124 
Annual Export of the 
Professor Daniells. During the month of April last. 1 26-100 
inches of rain fell, and 2 61-100 inches of water were evaporated 
from the vessel right by the side of the one catching the rain-fall. 
In May, 2 14-100 inches fell, and 5 2S-100 inches were evaporated. 
In June, 2 85-100 inches fell, and 3 35-100 inches were evaporated. 
In July, 5 19-100 inches fell, and 6 inches were evaporated. And in 
August, 1 40-100 inches fell, and 3 97-100 inches were evaporated, 
and yet corn crops are to get water from the air in such a condition 
as that. If that is so, I don’t understand absorption at all. The 
evaporation very largely exceeds the amount of rain-fall dur¬ 
ing the months the crops are growing. 
Secretary Field. Wasn’t the evaporation very much greater 
than it would have been from a large surface ? 
Professor Daniells. Yes sir, I intended to so state. 
Mr. Benton. I am not wishing to urge any theory as to the 
source from which the moisture comes, but simply the fact thkt I 
did get the moisture at the surface where the most roots were. We 
cultivate about 4 inches deep, and the breaking of the roots could 
be heard quite a distance, the corn being in tassel, and the cultiva¬ 
tor was all loaded with fine roots. Now, if I produce moisture by 
finely comminuting my soil right at the roots, it is better. 
Professor Daniells. It was simply by the moisture coming from 
the earth below that you had moisture there. Let me suggest to 
you an experiment. Suppose you take a pound of earth from your 
corn-field at four o’clock in the afternoon and expose it to the at¬ 
mosphere during the night, and in the morning before the evapora¬ 
tion begins, weigh the soil, and you will find that the moisture 
absorbed will be exceedingly small. 
Mr. Benton. I believe it is a general principle of natural philos¬ 
ophy that the air receives more moisture than it is capable of con¬ 
taining under certain conditions. 
The air which penetrates the soil is rendered cooler and leaves its 
moisture in the soil. By cooling the atmosphere the moisture is 
precipitated and collected in the soil. 
Professor Daniells. Just so much water as may be condensed on 
the surface. The circulation of atmosphere through soil with an 
impervious sub-soil is slight, but if the soil is sufficiently deep so 
that water shall be able to pass through it, you will then have, as 
the moisture passes down, really a gradual circulation of the atmos- 
