surface. The grass crop is an exception and heavy yields of fairly 

 good quality may be obtained with the water table considerably 

 nearer the surface. 



In the climate of Massachusetts there is a considerable excess of 

 rainfall as compared with the evaporation of water from the sur- 

 face. The total annual rainfall in most parts of the state is about 

 forty-four inches. Evaporation from the land surface varies greatly, 

 but it is not likely to be much more than half the above amount. 

 There remains then a layer of water some twenty inches in depth 

 to be disposed of by drainage. A study of the water table will 

 show whether the natural drainage channels are sufficient to carry 

 away this water. If the water table, in cases wheie it is raised by 

 excessive rainfall to within a short distance of the surface, does 

 not fall to the level which has been indicated as desirable within 

 two or three days it shows that the natural drainage is not as free 

 and effective as it should be. In such cases it is important to 

 observe whether conditions are such that artificial drainage can be 

 put in without excessive cost. Soils in which the water table 

 naturally stands too high for the best crop results, if artificially 

 drained are likely to be more productive and more valuable for 

 many crops than soils which do not need artificial diainage. 



3. THE TEXTURE OF THE SOIL. 



The texture of the soil is determined largely by the relative pro- 

 portions of particles of different sizes, although the shape of the 

 particles and the proportion of organic matter also have an effect. 

 The texture of the soil is important chiefly because of its relations 

 to the capacity of the soil to retain water and to conduct water 

 from below upwards by capillary attraction. To form a judgment 

 as to soil texture the soil should be examined by eye, by touch 

 and by making it into a dilute mixture with water and allowing it 

 to settle : 



Appearance : If the texture of the soil is so coarse that the 

 individual particles can clearly be distinguished, if each stands out 

 as a distinct grain of considerable size, the soil will be relatively 

 deficient in ability to hold and conduct water. It will be a light 

 soil. 



On the other hand, if the individual particles are so small they 

 cannot be clearly distinguished with the naked eye, but are brought 

 out by a good pocket lens, the soil allows water to pass 

 through it rather slowly, retains a relatively large proportion and 

 in periods of drought is likely to bring water from the lower and 

 more moist strata toward the surface by capillary attraction. 

 Crops on such soils will be much less influenced by periods of 

 extreme drought and heat than on soils of coarser texture. If, 

 however, the particles are so excessively fine that it will require a 



