110 
Keport of the Horticulturist of the 
It is very evident that the addition of the salt in quantities of ten per 
cent, or less, promoted the capillary flow, and that with the solu- 
tions tested, the maximum rate was reached in the weakest one. The 
twenty per cent solution, on the other hand, retarded the rate. In 
another trial made later, solutions at the rate of two and one-half per 
cent, one and one-quarter per cent, and five-eighths of one per cent 
respectively, were used. The result indicated little difference in the 
rate of flow with these solutions. 
The trials do not show whether the influence of the sodium chloride 
and the other soluble matters experimented with upon the rate of 
capillary flow is due to the presence of a particular substance, or 
whether it is due to a change in the liquid that would be affected as 
well by dissolving a small amount of any mineral matter in it. Neither 
do they show that the influence of matters in solution affects the rate 
of capillary flow in a vertical direction in the same way as in a hori- 
zontal direction. Further experiments are needed to develop this 
interesting subject. 
PROGRESS IN MEASURING THE SOIL MOISTURE. 
1. Improvements in the soil hygrometer. 
2. Experiments to determine whether or not the rate of absorption 
in the soil is in proportion to its dryness. 
In the Report of the Station for 1886, p. 182, is illustrated an instru- 
ment designed for measuring the rate of absorjDtion in the soil from a 
piece of saturated terra-cotta, this rate being assumed to be in propor- 
tion to the dryness of the soil. During the past season, considerable 
attention has been given to perfecting this instrument, which, in its 
improved form, is shown in the accompanying drawing, the apparatus 
described last year being shown in a smaller drawing at the right. 
In its most primitive form, the instrument may be described as a 
tube closed at the top, and curved into a return bend at the bot- 
tom, with a short cylinder of terra-cotta or other absorbing material 
inserted part of its length into the short arm, and extending into the 
bend of the tube. If such a tube is filled with water and its lower end 
buried in a soil not in a saturated condition, the moisture from the 
terra-cotta will be absorbed by the soil, and as the water is removed 
from the curved part of the tube, air bubbles will rise into the long 
arm, thus supplying more water, while the amount thus removed may 
be registered at the top. Instead of having the tube closed at the 
top, one open at the top and provided with two stop cocks, so that 
it may be refilled with water without removing it from the soil, is used. 
