68 



AGRICULTURE 



-1 



place is soon taken by capillary moisture which moves in 

 from moistcr particles (Fig 45). 



Air-spaces check the movement of capillary water. - 

 The farmer's part in preparing the ground and cultivating 

 the soil consists chiefly in controlling the movement of 

 capillary moisture. This moisture moves about only when 

 the soil particles touch each other, so that the dry can 



borrow from the damp 

 -a grain. If an air-space 

 occurs between two soil 

 particles, moisture will not 

 move across this. The soil 

 best prepared for seeds or 

 roots is one having no 



FIG. 45. -MOISTURE ON ROOT-HAIRS large air-spaces between the 



AND SOIL GRAINS. GREATLY ENLARGED 



e, main root; h, root-hair. ,, air-space; particles, in Other words, 



2, soil grain; 3, film of water surround- a soil that is Well Settled 



ing soil grains. . , , 



or moderately compact, but 



which has been loosened up some time before the seeds 

 are planted. 



The farmer first loosens his soil, then permits the lower 

 layers to become settled, and later, after the crop begins 

 to grow, he stirs the surface. The surface layer is stirred 

 in order to make large air-spaces, that will prevent the 

 moisture a little deeper down from coming to the sur- 

 face and being evaporated and carried off by the wind. 

 Earthworms are found under logs, boards, and stones be- 

 cause these places are moist, while the ground around is dry. 

 The moisture in the soil cannot easily rise up through the 

 logs, boards, or stones and evaporate. The gardener makes 



