446 



"Tlie chani?c in the water content in 3 days ranged from 1.47 to 4.44 

 pounds per cubic; foot for the first foot of soil a"nd from 0.64 to 2.76 

 l)ounds for the second foot of soil. Other instances are cited to show 

 that these rapid changes in the water content of soil are not exceptional, 

 and they may extend to a dei)th of 3 feet or more. Other observations 

 indicate that " as the ground becomes drier the rate of desiccation 

 diminishes, so as to be even less where crops are growing than on naked 

 ground." 



Rate of capillary movement of water in clay loam (pp. 151, 152). — In 

 1889 a laboratory study was made of the rate of capillary flow of water 

 through a fine quicksand which underlies a large part of the experiment 

 farm, and the method and results are recorded in the Annual Report 

 of the station for 1889. During 1890 a similar study was made ou a clay- 

 loam surface soil, also from the experiment farm. The general results 

 of both series of observations are given in a table. In both instances 

 there was a decrease in the rate of capillary movement as the level of 

 the water below the surface was lowered. 



The icater capacity of undisturhed soils in fields (pp. 152, 153). 



The water-holding power of soils, as determined by laboratory methods and 

 generally quoted in standard works on agriculture, is so widely difl'erent from the 

 conditions which exist in nature, as shown by field studies, that it becomes utterly mis- 

 leading when applied in general practice. The highest percentages of water observed 

 in any soils as taken from the fields at the experiment farm were; black marsh soil, 

 34.71; brick clay, 31.81; clay loam, 33.19; clay loam, 28.88. » • » Laboratory 

 experiments by Tromraer have given for similar soils the following percentages: 

 moor earth, by Zenger, 105; loamy clay, 50; yellow clay, 68; quartz sand with 

 rounded edges, 26. 



The lateral and vertical extent of root feeding (pp. 153-160). — Under 

 this head are recorded the results of observations on the extent to 

 which different plants diminish the water content of the soil by root 

 feeding, both laterally and vertically. Potatoes, oats, corn, clover, tim- 

 othy, and blue-grass were used for these observations, and the results 

 indicate wide variations in the extent of root feeding by different plants. 

 The strong drying influence which growing vegetation exerts on the 

 soil was clearly brought out by comparing the water content of fallow 

 ground with that of soils on which crops were growing. 



A method of talcing samples of soil (pp. 160-1(52). — A. method used by 

 the author for the past 2 years is described and illustrated. 



The instrument employed in this method consists of a thin metal tube, of a size 

 and length suited to the special object in view, and provided with a point wliich ena- 

 bles it to cut a core of soil smaller than the internal bore of the tube and at the 

 same time make a hole in the ground larger than its outside diameter. 



Co:\rPARATIVE VALUE OF WARM AND COLD WATER FOR MILCH COWS, 



F. H. King (pp. 163-182). (See also Annual Keport of the station for 

 1889, pp. 146-188).— In 1889 and 1890 experiments were conducted to 

 ascertain "whether warming water for milch cows in winter produces a 

 measurable increase in the milk yield over that of cold water, and if 



