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INSTRUCTIONS FOR 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 large 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 penny postage stamps. 
Samples between 8 and 12 oz. can be sent by parcels-post for threepence. 
The parcels should be addressed : Dr. J. Augustus Voelcker, 12, Han- 
over Square, London, 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. 
SOILS.— Have a wooden box made C 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 12 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 into 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 porous 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 
Winchester half-gallon bottle, which is readily obtained in any chemist and 
druggist's shop. If Winchester bottles cannot be procured, the water may be 
sent in perfectly clean new stoneware spirit-jars, 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 parcel- 
post. The piece should weigh at least from 10 to 12 oz. If sent by railwaj', 
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. 
