THE 
COFFEE PLANTER’S MANUAL, 
SECOND EDITION. 
DIRECTIONS FOR TAKING SAMPLES OF 
SOIL FOR ANALYSIS. 
(From Hughes’ Report on ‘‘ Ceylon Coffee Soils and 
Manures.’’) 
Having selected a piece of ground where the soil 
-appears uniform in composition, take a cubic foot of 
the surface soil, or a large spadeful to the depth of 
one foot, from at least six places from the selected 
spot ; mix the six portions thoroughly together in some 
central place, and send about 5 lbs. in a clean tin or 
wooden box. Each sample of soil sheuld be numbered, 
and the box marked with the name cf the estate in 
black letters. Samples should not be taken from re- 
cently manured ground, and where manure holes have 
been made in past years, great care must be taken to | 
-avoid such when drawing samples. 
For comparison it will be very useful to send a 
sample of good coffee soil, which should be specially 
marked. Information is ‘requested in reply to the 
following questions respecting the land from which the 
samples are taken :— 
The elevation and average rainfall, 
Situation as régards sun, wind, &c. 
General appearance and character of the sub-soll. 
What kind of drainage. 
Number of years in coffee. 
What manure, and what quantity has been 
used per acre; also the effect of same? 
Is there any natural peculiarity about the soil? 
What are the average crop returns per acre? 
What is the natural tendency of the soil as 
regards production of wood, leaf and crop? 
State any general particulars respecting the 
past history and present condition of the 
soil, that may be considered desirable. 
ANALYSES OF SOILS. 
A careful analysis of a soil requires much more time 
than is generally supposed. It frequently happens 
that certain operations have to be performed two or 
three times before the analytical results can be con- 
sidered to satisfactorily represent the correct com- 
position. 
The determinations of phosporic acid, nitrogen : and 
poeth require special care and delicacy of manipu- 
ation. 
COI ANRwWY= 
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