SOIL MOISTURE 341 



TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 



1. Taking the cost of the drainage as shown in the 

 table, figure what it would cost to tile out wet places on 

 your farm, using four-inch tile for parallels laid four rods 

 apart. The parallels are to connect across the lower end 

 with a six-inch line, and this is to empty into the nearest 

 available ditch or stream. Would it pay to put in tile on 

 your home farm? 



2. By digging down in several different places on your 

 farm, see whether you can discover the level of ground 

 water. Have you ever seen water gather in the bottom of 

 a post hole? What does this indicate? 



3. Study the texture of the soil in your school yard, 

 and compute the approximate weight of the. capillary water 

 contained in the first two feet of its depth when the soil is 

 well saturated. 



4. Show how you can make a soil survey of your 

 father's farm or home garden by the use of the soil auger 

 and a diagram indicating the top soil, subsoil, elevations, 

 lowlands, and drainage possibilities. 



5. Soil Demonstrations 



1. Show how to determine the kind and depth of soil 

 of any particular spot. 



2. Show how to test the soil for acidity. Show two 

 methods if possible. 



3. By the use of a glass of muddy water and the 

 application of a little lime, show the value of lime to soils. 



4. Demonstrate the value of shallow cultivation for the 

 conservation of moisture in soils by the use of loaf-sugar 

 and powdered sugar, a solid or well-packed piece of earth 

 and a dust mulch placed on top. Apply water to each at 

 the bottom. 



5. Demonstrate how to test the capillarity of soils. 



6. Demonstrate by the use of various types of soil and 

 the same kind of seed the relations of types of soil to the 

 germination of seed and its subsequent plant growth. 



