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DsSTKUCTIONS FOE SELECTING AND SENDING SAMPLES 
FOR ANALYSIS. 
ARTIFICIAL MANURES.— Take a large handful of the manure from three 
or four bags, mix the whole on a large sheet of paper, breaking down with the 
hand any lumps present, and fold up in tinfoil, or in oil-silk, about 3 oz. of the 
well-mixed sample, and send it to 12, Hanover Square, W., by post; or 
place the mixed manure in a small wooden or tin box, which may be tied by 
string, but must not be sealed, and send it by post. If the manure be very wet 
and lumpy, a larger boxful, weighing from 10 to 12 oz., should be sent either 
by post or railway. 
Samples not exceeding 4 oz. in weight may be sent by post, by attaching two 
penny postage stamps to the parcel. 
Samples not exceeding 8 oz., for three postage stamps. 
Samples not exceeding 12 oz., for four postage stamps. 
The parcels should be addressed: Dr. J. Augustus Voelcker, 12, Hanoveb 
Square, Lomx)x, W., and the address of the sender or the number of mark of 
the article be stated on parcels. 
The samples may be sent in covers, or in boxes, bags of linen or other materials. 
No parcel sent by post must exceed 12 oz. in weight, 1 foot 6 inches in length, 
9 inches in width, and 6 inches in depth. 
SOILS. — Have a wooden box made 6 inches long and wide, and from 9 to 12 
inches deep, according to the depth of soil and subsoil of the field. Mark out in the 
field a space of about 1 2 inches square ; dig round in a slanting direction a trench, 
so as to leave undisturbed a block of soil with its subsoil 9 to 12 inches deep ; 
trim this block or plan of the field to make it fit iato the wooden box, invert the 
open box over it, press down firmly, then pass a spade under the box and lift it 
up, gently turn over the box, nail on the lid, and send it by goods or parcel train 
to the laboratory. The soil will then be received in the exact position in which 
it is found in the field. 
In the case of very light, sandy, and po'cus soils, the wooden box may be at 
once inverted over the soil and forced down by pressure, and then dug out. 
WATERS. — The water, if possible, should be sent in a glass-stoppered Win- 
chester half-gallon bottle, which is readily obtained in any chemist and drug- 
gist's shop, if Winchester bottles cannot be procured, the water may be sent in 
perfectly clean new stoneware spirit-jar?, surrounded by wickerwork. For the 
determination of the degree of hardness before and after boiling, only one quart 
wine-bottle full of water is required. 
LIMESTONES, MARLS, IRONSTONES, AND OTHER MINERALS.— 
Whole pieces, weighing from 3 to 4 oz., should be sent enclosed in small linen 
bags, or wrapped in paper. Postage 2d., if under 4 oz. 
OILCAKES. — Take a sample from the middle of the cake. To this end break a 
whole cake into two. Then break off a piece from the end where the two halves 
were joined together, and wrap it in paper, and send by parcels post. The piece 
should weigh at least from 10 to 12 oz. If sent by railway, one quarter or half 
a cake should be forwarded, carriage prepaid,. 
FEEDING MEALS.— About 3 oz. will be sufficient for analysis. Enclose the 
meal in a small linen bag. Send it by post. 
On forwarding samples, separate letters should be sent to the laboratory, 
specifying the nature of the information required, and, if possible, the object 
in view. 
