188 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 
Four of these samples were combined into one, and 
this mixture constituted the complete sample which 
was used in a test for moisture; that is, there were 
two samples of untilled soil and two of tilled soil, 
but each of these was made up of four other sam- 
ples selected from various parts of the areas. These 
samples were carefully weighed, and were then equally 
fire-dried and weighed again. The loss in weight 
represents the comparative content of free water in 
the different samples. The results are as follows: 
Sample I. Sample IT. 
Moisture in tilled soil, per cent......,... 11.3 12.8 
Moisture in untilled soil, per cent........ 8.7 9.6 
In addition to this difference in moisture between 
the two areas, it should be said that in the tilled 
land it was distributed to within two inches or less 
of the surface, while in the untilled land the first 
few inches was exceedingly dry. In other words, 
in the tilled land nearly the entire soil was in con- 
dition to part with its fertility, while in the other 
the uppermost and richest soil was inactive. 
All this emphasizes the fact that tillage alone is 
better than green manuring alone; but the best re- 
sults would no doubt have been obtained if good till- 
age had been given for two or three months, and if 
the green crop had been sown in July or August. 
In general, this combination is an excellent one for 
orchards, particularly for such lands as lack nitrogen 
and vegetable matter, and for those fruits which 
are benefited by winter protection of the soil. 
