12 The tlistory of a Field neniij laid doivn io Permanent Gh'cts^, 
The plan adopted in taking the samples is, to drive down 
a steel frame, 12 by 12 inches, and 9 inches deep, open at top 
and bottom, until the upper edge is level with the surface of 
the soil. All above-ground vegetation is then cut off as closely 
as possible with scissors. The soil enclosed within the frame 
is then carefully removed, exactly to the depth of the frame, 
and immediately weighed. The soil is then partially dried, and 
submitted to mechanical separation by a series of sieves. All 
visible vegetable matter is at the same time carefully picked 
ont. The stones, the roots, and the remaining soil, ai-e thus 
obtained separately ; and the determinations of dry matter, of 
nitrogen, and sometimes of carbon, and of other constituents, 
are made in the separated soil after being finely powdered. The 
loss of water at each stage of preparation, and on drying the 
samples as analysed, is also carefully determined. 
In January 1879 six samples from so many different places 
in the field were taken, and in September 1888 five samples. 
Table IV. (below) shows, in the upper division for each of the 
Table IV. — Soil Samples collected January 1, 1879, and 
September 26, 1888. 
QuantHlcs ])er acre. 
Samples 
Origiual soil 
as sampled 
Stones, da. 
Roots, &c. 
Water 
Fine soil (dry) 
Saviplcs collected January 1, 1879. 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
C 
lbs. 
3,642,024 
3,680,139 
3,647,469 
3,708,726 
3,771,343 
3,735,951 
lbs. 
800,061 
916,012 
894,613 
823,638 
1,028,125 
983,258 
lbs. 
10,400 
12,741 
8,875 
11,816 
9,529 
16,008 
lbs. 
769,040 
761,757 
762,057 
765,204 
782,051 
778,961 
lbs. 
2,002,523 
1,989,029 
1,981,924 
2,108,068 
1,951,638 
1,957,724 
Mean 
3,697,609 
907,618 
11,561 
769,846 
2,008,584 
Samples collected Scptcnibcr 26, 1888. 
I 
2 
3 
4 
5 
3,360,920 
3,422,183 
3,170,351 ' 
3,449,408 
3,431,711 
1,002,909 
1,035,307 
878,279 
752,771 
852,551 
10,346 
11,707 
7,623 
9,801 
12,523 
549,603 
550,803 
423,327 
627,722 
664,235 
1,798,008 
1,824,240 
1,861,122 
2,059,114 
2,002,402 
Mean 
3,366,915 
904,387 
10,400 
543,150 
1,908,978 
' Probably too little, as the soil appeared to rise in the sampling iron, owing, 
as was afterwards found, to a large stone directly under the edge of the frame ; 
probably part of this stone should have been included in the weight of sample. 
