Rural School Leaflet. ^2> 



that the soil hold a large amount of water to carry the plant through 

 the dry period. 



We know from our every-day experience that some soils are able to 

 keep plants growing in dry weather better than others. Plants usually 

 wilt most quickly on sandy soils. We may see something of this different 

 water capacity of soils in the samples you collected in the fall. 



Get a lamp chimney for each of the soils you have. Tie a piece of 

 muslin over the lower end of each chimney and fill with soil in a mode- 

 rately compact condition to within one inch of the top. Set in a tumbler 

 and fasten so that it may not tip over. Now measure out a quart of 

 water for each and fill the top of each chimney over the soil with water 

 and keep it filled. The water will sink into the soil and some of it may 

 drip through into the glass below. Keep pouring water on the soil 

 from the measured quart, emptying the tumbler back in the measure if 

 necessary, and keep up this process until the soil has taken up all the 

 water it will hold. If the fine soil takes water slowly the top should 

 be covered if left over night. After the soils have taken up all the 

 water they will hold, measure the remainder of the quart after adding 

 that from the tumbler. Which soil has taken up the most water? Is it the 

 finest or the coarsest one ? Which soil contains the most clay according 

 to your analysis made last month ? Which contains the most sand ? You 

 should find a relation between the presence of clay and the water a soil 

 will hold. Which of these soils should be best able to supply water to 

 plants in a long dr\^ period? Which soil took up water most rapidly? 



Next month we will discuss other important effects of this property. 

 You may gain some further ideas of the water capacity of your soils 

 if the tumblers and a saucer is turned over each chimney of soil so that 

 it may draw in freely without evaporation. You will note that the 

 water passes through some of the soils more quickly than through others. 

 That is, it falls faster through the soil. And the rate at which water 

 percolates through the soil is also quite important, as that soil which 

 causes the water to fall slowest will keep it longest within reach of the 

 plants so that they may make use of it. It also shows the rate at which 

 these soils will drain, all of which bears on plant growth, as we shall see. 

 After the above experiment is completed the soil should be dried, and 

 pulverized for the next experiment. 



LEARNING TO KNOW THE TREES 



HERBERT A. SMITH 



Certainly every country child should be able to name all the native 

 trees of his or her locality. This is not knowing the trees, but it is the 

 first step towards knowing them. 



