MOISTURE IN THE SOIL 67 



but capillary moisture on the other hand moves in any 

 direction, but always very slowly. This is an advantage, 

 for if this moisture moved as rapidly as the free water it 

 would rise to the surface and evaporate. The earth would 

 then become so dry that plants would die (Fig. 44). 



It is also fortunate for the farmer that the capillary 



Courtesy of Doubleday, Page & Co. 



FIG. 44. OUTFIT FOR SHOWING THE HEIGHTS TO WHICH CAPILLARY MOISTURE 

 RISES IN SOILS 



moisture moves toward the dryest soil. Thus root-hairs 

 lying in contact with the sheet of water that wraps up 

 one soil grain, absorb a large part of this moisture, but its 



