198 REporT OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
In the graphic diagram, each mark in the water table record 
indicates one foot, measured from the top of the diagram, and in 
the record of precipitation, each mark represents one-fifth of an 
inch, measured from the bottom. Although the record is much 
shorter than is desirable for the purpose of forming conclusions, 
two facts are strikingly brought out. 
1. Fluctuations in the precipitation from month to month did 
not much affect the height of the water table.. The very light 
precipitation of January, 1887, did not stop the rise of the water 
- table, nor did the extremely large rainfall of July of the same 
year cause the water table to stop falling. 
2. The rapid rise in the water table from January 7 to April 1, 
1888, was not due to large precipitation during this time, nor was 
the fall from May 7 to November 1, of the same year due to small 
precipitation. 
These facts suggest that a study of the relation of the height 
of the water table to the amount of rainfall may develop some 
interesting, if not valuable knowledge. 
THE Som HyGROMETER.* 
The experiments with this instrument were continued so far as 
was possible with home made apparatus. Owing to imper- 
fections in this, no record of scientific value can be presented. 
The experiments of the past season, however, added strength to 
the probability that the principle adopted is capable of furnishing 
an accurate record of the fluctuations in the moisture of the soil. 
*For description and illustrations of the soil hygrometer see Reports 
New York Agricultural Experiment Station for 1886, p. 182; 1887, pp. 1 

