126, 127] Sampling of Soils 89 



block of soil with its subsoil from 9 to 12 inches deep ; trim 

 this block or plan of the field so as to make it fit into the 

 wooden box ; invert the box over it, press down firmly, then 

 pass a spade under the box and lift it up. Gently turn over 

 the box and nail on the lid. The soil will then be received in 

 the exact position in which it is found in the field. 



' In the case of very light, sandy, and porous soils, the 

 wooden box may be at once inverted over the soil, forced 

 down by pressure, and then dug out.' 



126. Highland and Agricultural Society. — ' Dig a little trench 

 about 2 feet deep, exposing the soil and subsoil. Cut from the 

 side of this trench horizontal scrapings of the soil down to the 

 top of the subsoil. Catch these on a clean board, and collect 

 in this manner about one pound weight of soil taken from the 

 whole surface of the section. Similar scrapings of subsoil 

 immediately below should be taken and preserved separately. 



1 Five or six similarly drawn samples should be taken from 

 different parts of the field, and kept separate while being sent 

 to the chemist, that he may examine them individually before 

 mixing in the laboratory.' 



127. Transit. — Where samples are to be sent by post, 

 the following precautions should be taken : 



Bottles should be enclosed in boxes or hampers. 



Acid manures or ensilage should not be sent in tins, but in 

 pots or bottles. 



Substances which are liable to gain or lose moisture should 

 not be sent in bags, but in closed tins or well- stoppered jars or 

 bottles. 



