FOREWORD 



Tliis ]\Ianual is intended for the use of students studying soils, whether 

 they be in high schools, agricultural schools, or in colleges. It is believed 

 that the experimental method of studying soils serves to fix in mind their 

 characteristics and the principl(\s concerning their best management. 



The equipmc^nt to be used in performing these exercises is simple and 

 inexpensive. In a number of exercises suggestions are given for using tin cans 

 instead of regular soil tubes, and other similar substitutions are possible. 



Acknowledgments are due Ginn and Company, Boston, for the use of 

 certain exercises (4, 17, 25, and 26), somewhat adapted for use here from 

 "Soil Physics Laboratorj- ]\Ianual," by Mosier and Gustafson; to Prof. E. 0. 

 Pippin of Cornell University Department of Soil Technology, for the use of 

 exercises 3, 27, and 29, adapted from his ''Laboratory Guide in Agricultural 

 Soils," used by Cornell students in typewritten form. Many of the publica- 

 tions mentioned in the reference list have been drawn upon freely for aid. 

 Obligations are here expressed for the suggestions received from many books 



and papei-s on the subject. 



The Authors 

 April, 1915. 



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