84 Samples and Sampling [118, 119 



workable size. It is then broken up, and the laboratory 

 sample taken as before. 



118. Sampling aided by Grinding.— Fortunately, in 

 agricultural work, such rough methods as those described in 

 the last article are seldom necessary. The manure manufac- 

 turer materially aids the sampler when he grinds the mineral ; 

 for, whether it be for the preparation of superphosphate or for 

 direct application to the land, the substance must pass through 

 this process. 



When a mineral is ground or crushed two ends are gained. 

 In the first place, the particles of the substance are reduced in 

 size ; and, in the second, these particles are more or less 

 thoroughly mixed, so that after grinding it is far more homo- 

 geneous in character than it was before. 



119. The Sampling of Manures.— This subject has 

 been so thoroughly dealt with by Dr. J. A. Voelcker in 

 the ' Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society ' that no 

 better advice can be given than is contained in the following 

 quotation : 



' If a purchase consists of six or any lesser number of bags, 

 each one should be opened and a portion drawn from each 

 bag ; if it consist of a much larger number, then a dozen bags, 

 or certainly not less than six bags, should be taken out from 

 different parts of the delivery and be set aside for the purpose 

 of drawing a sample from them. Having set these aside, the 

 very best way with any ordinary artificial manure — such as 

 superphosphate, dissolved bones, bone-meal, compound 

 manures, nitrate of soda, kainit, and other salts (anything, in 

 fact, that is in a fairly powdery and uniform condition, and not 

 bulky or matted together like shoddy or similar refuse mate- 

 rials) — is to provide oneself with a special instrument which we 

 call a " sampler." This is an iron tool about 2 feet 6 inches 

 long, very like a cheese sampler, and fitted with a wooden 



