CONSERVATION OF MOISTURE. 



47 



On July 22nd the soil in the oat field where the land would com- 

 pare favorably with the west end of the plat referred to in the pre- 

 ceding table, except in the inatter of exposure, contained only 4.2 

 per cent of water, an amount so small as to be unavailable to the 

 roots of plants. 



It will be noticed from the above table that in the thirteen days 

 intervening- between July 22nd and August dth there was a loss of 

 seven per cent, of water, yet the soil still contained 17.5 per cent., an 

 amount sufficient to enable the roots to work to advantage. 



On July 22nd the soil in a plat of raspberries which was near to and 

 on land having about the same properties as that referred to in table 

 1, on which the strawberries were grown, was tested for its water 

 contents. The rows were seven feet apart and mulched to a distance 

 of two and one-half feet on each side. The trials of water were 

 made under the mulch and in the strip of soil two feet wide between 

 the mulch of adjoining rows and* where the constantly cultivated 

 soil would probably be much influenced by the proximity of the 

 mulched land near it. The next table shows the result of these 

 trials. 



Table showing the per cent, of water in cultivated and mulched 

 land in adjoining rows: 



It will be seen from the table that even in the case of plots in close 

 proximity, where they must influence one another, there is a con- 

 siderable difference betw^een cultivated and mulched land in favor 

 of the latter. This difference would vindoubtedly be much larger 

 than is shown by the table, if the plots treated had been isolated 

 from one another. 



SUMMARY. 



(1.) The water-holding and consequently the drouth-resisting 

 qualities of a soil are increased by the addition of organic matter to 

 the soil. 



(2.) The loss of water by evaporation from the surface of the soil 

 must be regarded as the prime factor in robbing the soil of its 

 moisture. 



(3.) Anything that breaks the force of the wind may make the 

 difference between success and failure in growing crops by lessen- 

 ing the evaporation. 



(4.) Evaporation from the soil maj^ be largely prevented by the 

 use of a mulch on the surface. 



(5.) The use of a mulch inay sometimes increase the amount of 

 water in the upper one foot of soil on one acre bj^ 1,700 barrels, and 

 it probably exerts as much influence on the several upper feet of 

 soil. As the roots of corn and most other vigorous plants pene- 

 trate several feet into the soil, the increase due to a covering of 

 mulch must be considerable. 



(6.) The use of a mulch on many garden crops will often make 

 the difference between success and failure. 



