THE WATER IN THE SOIL 



17 



Perhaps we have had no rain for two or three weeks; 

 yet here may be a bubbhng spring, or there a clay tile 

 running full of water. 



First, let us consider the source of the water of the 

 spring. Water, as it falls from the clouds, is taken up 

 more or less readily by the soil. It filters down through 



Fig. 6. — Running tile. 



silt, sand, gravel or whatever it may be until it reaches 

 some layer which will allow it to flow downward no further. 

 It then flows along this layer until on some lower ground 

 it comes to the surface. Whenever water issues from a. 

 natural opening, we call it a spring. 



There are millions of acres of land throughout the 

 United States from which water can not drain naturally. 



G 



