Methods are reported for measuring cohe- sion of wet conglomerates, modulus of rupture in dry conglomerates, and shrinkage in drying in terms of fundamental units, with simple apparatus and without loss of accuracy. Cohesion is measured by placing wet soil in a cylinder fitted with a piston, at the lower end of which is a tube through which the soil is forced. The segments are counted as they break off and are weighed. Average weight of segment divided by cross sectional area of the tube gives the cohesion. Modulus of rupture is measured by breaking cylindrical bars of the dry conglomerate as simple beams. Shrinkage measurements are made by measuring the volume of soil cylinders while wet and again when dry.