848 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



DIRECTIONS FOR TAKING. SAMPLES OF SOIL. 



Having selected the spot in conformity with the instructions conveyed in the ac" 

 companying letter for collecting the samples with a spade, remove all grass, leaves or 

 litter from the surface, and dig a hole like a post hole 24 inches deep. Scrape the sides 

 clean, and notice the depth at which the change of color occurs between the soil and 

 subsoil. Take a sample of the soil above this by cutting oft^ a slice of soil down to the 

 change of color about 6 or 8 lbs., and mi.x this thoroughly together. Fill one of the 

 small bags with this well mixed soil, tie it securely and label it with such information 

 as will serve to identify it when it is received in the laboratory. Then clean out the 

 hole again, and scrape the sides so as to get rid of every particle of the top soil, and 

 take a sample of the subsoil in like manner by cutting down a slice of the subsoil and 

 thoroughly mixing it together, so that the sample shall contain particles of the subsoil 

 from immediately below the top soil to a depth of at least 24 inches Put the sample of 

 subsoil into a separate bag, tie it securely and label it. If there is no apparent difference 

 between the soil and subsoil, take a sample of the soil nevertheless to a depth of 6 inches 

 from the surface, and a sample of the subsoil from below this to a depth of 24 inches, 

 and put them in separate bags as above. If the character of the subsoil materially 

 changes before the depth of 24 inches is reached, a separate sample of this changed 

 material should be taken, and the depth noted at which the change occurs. 



The Officers engaged in the Field Work. 



The field officers engaged in the work have left a good name 

 behind them at the farms co-operating in the experiments. They 

 have carried their duties out conscientiously^ and have shown zeal 

 and industry in all their actions. I recognise how greatly the success 

 of such work depends upon the tact and general conduct of officers 

 towards the farmers they are brought into frequent contact with. 

 The officers engaged in the work were : — 



T. J. Castle Geo. Swift W. M. Jones 



E. S. Hill P. R. Whelan Wm. Dowie 

 A. J. Whelan D. Hutson 



Jas. Robb H. Winne 



In addition to these officers my young laboratory assistant, Mr. 

 Leslie Bidstrup, cai'ried through the duties of an independent field 

 officer, and was at times allotted a directing supervisory power over 

 the work of the officers. The necessity of a scientifically trained man 

 to directly supervise certain phases of the field work has been 

 recognised by me, and Mr. Bidstrup entered the field with a view of 

 securing a training in field operations in addition to his knowledge 

 of laboratory practices. 



III. THE EDUCATIONAL WORK OF 

 THE BRANCH. 



The expansion of the educational activities of the Branch during 

 the year has been a most marked one. This has principally been due 

 to the prominent part my officers have taken in the short agricultural 

 classes initiated by the Director. 201 lectures have been given by 

 officers of the Branch during the year, and engagements at present 

 entered into will necessitate the delivery of 103 more prior to the end 

 of September. Seven centres have been visited, and a course of 

 agricultural lectures given, extending over a month in each. 



The officers engaged in this work during the yeai from the 

 Agricultural Laboratory were : — 



F. E. Lee C. A. E. Price H. Dowling- 

 R. M. Osborn W. C. Robertson E. Trend " 

 P. S. Garnsworthv 



