48 Continuous Corn Growing. 
from foremen and others who had worked on the farm, but 
nothing very definite could be ascertained either as to the 
number of samples, the manner in which they were taken up, 
or the spots at which they were collected. The natural 
variations in the soils, to which reference has been made, 
complicate the matter still further, cause the appearance of 
discrepancies which are brought out in a comparison of the 
earlier and later analyses, and prevent this comparison from 
being as accurate a one in all respects as might otherwise have 
been the case. 
The fresh samples of soil were taken from the three fields — 
Broadfield, Blackacre, and White Moor. In each field an area 
was selected where, so far as could be ascertained, the earlier 
samples of 1865 and 1877 had been taken, and from this two 
different samples were taken in the case of Broadfield and 
Blackacre, and three samples in that of White Moor. The 
samples were blocks of soil, of surface measurement, 6 in. by 
6 in., taken to a depth of 9 in. In addition, in Broadfield and 
White Moor, a number of borings of soil were taken with a 
sampling-iron or auger, and these were separately examined 
afterwards. After the samples had been taken, as described, 
it was evident, on comparing them, that considerable variations 
existed, and that the real difficulty in forming a conclusion as 
to deterioration of the soil would consist in the obtaining of 
samples which were fairly comparable with the similar samples 
taken at the earlier dates. It was impossible, as explained, 
to do more than get samples which represented as nearly 
as possible the present condition of the soil of each field. 
The soil of Broadfield was lighter in colour than the 
others ; it was more of a clay loam than a clay, and had a 
few small flints together with pieces of chalk. The Blackacre 
soil was of darker colour, and the chalk in it was more finely 
divided and better distributed than in Broadfield soil. The 
three samples taken from White Moor showed some differences 
between themselves : one being a much stiff er and deeper clay 
than the other two ; a second was a yellower clay, but shallower 
and without any chalk stones ; while the third was a more 
loamy clay with abundance of chalk stones. The respective 
samples from each separate field were mixed together to form 
an average sample for that field. The borings taken with the 
auger were similarly mixed to make up average samples. The 
various samples, after preparation and air drying, were then 
analysed, and their respective compositions are set out in the 
Table on page 49, side by side with the corresponding analyses 
of 1877. 
Taking Broadfield first, the main point brought out in com- 
paring the composition of the soil in 1877 with that in 1903, is 
