SOIL MOISTURE 49 



5. Fill a tin can with coarse sand, another with clay, and a third with 

 ordinary soil. Punch a number of holes in each can and pour water on each 

 sample of material. Note the rate of flow accurately and record results. 

 Explain. 



6. Weigh a yard of cloth. Immerse the cloth in water, wring out the 

 excess of water, and weigh again. Hang the cloth in the wind and weigh 

 every ten minutes until the cloth is dry. Tabulate results and explain. 



7. Place a weed or some other plant in a bottle of water having the roots 

 well immersed. Stop the mouth of the bottle with cotton and weigli. 

 After several hours weigh again. Note results and explain. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Discuss soil moisture. 



2. Name the kinds of soil moisture. 



3. Discuss ground water. 



4. Describe capillary water. 



5. Discuss hygroscopic moisture. 



6. Mention four important purposes that moisture serves. 



7. Discuss the necessity of a plant food solvent. 



8. Discuss moisture as a vehicle of plant foods. 



9. In what way is water a source of plant food ? 



10. Explain how water is a temperature regulator. 



11. Name the ways in which soil moisture may be depleted. 



12. Discuss percolation. 



13. Discuss evaporation. 



14. Describe transpiration and its effects. 



15. Discuss the necessity of the preservation of soil moisture. 



16. What is irrigation ? 



17. What can you say of the amount of irrigated lands in the world ? 



REFERENCES 



Irrigation Farming, Lucius M. Wilcox. 



Irrigation for the Farm, Henry Stewart. 



Irrigation in Fruit Growing, Farmers' Bulletin No. 116; Irrigation in Field 

 and Garden, Farmers' Bulletin No. 138; How to Build Small Irrigation Ditches, 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 158. 



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