SOIL MOISTURE 261 



farm, see whether you can discover the level of ground 

 water. Have you ever seen water gather in the bottom of 

 a post hole? What does this indicate? 



6. Study the texture of the soil in your school yard, 

 and compute the approximate weight of the capillary water 

 contained in the first two feet of its depth when the soil is 

 well saturated. 



7. Show how you can make a soil survey of your 

 father's farm by the use of the soil auger and a diagram 

 of the farm, indicating the top soil, subsoil, elevations, low- 



' lands, and drainage possibilities. 



8. Upon an outline sketch of the United States indi- 

 cate the various regions of distinct types of soil, such as 

 the black loam, sandy loam, clay loam, mountain silt, lime- 

 stone, and other types of soil representative of a region. 



5. Soil Demonstrations 



In connection with the study of the soil there is abun- 

 dant opportunity to make some very interesting demonstra- 

 tions which will also have direct application to the manage- 

 ment of the soil on the farm or in the garden. 



1. Show how to determine the kind and depth of soil 

 of any particular spot. 



2. Show how to test the soil for acidity. Show two 

 methods if possible. 



3. By the use of a tumbler of muddy water and the 

 application of a little lime, show the value of lime to soils. 



4. Demonstrate the value of shallow cultivation for the 

 conservation of moisture in soils by the use of loaf-sugar 

 and powdered sugar, a solid or well packed piece of earth 

 and a dust mulch placed on top. Apply water to each at 

 the bottom. 



5. Demonstrate how to test the capillarity of soils. 



6. Demonstrate by the use of various types of soil and 

 the same kind of seed the relations of types of soil to the 

 germination of seed and its subsequent plant growth. 



