THE SOW 
153 
water. Free water should not come within several feet 
of the soil as plants do not use this form of moisture 
and it is harmful to growing crops. After the free water 
has passed through the soil and found its outlet in 
Fig. 116 .— Capillary rise of water. The tube on the left shows the soil placed 
in water. Those in the center indicate the method of tying a cloth over the 
soil tube before placing it into the water. Lamp chimneys will do as well as 
these glass tubes. 
springs, wells, and small creeks, there remains a thin 
film about each soil particle known as film, or capillary 
water. Plants use this kind of water and it is important 
that the farmer should aid nature in controlling it. 
Besides the free and film water a third kind of water 
