CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. G3 



samples for Analysis which had not heen selected with sufficient care, 

 and were afterwards found not to represent the average composition of 

 the substance, it is particularly requested that the following instruc- 

 tions 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 ensure uniform mixture. For a 

 complete analysis, not less than two pounds should be sent ; for a 

 partial analysis, three or four ounces will be sufficient. 



Waters. — For the complete analysis of a "Water, from two to three 

 gallons are required ; for the determination of the amount of salts in 

 solution, and lime thrown down by boiling, two quarts will suffice. A 

 well water may be selected at any time ; but the water of a spring 

 or running stream should be taken in dry weather. The jars or 

 bottles in which they are sent must be tightly corked and sealed. 

 In the analysis of a mineral water, it may sometimes be desirable 

 to determine the amount of gases held in solution; in which case 

 certain precautions must be observed which require the presence of 

 a chemist at the spring. 



Limestones, Clays, Ironstones, &c. — If the bed of any of these sub- 

 stances of which the analysis is required be very uniform in appearance, 

 a piece of two or three ounces weight taken from any part of it will 

 be enough for analysis; but in all cases, it is better to send three 

 or four chips from different parts of its thickness. Sometimes, where 

 the character of different parts of the bed vary much, separate analysis 

 of these portions may be requisite, in which case two ounces of 

 each may be sent. 



The following are the rates at which analyses, &c, are furnished 

 to Members of the Society, and it is requested that the fee be remitted 

 along with the sample : — 



1. Complete analysis of a Soil, including determination of Alkalies 



and Phosphates, L3. 



2. A partial analysis of a Soil, such as the determination of the 



quantity of Organic Matter, and relative proportion of Clay, 

 Sand, and Carbonate of Lime it contains, 10s. 



