PROPERTIES AND CONDITIONS OF SOIL 283 



matter or humus in the loam that burns. If a spoon and 

 alcohol lamp are wanting, this experiment may be easily 

 performed by placing the soils on a shovel on a bed of coals 

 in the stove. 



Which of the soils have the greatest capacity to take in 

 rain? 



Experiment. — For this experiment you will need five 

 straight-topped lamp chimneys. Those belonging to the 

 student's lamp are best. Tie firmly over the top of each a 

 piece of cheese cloth or thin muslin. Now fill the chimneys 

 with equal amounts of different kinds of soil. If you have 

 both clay and silt use those and omit the gravel. The soils 

 should not contain lumps or coarse material. Firm the 

 soil by jarring the chimneys on the table. Have some boy 

 make a rack for the chimneys by boring or cutting a hole 

 for each in a board. The holes should be large enough to 

 allow the chimneys to slip through to the large portion 

 near the base. This board may be nailed to two uprights 

 or may be set on two blocks so that cups or tumblers may 

 be placed under the chimneys to catch the drippings. 

 Having measured a definite amount of water, pour it 

 slowly into one of the chimneys, noting the length of time 

 that transpires till the water begins to drop below into the 

 tumbler. Keep a record of the amount of water you pour 

 in. Do the same with each of the other chimneys. Which 

 soil took in the water most rapidly ? Which drained most 

 readily? Which was most porous? Which took in the 

 water most slowly? Which is capable of holding the 

 greatest amount of moisture ? To determine this, measure 

 the amount of water that dropped from each chimney and 

 compare with amount poured in. 



