EXERCISE No. 56 

 RISE OF WATER IN SOIL 



Object: To study the rise of water in soils of different 

 types. 



Material: Three tall lamp chimneys; pieces of cheese 

 cloth to cover the bottoms of the lamp chimneys; a shallow 

 pan; water; gravel, sandy loam and clay loam soils, both 

 air dried, and a sieve. 



Method: Tie a piece of cheese cloth over the bottom of 

 each lamp chimney. Fill each lamp chimney with one of 

 . the soils, jarring it so as to settle the soil, making it of uniform 

 density. Stand the chimneys full of soil in the pan of water. 

 Watch the water rise in the chimneys. If it is necessary to 

 use two or more pans, keep the water in them at uniform 

 height. 



Conclusion: In which chimney does the water rise 

 immediately? In which pan is there apparently a very little 

 rise of water? In which tube does the water reach the top 

 first? Does the water in all the chimneys finally reach the 

 top? What kind of soil carries water up to plants most 

 rapidly if the distance is not too great? What type of soil 

 is best for crops needing a large amount of water, if the 

 water supply or the water table or standing water is not too 

 far below the surface? In what kind of soil will water rise 

 to the greatest height? 



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