84 Gardening 
take in more of the water that falls and hold more of it 
as capillary water. 
In a fine-grained, compact soil the air spaces between 
the particles and granules are small. In wet weather 
these small spaces are readily filled with free water, which 
is then difficult to drain away.. Another deficiency of a 
compact soil is that much of the water that falls on it 
runs off without sinking in and being held as capillary 
water. Plowing and spading break up and loosen com- 
pact soils, increasing the air spaces between the granules 
and making it easier for water to enter and move to lower 
levels. 
Spading under manure and vegetable matter makes a 
soil looser. Such materials also add to the water-holding 
power of the soil, for the pieces of decaying plant material 
hold water like little sponges and give it up to the roots 
when needed. 
Sandy soils hold less water than clay soils. Therefore, 
well-rotted manure often greatly improves them. Lime 
loosens a heavy clay soil and makes it more granular, 
thus improving it for garden use. 
Movement of water in the soil. The roots of vig- 
orously growing plants quickly absorb most of the cap- 
illary water that is on the soil particles which they touch. 
But more water creeps to these particles from the sur- 
rounding soil or from lower levels. The movement of 
this water through the soil is quite like that of oil rising 
through the wick of a burning lamp. Having the soil in 
good physical condition makes it possible for the water to 
move easily through it and thus to come within reach of 
the plant’s roots. 
