IV. 



INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE SAMPLING OF MATE- 

 RIALS TO BE SENT ON FOR EXAMINATION WITH 

 STATEMENTS OF CONDITIONS TO SECURE 

 ANALYSES FREE OF CHARGE. 



It is of the utmost importance that parties forwarding fertilizing 

 substances for examination should take particular pains in sampling, 

 packing and forwarding such materials, in order that the analyses 

 obtained may represent the average composition of the goods 

 sampled, that no' addition or loss of moisture in transportation may 

 happen, and that the package be addressed to the proper depart- 

 ment. 



All samples are received and entered in the order of their arrival 

 at this office. Each sample is assigned a number and is taken up 

 for investigation in the order in which it has been received. 



All samples should be addressed to Dr. C. A. Goessmann, Chem- 

 ical Department of the Hatch Experiment Station, Amherst, 

 Mass., to prevent confusion and possible delay. Express charges 

 must always be prepaid. The name of the sender should be 

 enclosed in an envelope and placed inside the receptacle together 

 with a statemeut of the nature of the material forwarded for analysis ; 

 whether it is an agricultural chemical, mixed fertilizer, a wood ash 

 or the by-product of some manufacturing industry. 



The receipt of all samples will be acknowledged by return mail 

 and the results of analysis will be forwarded free of charge to all 

 farmers as soon as completed. 



The results of all analyses of samples made at the Station, free of 

 charge, are considered at the disposal of the managers for publica- 

 tion if deemed advisable. 



SAMPLING OF MATERIAL IN BULK. 



In sampling such material as wood ashes, cotton hull ashes and 

 in fact any material in bulk, portions should be taken from various 

 parts of the heap and placed on a thick, smooth piece of paper and 

 thoroughly mixed ; from this mixture should be drawn a sample of 

 about one pound which should be placed in a clean bottle, jar or tin 



