119] Sampling of Manures 85 



handle. It is made of U-shaped iron, with the end sharpened 

 and the edges rounded; the diameter of the groove being 

 about 1 inch.' 



This is represented in fig. 36. 



^ — 1 



Fig. 36. 



1 An instrument like this can be driven down into each of 

 the selected bags from top to bottom, and by tilting the bag, 

 giving the sampler a twist round, and then withdrawing it, a 

 section of the entire contents of the bag can be obtained. 

 This may be repeated once or twice for each bag, and other 

 similar sections taken from the other bags. The different lots 

 withdrawn must be thoroughly mixed together. Any lump 

 should be broken down with a shovel t and if the heap is too 

 much to form a conveniently sized sample for sending for 

 analysis, it should be reduced in amount by division and sub- 

 division. 



' This is best done by turning over the heap and mixing it 

 up carefully though quickly, flattening down any lumps, and 

 then dividing the heap into two halves ; one half may be re- 

 jected altogether, and the remainder again quickly turned over 

 and mixed thoroughly, divided as before, and so on as often as 

 may be necessary, until a quantity weighing only three or four 

 pounds is left. 



' Two well-fitting tins, each capable of holding from \ lb. 

 to 1 lb. of the material, should be then filled from the heap 

 thus left. One of these should be wrapped up and sent by 

 post to the analyst, and the other be kept by the farmer for 

 reference. Instead of a tin a wide-mouthed bottle with a 

 well-fitting cork may be used, and this be enclosed in a wooden 



