THE SOIL THE HOME OF THE PLANTS. 45 



periment with it to find out how far the surface indi- 

 cations are correct. We begin by selecting a pleasant 

 day when the ground is dry, and with a spade and 

 basket dig up about a peck of the soil from the surface 

 of the nearest garden or flower-bed. Place the peck 

 of soil on a board or on a newspaper in a round heap, 

 and with the hand or a trowel stir it about till com- 

 pletely and thoroughly mixed. Then pile in a heap, 

 and carefully divide it into four equal parts. Take 

 one of these quarter-parts, and, placing it by itself, stir 

 and mix it again. The object of all this work is to get 

 a fair sample of the soil. Next weigh out of this last 

 lot half a pound of the soil, and spread it on a board 

 or table in some sheltered place to dry. If near an 

 open window or in a warm room, it should be com- 

 pletely dry in twelve hours or in one night. To hasten 

 the drying, it should be stirred or turned over occa- 

 sionally with a trowel. When quite dry, weigh it care- 

 fully again. It will be found much lighter than when 

 first taken from the ground. This loss of weight 

 comes from the water it held ; and we must here make 

 a record of the actual loss by drying in the air, or, as it 

 is called, in " air-drying." Next, place the soil in a 

 pan or flat dish, and place it in a hot oven or other 

 warm place for at least three hours or even longer. 

 This is " kiln-drying," or fire-drying it ; and in weigh- 

 ing it again, it will be found to be still lighter. It is 

 now dry soil, and we can begin to estimate the pro- 

 portion of inorganic matter it contains. Place a flat 

 iron shovel (a fire-shovel will do) over a hot fire, and 



