DIVISION OF SOILS. 127 



In former reports I have called attention to the progress made in the 

 perfection of instruments for recording the moisture content of soils 

 loss in the field and for determining the tendency to evaporation or 

 of water from plants for which an adequate moisture supply must 

 be maintained. Stations were established in different parts of the 

 country and on important soil types for these moisture records. From 

 these records it was possible to show the normal variations which 

 could occur in any soil between the conditions of excessive wet and 

 drought, and the possibilities were pointed out of determining a 

 numerical relation between the soil moisture and the sunshine, teuipera- 

 ture, humidity, and wind velocity, which would enable the climatic 

 condition to be expressed by some figure, representing the relative 

 condition of jilant growth at any place in terms of the most favorable 

 condition heretofore observed. This is in no way covered by the 

 work of the Weather Bureau, which is concerned largely with dynamic 

 meteorology, or the laws and prediction of storms, and Avill involve an 

 entirely different equipment and an independent set of observations 

 taken in the fields and soils of growing crops, rather than in cities and 

 towns. 



The value of such observations, taken by a corps of experts trained 

 to observe and understand plants as florists understand greenhouse 

 plants, can not be estimated. Reports based upon such observations 

 in a period of drought, such as the Middle West has just experienced, 

 would show the actual conditions existing far more accurately than 

 is now possible. Furthermore, as the drought limit is approached in 

 any soil, suggestions can be made for preventive measures in cultiva- 

 tion or cropping which may save many bushels of grain on any farm 

 which in the aggregate for all the farmers who would heed the warn- 

 ings sent out from Washington would save an immense sum of money 

 to tlie agriculturist. 



In my report for 1899 I stated that the investigation had progressed 

 far enough to establish tlie preliminary plans upon which tliis work 

 should be begun, and that it was useless to go further until the time 

 arrived for a considerable extension of the work, to make it of value 

 at least to certain industries. 



In my opinion, the time has come when this work should be again 

 taken up on a scale commensurate with the extension of at least two 

 or three crop interests. I have therefore recommended an increase in 

 the appropriation for next year, intending, if tliis is allowed by Con- 

 gress, to recommend that $25,000 be set aside for this work under the 

 immediate direction of some well-trained and eminent soil physicist, 

 subject to my general supervision. I feel satisfied that the immediate 

 benefit to the farmers will amply repay the expenditure of this sum. 



SOIL TECHNOLOGY. 



The field parties see many opportunities of improvement in the crops 

 or methods of cultivation in the districts in which they are located, 

 which they have not time, in the rapid progress of their work, to 

 demonstrate, and for which they must relj^ upon recommendations 

 in their rather brief reports. Such recommendations seldom accom- 

 plish the object sought, on account of the well-known conservatism of 

 growers. It ma}" be tliat the evidence indicates the need of drainage, 

 or the correcting of acidity in the soil, or may suggest the introduction 

 of new and profitable crops. Such suggestions are rarely acted upon 

 in that thoroagh manner necessary for a practical demonstration, and 



