84 THE beginner's garden book 



of sand, forming a layer on the bottom. Presently these 

 grains become smaller, though you can still see each one. But 

 after the first minute the settling earth begins to show as a 

 layer of very fine material ; and at the end of five minutes 

 that which is coming to the bottom is now the very finest of 

 mud. 



Thus we have made this loam show what it consists of : 

 first coarse sand ; then finer sand ; then what is called silt, 

 or fine earth ; and at last very fine particles which scientists 

 call clay. We are told that it takes 400,000 of these last, 

 set in line, to measure an inch. 



Above this in the bottle is left dirty water, in which are 

 floating, at different depths, particles which evidently will 

 not sink entirely to the bottom. 



To separate these parts of the loam, provide three tumblers. 

 Once more put into the bottle earth and water, and shake it 

 up. When it is in strong commotion, set the bottle on the 

 table, and wait till you count five, slowly. Then quickly, 

 but without stirring up that which has already settled, pour 

 the muddy water into the first tumbler. Leave it there till 

 you count thirty, slowly, and then pour the liquid into the 

 second tumbler. Leave it now for a full minute, or a little 

 longer, and pour into the third tumbler, where the water is 

 to be left half an hour, or even overnight. When at last 

 the water is poured away (notice again that it is discolored, 

 and has certain particles floating in it) , we are ready to ex- 

 amine the four kinds of soil which we have separated from 

 each other. 



In the bottle is coarse, almost gravelly, sand. 



In the first tumbler is sand, varying from medium to fine. 



In the second tumbler is silt. 



In the third tumbler is the finest and smoothest deposit. 

 It is clay. 



