MOVEMENTS OF SALTS IN SOILS. 63 



good field moisture condition. Previous to packing, the soil 

 was screened through a sieve of one-fourth inch meshes and, in 

 20-pound lots, was spread over 8 square feet of surface on a 

 mixing floor. Over this soil was sowed 2 grams of acme guano 

 and then a second layer of soil added, sowing fertilizer again 

 on the top, and repeating the operation until 200 Ibs. of soil 

 had been thus treated. The whole soil was then shoveled over 

 three times to more thoroughly incorporate the fertilizer with 

 it. The six cylinders were then filled simultaneously, placing 

 a cupful of soil, "struck "off," into each, in regular rotation, 

 with gentle tamping after each addition of soil, until they were 

 all full. 



At the time the soil was being placed in the cylinders a small 

 sample from each cup was taken, with a spatula, to constitute 

 a composite representing the condition of the soil in the several 

 cylinders at starting. 



The filled cylinders, when "struck off/ 7 weighed : 



19.36 | 19.52 I 19.56 I 19.52 | 19.56 I 



The several cylinders were provided with reservoirs at their 

 bases which permitted the addition of water at the bottom of 

 the column, and its rise by capillarity through the soil. When 

 filled, they were placed side by side, as represented in Fig. 1, 

 p. 64, at the left, and 500 c. c. of water added ; when this had 

 been absorbed, another 500 c. c. was added and the cylinders 

 allowed to stand 24 hours. At this time the soil was removed 

 from one of the cylinders in 2-inch sections and the water- 

 soluble salts determined. The covers were removed from the 

 remaining cylinders, 300 c. c. more of water added, and evapo- 

 ration permitted to maintain the capillary rise of moisture 

 through the soil during different intervals of time. Three soil 

 types were subjected lo this treatment .and the results are given 

 in the next tables, as mjean values, showing the change in the 

 relative amounts of each ingredient determined in the respective 

 depths of soil. 



