44 



chance of obtainin<;- results with particular fertilisers, similar to those 

 demonstrated by field experiments on another farm in the locality. 



2. — When he decides to adopt some system of cropping or soil 

 treatment known to give good results elsewhere, but before embarking 

 on it wishes to ascertain how closely his soil conditions resemble those 

 where the method is known to answer. 



3. — When he is entering on a new farm and wishes to obtain as 

 complete information as possible al)out the soil. This is the most 

 difficult case of all^ and much time is saved by going over the land with 

 an expert and discussing with him on the spot the various points on 

 which information is desired. If no satisfactory field experiments 

 have been made on similar soils and no soil survey has been carried 

 out, the problem becomes more difficult, and the analyst cannot be 

 expected to do more than give a general opinion or submit schemes- 

 for consideration and trial. 



XXXIX. " Oil Taking Samples of Soil for Soil Siirueys.''' 

 E. J. Russell. Journal of the Board of Agriculture. 

 1916. 23, 342-349- 



The investigator should go over the district with the map and 

 divide it up into areas within which similar agricultural and vegetation 

 characteristics prevail. In moderately level regions these areas agree 

 tolerably well with those differentiated on the geological map so long as 

 the nature of the soil is fairly uniform throughout. Where the forma- 

 tion consists of alternations of sands and clays of no great thickness 

 the soil belts are neither wide nor very definite ; in this case the soils 

 should be graded between two limits^ the lighter and the heavier types 

 being described in some detail, and the various intervening grades 

 dealt with in a more general way. 



In hill districts it is necessary to distinguish between high land and 

 low land. 



The selection of spots for the final sampling presents some difficulty, 

 but the variations reported by the farmers often cause less trouble 

 than might be expected and arise from small differences in the amount 

 of calcium carbonate or organic matter, or in the water supply or 

 management. It is immaterial for the purposes of the survey whether 

 the samples are taken from pasture land or arable land, but it is well to 

 have samples from both. 



Very full information should be collected as to the agricultural 

 value of the land, the crops and manureu most suitable, the behaviour 

 of the soil during drought and wet weather, and any special points to 

 be observed during cultivation. Note should also be taken of the 

 position of the soil in regard to water supply, the relation of the strata 

 to the permanent water ta))le, etc. 



XL. " The Possibilities of Increased Crop Production.'^ 

 E. J. Russell. Presidential Address to the Agricultural 

 Section of the British Association, 19 16. Transactions 

 of the British Association. 



The three great lines of agricultural development in the United 

 Kingdom in the past have l)een {a) the introduction, usually from 



