Abstract: A portable, automatic liquid level monitoring and recording instrument is disclosed for use in measuring the capacity of soils to absorb water. A self-contained power source, timer and vertically biasable recording probe are housed as a cylindrical package disposed for placement in a shallow bore hold and connected to a reserve water supply. The probe, carrying an ink filled stylus, scribes a graph lining the inside of the cylinder during excursions initiated by timer actuation, the direction of probe traverse being reversed by completion of a circuit when the probe contacts water. Water is replenished to the borehole to datum level automatically after completion of the downward traverse of the probe.