188 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



Four of these samples were combined into one, and 

 this mixture constituted the complete sample which 

 was used in a test for moisture ; that is, there were 

 two samples of untilled soil and two of tilled soil, 

 but each of these was made up of four other sam- 

 ples selected from various parts of the areas. These 

 samples were carefully weighed, and were then equally 

 fire -dried and weighed again. The loss in weight 

 represents the comparative content of free water in 

 the different samples. The results are as follows : 



Sample I. Sample II. 



Moisture in tilled soil, per cent 11.3 12.8 



Moisture in untilled soil, per cent 8.7 9.6 



In addition to this difference in moisture between 

 the two areas, it should be said that in the tilled 

 land it was distributed to within two inches or less 

 of the surface, while in the untilled land the first 

 few inches was exceedingly dry. In other words, 

 in the tilled land nearly the entire soil was in con- 

 dition to part with its fertility, while in the other 

 the uppermost and richest soil was inactive. 



All this emphasizes the fact that tillage alone is 

 better than green manuring alone; but the best re- 

 sults would no doubt have been obtained if good till- 

 age had been given for two or three months, and if 

 the green crop had been sown in July or August. 

 In general, this combination is an excellent one for 

 orchards, particularly for such lands as lack nitrogen 

 and vegetable matter, and for those fruits which 

 are benefited by winter protection of the soil. 



