58 
BULLETIN L216, I', s. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
II. PREPARATION OF SAMPLE. 
Preparation 
of sample. 
3. The sample shall be melted and stirred thoroughly, avoid- 
ing Incorporating air babbles in the mass, and then poured into 
the ring so as to Leave an excess on cooling. The ring, while 
being filled, should rest on a brass plate which has been amal- 
gamated to prevent the bituminous material from adhering to it. 
After cooling, the excess material shall he cut off cleanly with 
a slightly heated knife. 
No./5 B$S Gage 
Brass Wire- 
Assembly 
of Apparatus 
Fig 
Proper Position 
of Ball. 
'A. — Apparatus for ring-and-l#all iuethod. 
III. PROCEDURE. 
Method of 
test- 
materials of 
low softening 
points. 
(A) Bituminous Material Having Softening Points 80 c 
(17*;° F.) ok Below. 
O. 
1. Assemble the apparatus as shown in Figure 3. Fill the 
ressel to b depth of substantially 8.25 centimeters (3.25 
inches) with freshly boiled, distilled water 5° C. (41° F.). 
Place the ball In the center of the upper surface of the bitumen 
in the ring and suspend it In the water so that the lower sur- 
face of the filled ring is exactly 2.54 centimeters (1 inch) above 
the bottom of the glass vessel and its upper surface is 5.08 cen- 
