How Rain Bores Holes.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 7 August 1914, Page 8

How Rain Bores Holes.

When rain falls it does not actually soak into the earth, but bores its way in, forming- tiny tubes. These; lubes are so small that it would be impossible to insert a hair in one of them without bursting its -.vails. Sometimes the tubes are bored down to a depth of four or live feet. When the surface dries, the water evaporates from the lubes, just as it would from a pipe. If the tube is .twisted it takes longer for the water to evaporate. If one takes a rake and stirs the ground al'tor each rain, he breaks the tops of the tubes, and the water will stand in them for mouths. In 1 his \vi\y the farmers r.f the West, on Ihe semi-arid lands, store the rainfall one year, and raise a crop ot' wheat every other year—there bein.<>• suflicient water in two years, but not enough in one. to raise « crop.