sample may be secured as follows : Open the requisite number of 

 bags, thoroughly mix the contents of the top of each bag with both 

 hands, then take a double handful from each bag and place upon a 

 clean paper. Mix the several amounts and pack and send as described 

 under (a). 



Cottonseed meal : In order to be representative a sample must 

 be drawn from twenty bags of every car. (See special circular 

 concerning rebate). 



Distillers^ and breivers^ dried grains and similar coarse material 

 should be sampled by means of a tube run the entire length of 

 the bag, or the contents of the bags should be emptied on the 

 floor, well mixed and sampled as under (a). A sample taken 

 from the top of the bag is not representative for the reason that the 

 finer portions, rich in protein, are likely to settle to the bottom. 



(c) Sampling Soils. 



The taking of representative soil samples to be used for a chemical 

 examination is of the first importance, for unless proper care is 

 exercised the results secured will have no particular meaning. The 

 samples should be taken from different portions of the field and to a 

 depth not exceeding the downward limit of the surface soil. After 

 selecting a place, pull up all growing vegetation and remove all surface 

 matter which is not a part of the soil. Dig a hole about two feet 

 square, making the sides smooth and clean by means of a sharp 

 shovel or other instrument ; now place a sharp bladed shovel at the 

 point of separation of the surface soil from the subsoil, and by means 

 of another flat bladed instrument shave off a portion (about two 

 inches) from all four sides of the aperture, letting the soil fall into 

 the shovel which is held in a proper position to receive the same. 

 Place the soil in a suitable receptacle and proceed to take other 

 samples in like manner from several different parts of the field. The 

 bulk of soil which has thus been taken is now placed on a clean 

 floor or on a large piece of thick paper and thoroughly broken up and 

 mixed ; a pound sample is then drawn, packed and shipped as 

 described under (a). Soil should be sampled only when the weather 

 conditions are normal. 



Statements should accompany the sample or be sent by letter, 

 stating the locality, depth at which the sample was taken, nature and 



