504. CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 



III. The performance of Analyses of Manures, Soils, 

 Vegetable Products, &c, for members of the Society 

 at reduced fees. 



In purchasing manures, cattle foods, &c, Members are recom- 

 mended, in all cases, to do so by guaranteed analysis, and to 

 ascertain that the article delivered corresponds with it. Partial 

 analyses, such as Nos. 6 and 7 of the accompanying list, will 

 generally suffice to check the correspondence of the stock with 

 the guarantee, and give an approximate though not a precise 

 estimate of its value. When an exact estimate is required, a 

 complete analysis is necessary. 



Samples intended for analysis should be sent (carriage paid) 

 addressed to Dr. Anderson, 15, Shuttle Street, Glasgow, and 

 when of small size, they are most cheaply and expeditiously 

 forwarded by post. They should be distinctly labelled, marked 

 with the name and address of the sender in full, and accom- 

 panied by a letter, specifying the particular analysis required, 

 according to its number in the following list, — and, if possible, 

 the object in view, — as, by doing so, much trouble and delay 

 will occasionally be saved. 



Some inconvenience having been experienced by persons 

 sending samples for Analysis which had not been selected witli 

 sufficient care, and were afterwards found not to represent the 

 average composition of the substance, it is particularly requested 

 that the following instructions may be attended to as closely as 

 circumstances will permit. 



instructions for selecting samples for analysis. 



Manures.— A large double handful of the Manure should be 

 taken from each of at least five or six different bags ; and if any 

 lumps are found in it, a due proportion of these should also be 

 taken. The whole being laid on a large sheet of paper, should 

 be carefully mixed by rubbing with the hand, the lumps being 

 broken down and mixed as uniformly as possible with the 

 powdery part. If this mixture be carefully made, a quantity of 

 it not exceeding two ounces will suffice for the analysis. It 

 should be folded up in tinfoil to prevent its becoming dry. In 

 default of tinfoil, the sample may be wrapped in double folds of 

 strong writing paper. Should the manure contain stones, or be 

 very moist, or should any difficulty be experienced in making a 

 uniform mixture, it is desirable that two or three pounds should 

 be sent. 



Soils. — In selecting Soils for analysis, five or six spadefuls 

 should be taken from different parts of the field, and after being- 

 spread out in a thin layer for several days to dry, should be put 

 two or three times through a fine sieve, so as to insure uniform 



