CAPILLARY MOVEMENT OF SOIL MOISTURE. 5 
the auxiliary experiments, various types of soil were packed in layers 
or one end of a column or box contained soil of one type and the 
other end soil of a different type. 
METHOD AND EQUIPMENT. 
A confined soil column was used and the method differed from that 
usually employed by other investigators only in the size and arrange- 
ment of soil columns. The columns used in these experiments are 100 
square inches in cross-sectional area and much larger than the col- 
umns usually employed. A feature made important in the present 
work is the use of inclined columns. 
One side and the bottom of each flume were made of wood with 
metal lining and the other side was of plate glass. In the discussion 
of the experiments the term " flume " will be used to designate the 
soil column and its container. 
Uniform soil was packed into the flumes and wicks extended 
from within the water in the tanks up into the flumes. After the 
soil had been placed in the flumes the tanks were filled up to the 
initial level and this level rather constantly maintained throughout 
the experiment. 
At 9 a. m. of each day and frequently at other hours the outward 
extent of the soil wetted by capillary moisture was measured, and the 
water in the tanks was brought up to the initial elevation with 
measured quantities of water added directly to the tanks. Soil sam- 
ples were taken at various points in the wet soil area, at such inter- 
vals of time as deemed advisable and always at the end of an ex- 
periment. All the flumes or columns were protected by canvas from 
the direct ray s of the sun and from the rain. 
MEASURING THE ADVANCE OF THE CAPILLARY MOISTURE. 
The outward extent of the wetted soil area, indicating the extent 
of the moisture movement at any time, is plainly visible through the 
glass side of the flume. The wetted soil is of a darker color and 
the line of demarcation is very distinct. The position of this line as 
seen through the glass side was traced upon the glass. The position 
of these markings with reference to the surface of the water in £he 
tank is determined by five direct measurements made in the way and 
to the points as follows : 
Five lines are drawn along the glass side of the flume parallel to 
the longitudinal axis of the flume. The first line is at the top of 
the glass; the second line is 2J inches lower; the third is 5 inches 
from the top and at the middle of the glass side; the fourth is % 
inches from the top, while the fifth is at the bottom of the flume 
and 10 inches from the top line. The intersections of the marks on 
