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Should the soil in various parts of the block show a very marked 

 difference, it will be necessary to divide the block into two or more 

 parts. Should the different soil occur only in a small patch, this 

 sample may be left out. 



Not less than three samples should be taken in each section. A 

 greater number is to be preferred, as a better average will be obtained. 

 In order to obtain a fair average sample of the soil from a block of, 

 land, as nearly as possible equal quantities of soil are collected from 

 various parts of the field. 



At the places chosen for the taking of the samples the surface is 

 slightly scraped with a sharp tool, to remove any surface vegetation 

 which has not as yet become part of the soil, 



Vertical holes from 10 to l8 inches square are dug in the ground 

 to a depth of 3 feet. The holes are dug out like post-holes ; an earth- 

 auger facilitates the operation considerably, and the holes may be 

 trimmed with the spade afterwards, and the holes cleaned out. 



Careful note of the appearance of the freshly cut soil of any 

 intermediate layer and of the subsoil should be taken. The depth of 

 the real soil, which in most cases is easily distinguished, is also 

 measured and noted for each hole. Note how deep the roots of the 

 surface vegetation reach into the soil. If the soil changes gradually 

 into the sub-soil, as is the case in some places where the soil is of very 

 great depth, this line of division can only be guessed approximately, 

 and it is best to take the soil uniformly to a depth of 12 inches. 



With a spade a slice of soil, from 3 to 4 inches thick, down to the 

 beginning of the subsoil or to a depth of 12 inches, is now cut off and 

 put on to a clean bag. The same is (tone with the sub-soil, and the 

 slice is taken from v;here the soil ends (or 12 inches) to the bottom of 

 the hole, and this subsoil placed on another bag. Stones over the 

 size of a pea may be picked out, the rough quantity of such stones 

 estimated, and a few enclosed with the samples. Fine roots must not 

 be taken out from the soil samples. The same operation is repeated 

 at the other places chosen. Take careful note and give description 

 of soils in each hole, as numbered and marked on plan. The samples 

 of soil collected on the ( ne bag are thoroughly mixed by breaking up 

 any large clods, and about lO lb. of the mixed soil are put into a clean 

 canvas bag, which is securely tied up and labelled. The same is done 

 with the samples of subsoil collected separately on the other bag. 



All the samples collected are afterwards placed in a wooden box. 



It is important to use clean bags and clean boxes, and also that 

 the samples should not be left in the neighbourhood of stables or 

 manure heaps. 



