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THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS 



FIRST EXERCISE 



I. DETERMINATION OF HYGROSCOPIC 

 MOISTURE IN STOCK SOILS 



Determine the hygroscopic moisture of the soil 

 samples in the bins by proceeding as follows : 



Carefully weigh a small dish on the chemical balance, 

 then place in the dish a lo-gram representative sample 





DRYING OVEN HEATED BY GAS 



The gas supply is automatically regulated by a relay operated on a 



battery circuit 



of soil. Dry in the oven at iio° C. for twenty-four 

 hours. The loss in weight is the hygroscopic moisture. 

 The loss in weight divided by the weight of the oven- 

 dry soil will give the per cent of hygroscopic moisture. 

 Although the hygroscopic moisture varies from day 

 to day with the humidity of the atmosphere, these re- 

 sults may be used in subsequent experiments whenever 



