68 



THE WATER-SUPPLYING POWER OF THE SOIL 



The 15 per cent soil was such as would be regarded as having about 

 optimum moisture content for pot cultures. The 25 per cent soil was 

 decidedly wet and the 20 per cent was more moist than would ordinarily 

 be used by gardeners. The soils containing 5 and 10 per cent of 

 moisture were evidently too dry for most plant cultures. 



The numerical data referring to these soil tests are set forth in tables 

 3 to 9. They are arranged as those of table 1. 



Table 3. — Numerical data for osmometer A, operating against soil mixture vrith 25 -per 

 cent 0/ moisture, on basis of dry volume {18.75 per cent on dry weight basis). 



Table 4. — Numerical data for osmometer A, operating against soil mixture (u^ual packing) 

 vrith SO per cent of moisture, on basis of dry volume {14-47 per cent on dry weight basis.) 



