilled surface. 



With soil auger and six bottles or tight covered cans, go to the fields and select some 

 place where sod land adjoins a summer fallow or land that has been kept well tilled 

 for the summer and select a spot in each where the slope and exposure are practically 

 the same. Avoid proximity to trees or brush or any disturbing factor. With the auger 

 secure a separate sample of the first, second, and third foot in each place, being careful 

 to transfer the soil to the bottles as quickly as possible, covering the bottles or cans 

 tight to avoid loss of moisture by evaporation. 



At the schoolhouse weigh out a portion of each sample and dry for twenty-four hours 

 over a stove, in an oven, or even over a lamp. When thoroughly dry reweigh. The 

 weight lost in drying divided by the weight of dry soil will be the per cent of moisture 

 held. Keep accurate records of results. In taking the moist soils from the cans and 

 getting the first weight see that it is done quickly to avoid loss of moisture by evapora- 

 tion. 



This same comparison may be made on level land and on sloping land. If the fall 

 rains have not percolated downward 3 feet when the first samples are taken note the 

 depth to which it has percolated in each. What condition shows the deepest perco- 

 lation? Is it an advantage? Which condition shows the most total water for the 3 feet? 

 Which the least? What has become of the rest of the water? 



Exercise 2. 



Object.— To compare fall plowed land with similar land left until spring, following 

 directions as in Exercise 1, the teacher and the pupils should note by observation 

 which conditions seem to permit the most water to run off the surface. In many sec- 

 tions of our State this comparison will show quite markedly the advantage of fall plowing 

 in helping to catch and store the moisture. If both the fall plowed and the spring 

 plowed land are seeded in the spring to the same crop, as often happens, watch the 

 crop carefully for differences. Observations at Pullman have shown marked results 

 in favor of fall plowing. Should the fall plowed land be harrowed smooth or left 

 rough in the fall? If the land is rolling does it matter in which direction the plow- 

 ing is done? Do bad results ever come from fall plowing? 



Exercise 7. 



If opportunity occurs, compare land that is rolled smooth in the spring and left so 

 with adjoining land similarly cropped but not rolled. Contrary to the belief of many, 

 a rolled surface gives the best conditions for loss of moisture. 



A word of caution regarding the experiments and exercises will 

 perhaps be in order at this point. See that the pupils use the utmost 

 care in the manipulation of materials and apparatus, so that results 

 as nearly accurate as possible may be secured. 



