120 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



There are admittedly several places where orthodox ideas have 

 been differed from, but we have been unable to detect any bad 

 effects as the result of these differences. The breaking up of the 

 soil after beating in the mortar with a medium hard rubber 

 pestle is one of these, and while error might creep in by careless 

 or thoughtless manipulating, it is believed that with care any 

 appreciable error can be easily obviated. 



As there is a limit of error of from 2 to 5 per cent, by the long- 

 method in an analysis of the same soil, and as we came well 

 within this limit in every case, we believe that we are justified 

 in using this method for the breaking up of the soil particles. 



In all probability it may not break up all the agglomerates, 

 but so far in our experience the method has given perfectly satis- 

 factory results, when reasonable care is used. 



There may also be a slight loss of the finer particles in the 

 sifting, but no more than is usual even by the long method. 



In conclusion it may be said that where absolute accuracy is 

 desired we do not recommend this short method, but for a close 

 approximation it works very well. 



