NATURE TEACHING. 



between the glasses, being highest where the 

 space between the glasses is narrowest, and 

 lowest where the space is widest. This- is 

 another example of capillary attraction and 

 shows that the effect is greater in small spaces 

 and cavities than in large ones. Make diagrams 

 showing the position of the water w T hen the 

 glasses are somewhat widely separated and 

 when close together. 



5. Take a tube, such as a narrow lamp 

 chimney, tie a muslin or linen cap over the 

 bottom end and fill with soil. Place the tube, 

 thus filled, in a saucer of water and note the 

 manner in which the water slowly rises through 

 the soil. This experiment may be made quan- 

 titative if the tube is weighed, before and after 

 filling with soil, to ascertain the weight of soil 

 used, and again weighed after standing for 

 some time, say for twenty-four or forty-eight 

 hours, or until the water has risen to the top 

 of the soil, to ascertain the weight of water 

 absorbed. This should be calculated to 100 

 parts of soil. Comparisons should be made 

 of the weight of water absorbed by sand, clay, 

 and garden-mould; sand absorbs the least and 

 clay the most water. 



6. Take a small ball of clay this may be 

 obtained from the sub-soil of the garden let it 



