64 AGRICULTURE. 



consideration the climate. The next thing to 

 do is to consider what crops are best adapted to 

 the different soils, remembering that both the 

 immediate crops and the condition of the soil 

 for future crops are to be regarded. Thus fol- 

 lows the consideration of the treatment of each 

 kind of soil for the crop selected or the prepara- 

 tion and tillage of the soil. 



I. Drainage. 



EXPERIMENT n. (a) Take two eight-inch flower-pots 

 and label them i and 2, respectively. In No. i pour a 

 sufficient amount of melted paraffin in the bottom to 

 plug up the hole, so that no air may pass in, and no 

 water pass out through the bottom of the pot. In the 

 bottom of No. 2 place a layer about an inch in depth of 

 stones or pieces of broken pottery. 



(&) Nearly fill each pot with a mixture of three-fourths 

 good soil, thoroughly pulverized, and one-fourth sand. 



(r) Place in each pot a young, healthy plant of the 

 same size and kind. 



(d) Now carefully sprinkle each with water until the 

 soil is saturated. 



(r) After a day or two put these pots in a sunny win- 

 dow. 



(f) In each place a thermometer, with the bulb at a 

 depth of two inches 



(g) Every two or three days note the temperature, and 

 the condition of the soil and of the plants in each pot. 

 In which pot does the water percolate through the soil 

 the more rapidly? If each of these conditions of soil 

 moisture was found in separate fields, which field would 

 be more apt to be flooded in time of heavy rains? In 

 which could air penetrate the more readily ? In which 

 would the temperature be higher ? 



