54 SAVING SOIL MOISTURE 



with a cultivator. In the garden, it may be formed with 

 the hoe or rake. A hard rain storm compacts the soil more 

 or less, hence the crumbling should be repeated after every 

 such storm. 



Other Mulches. When the surface of the soil can not 

 be easily cultivated, as in closely-planted orchards, evapor- 

 ation may be reduced by covering with a layer of straw, 

 leaves, shavings, tan bark or manure. These materials 

 act like crumbled soil to hinder the passage of soil water to 

 the surface. Trees usually grow much faster on land that 

 is cultivated or mulched than on that covered with a 

 growing crop, because their roots are better supplied with 

 water. 



QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES. 



1. What effect does manure have upon the amount of 

 soil moisture? 



2. What is a soil mulch? 



3. Explain how a soil mulch saves moisture for the crops. 



4. How is a soil mulch formed? When is it necessary 

 to renew a soil mulch? 



5. For what crops in your home locality do the farmers 

 make a soil mulch? 



6. Add equal weights of the same kind of soil to two tin 

 pails. Moisten the soil of each by adding equal volumes 

 of water. Do not make the soil too wet. Leave untouched 

 the soil in one pail. With a table fork pulverize the soil 

 in the other pail until a mulch of loose, dry soil is formed. 

 Keep both pails in a dry place for five or six days. At the 

 end of that time examine the moisture in each. Which has 

 the more soil moisture? 



