48 SOIL MOISTURE 



Colorado, Idaho, Washington, and Nevada also have large 

 irrigated sections within their borders. 



The number of acres of irrigated lands in various countries is 

 estimated as follows: India, 25,000,000; Egypt, 6,000,000; Italy, 



An irrigation canal, California. 



nearly 4,000,000; Spain, 500,000; France, 400,000. In the United 

 States there are over 10,000,000 acres of irrigated lands, and there 

 are many millions more that ought to be under irrigation. It is 

 only a question of time when a large part of our so-called arid 

 land will be irrigated, and these deserts will become the garden 

 spots of the world. 



EXERCISES 



1. Place a drinking glass or tumbler over a small plant or flower and note 

 results after a few hours. Explain. 



2. Calculate the amount of water transpired or given off by thirty acres 

 of grass land in a day's time. 



3. Place a lamp wick or a piece of toweling so that one end rests in a 

 bottle of water. Note results and explain. 



4. Place some grains of corn in a bottle of lukewarm water and note 

 results from day to day. Explain how the plant gets its nourishment. 



