118 Progressive Agriculture 



more readily appreciate how many more things 

 there are to know, and how many things you 

 really did not know. 



EXAMINING THE SOIL AND ITS MOISTURE 



If the auger is used with care and thought, you 

 will soon learn just how to use it and how to obtain 

 perfect samples of soil. Then with a little careful 

 practice you will soon learn how to judge your 

 soil moisture for all practical purposes. See Cut 

 No. 49. 



You will at times find some soil so dry that the 

 soil particles will not cling together, under which 

 conditions it is difficult to lift the soil with the 

 auger from the hole without a sudden jerk. Such 

 soil has practically lost all its capillary or available 

 moisture. 



When there is moisture enough, the soil particles 

 will cling together until you lift the auger from the 

 hole, and as you tip the auger over it readily falls. 

 Such soil has considerable available moisture left. 



Another degree of moisture is when it sticks 

 together until you have to push it from the auger, 

 or rather unwind it, yet it does not stick to the 

 auger. This is the most favorable condition of the 

 soil for the growing plants, but is usually found 

 where the soil is of the loam order and under 

 proper tillage. 



Another condition is where there is sufficient 

 moisture for the soil to not only stick together but to 

 adhere to the auger so you have to scrape off or 

 otherwise force from the auger. Under this con- 

 dition the soil carries the highest possible per cent 



