48 THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS 



the lower ends dipping into a tray containing one inch 

 of water. After the water has risen to the top of the 

 soil, add to the first about one inch of moist cut straw, 

 and to the second the same quantity of well-rotted 

 organic matter, and to the third nothing. Then add 

 to each tube about six inches of dry soil to represent 

 the furrow slice. 



Observe the effect of the organic matter upon the 

 capillary rise of moisture, and draw conclusions as to 

 the effect of plowing under heavy top-dressings of 

 manure just before seeding. 



Reference : 



Vivian, *Tirst Principles of Soil Fertility," pp. 

 102 and 168. 



