Analyses of Dorset Soils. 



207 



These points will remain to be fully dealt with in the final 

 report. Moreover, several interesting and important points 

 in connection with the Dorset soils have presented them- 

 selves during the past year, which will receive further atten- 

 tion in the subsequent course of the investigation. 



The present report consequently, in addition to explanatory 

 matter as to the methods of taking the samples and of analy- 

 sing them, treats the fields individually. Some comparative 

 tables, showing the percentages of the principal plant-foods 

 (nitrogen, phosphates, and potash) found in the different 

 fields have, however, been drawn up, and serve to give a 

 general idea of the amounts of these substances met with up 

 to the present. 



The report is drawn up from two different points of view. 

 The first part by Mr. C. M. Luxmoore, entitled " The Soils in 

 the Laboratory," contairis the results of the analyses, with 

 remarks thereon ; while the second portion is drawn up by 

 Mr. Gilchrist, ar : d contains the discussion on " The Soils in 

 the Field," with suggestions for manuring. 



The general method of taking a sample is as follows : — 

 A suitable district, where there is a considerable amount of 

 land of the same character, is chosen ; local information as 

 to the agricultural and other characteristics of the soils is 

 collected from the farmers of the district. In each case 

 three boxes of soil and subsoil are taken from a field which 

 is of well-marked geological character and is throughout 

 of somewhat the same nature. Usually these three samples 

 are taken from points in a diagonal line, so that one is from 

 the middle and the other from two corners or ends of the 

 field. The boxes are made of wood, six inches by six inches 

 by eighteen inches inside measurement, and each' contains a 

 section of the soil and subsoil to a depth of eighteen inches. 

 The method is to dig round a block of soil, over which the 

 box is inverted and driven downwards as digging proceeds. 

 It is found that the line between soil and subsoil is usually 

 well marked. 



On reaching the laboratory, the contents of the boxes are 

 divided into soil and subsoil. As a rule, this is done at a depth 

 of nine inches, but sometimes six inches appears to coincide 



