38 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. IX, No. d 
Table V .-—Arrangement of soil layers in the different cylinders, showing the soils used , 
their hygroscopic coefficients , and their moisture equivalents —Continued 
HYGROSCOPIC COEFFICIENT 
Depth. 
I. 
11. 
III. 
IV. 
V. 
VI. 
VII. 
Inches , 
1-2 . 
0. 6 
0. 6 
3* 4 
5*6 
7.6 
5*6 
10. 2 
13- 3 
10. 2 
3“4.. 
3*4 
5*6 
13*3 
10. 2 
0. 6 
3* 4 
7. 6 
S“6. 
13*3 
0. 6 
5*6 
7.6 
7-8. 
7.6 
7.6 
10. 2 
13*3 
0. 6 
i?*4 
5-6 
9^10. 
10. 2 
5*6 
7.6 
10.2 
13*3 
0. 6 
—3* 4 
11-12. 
*3-3 
3*4 
5*6 
7.6 
10. 2 
13.3 
0.6 i 
MOISTURE EQUIVALENT 
After placing in the cylinder the six layers as described we added a 
2-inch layer of gravel to the top of the column and then applied 7 pounds 
of water. As the soil column in each cylinder weighed not more than 
15 pounds, this amount of water was sufficient to insure saturation, as 
it would have raised the moisture content to 50 per cent or more if the 
soil could have retained so much. As soon as all the water had been 
added, the tops of the cylinders were closed with tightly fitting covers 
and, as in sections A and B, a layer of moist soil was placed over all in 
order to prevent any evaporation and to protect the cylinders from the 
heat of the sun. 
The cylinders, filled on September 7, 1912, were allowed to remain 
undisturbed for 69 days, when they were removed from the trench and 
opened, placing each on its side, cutting the metal from top to bottom 
and flattening out the metal sheet, thus exposing the whole soil column 
to observation. Each layer was carefully detached by means of a 
spatula, freed of all material belonging to the layers above and below, 
and thoroughly mixed for the .moisture determination. The moisture 
conditions found on opening the cylinders are shown in the accompany¬ 
ing tables, VI giving the percentages of total water, VII that of free 
water, VIII the ratio of the total water to the hygroscopic coefficient, 
and IX the ratio of the total water to the moisture equivalent. The 
