Dryer than the 'average' dryness of all the soil, perhaps, but if normal is an expected range of values - the soil in this place is typically somewhere from her

Dryer than the 'average' dryness of all the soil, perhaps, but if normal is an expected range of values - the soil in this place is typically somewhere from here to here in dryness - then it's not that case. Even if we are looking at the mean average, it's still not necessarily the case that half the soil will be on one side of the mean average; long tails tugs that mean average above and below the median. But if what's meant here is the median, then yes, half will always be below. Excuse me now while I go and beat myself up in the car park for being that person on HN.