84 Gardening 



take in more of the water that falls and hold more of it 

 as capillary water. 



In a fine-grained, compact soil the air spaces between 

 the particles and granules are small. In wet weather 

 these small spaces are readily filled with free water, which 

 is then difficult to drain away. Another deficiency of a 

 compact soil is that much of the water that falls on it 

 runs off without sinking in and being held as capillary 

 water. Plowing and spading break up and loosen com- 

 pact soils, increasing the air spaces between the granules 

 and making it easier for water to enter and move to lower 

 levels. 



Spading under manure and vegetable matter makes a 

 soil looser. Such materials also add to the water-holding 

 power of the soil, for the pieces of decaying plant material 

 hold water like little sponges and give it up to the roots 

 when needed. 



Sandy soils hold less water than clay soils. Therefore, 

 well-rotted manure often greatly improves them. Lime 

 loosens a heavy clay soil and makes it more granular, 

 thus irnproving it for garden use. 



Movement of water in the soil. The roots of vig- 

 orously growing plants quickly absorb most of the cap- 

 illary water that is on the soil particles which they touch. 

 But more water creeps to these particles from the sur- 

 rounding soil or from lower levels. The movement of 

 this water through the soil is quite like that of oil rising 

 through the wick of a burning lamp. Having the soil in 

 good physical condition makes it possible for the water to 

 move easily through it and thus to come within reach of 

 the plant's roots. 



