THK MOISTURE IN THE SOIL 57 



ratod or lias been used l>y j>laiits, if the soil is 

 in prop*'!' physical coiidition. Moasuros sliould 

 bo adopted to ])nn*('nt this nioistiiro from bo- 

 iiii; lost by <'vaj>oration. Tln' most jiractical 

 and otT»M'tivo method is by establishiiiir and 

 maintaininij: a snrface mulch of soil. By frc- 



• jucnt use of imi>lcmcnts of tilla.ij:c, which loosen 

 tho soil to u d»'j)tli of two or thi-ee inches, this 

 nuih-h may be preserved and the moisture 

 saved. The dri»'r and looser this nuilch, the 

 more effective it is. This diy and loose surfaet- 

 breaks the capillarv connection between the ;iii- 

 an<l the moist under-soil, and has the elTect of 

 inttM'posinii: a foreiirn body between the atmos- 

 phere and the eailh. A lioai'd or a blanket 

 laid on the earth has the same etYect, and the 

 soil is moist In-neath it. This soil-mulch should 

 be renewed, or repaired, in the u:rowini^ season, 

 as often as it l)eeomes haid '>i- baked, by means 

 of shallow tillaire. 



aroaxiiT/oys (>.v cum'tkh hi 



62<;. To show that (frowinff pIniitH nn- i-onHtantly f^vinfi: off 

 l*r(f<« qtmntifi«'H of wator throujjh tlu-ir foliage, (jrow ••orn, beaiiH 

 or sqiiashfs in rich «oil in a (lower- p<»t. Over the aoil in tlio pot 

 Hhoiilil be i)Iar»'<l a rubbor or oiltni cloth covering, bo that no 

 moisture can como from this source. Then over the plant place 



• glass bell-jar or a common fruit -jar, and notice how rapiillv 

 the moisture colli«ot« on the interior of the jar (Fip. 101. Thi»t 

 •xperiment may be conducttMl even better in the field. 



