110 NATURE TEACHING. 



4. This method gives interesting, and 

 approximately accurate, results and is within 

 the capacity of the older pupils of a school class. 

 For the method of procedure where great 

 accuracy is required see such books as Wiley's 

 Agricultural Analysis. Vol. 1. For junior 

 classes it will be sufficient to omit the weigh- 

 ing and to make approximate separations by 

 washing. 



WATER IN SOILS. 



1. Place in separate glass funnels, support- 

 ed over cups or tumblers, equal weights of 

 sand, clay and garden mould; these should be 

 dry and coarsely powdered. Place a small 

 piece of blotting-paper (or filter paper) at the 

 bottom of the funnel to prevent the soil from 

 getting into the neck. Shake and tap the fun- 

 nel gently to cause the contents to settle down 

 closely. Now pour equal measures of water 

 on the contents of each funnel, using enough 

 water to soak the soil thoroughly and to allow 

 water to drain through into the vessels placed 

 beneath. Observe that the water flows away 

 with different rapidity in the three cases, and 

 that when all the water which will drain away 

 has been collected, the three different kinds of 

 soil retain different amounts of water. 



2. Fit a cork, with a hole in it, into a glass 



