244, QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Sepr., 1899. 
Roots are treated in a similar manner. The leaves are cut, weighed fresh, 
and a 10-lb. average sample taken from the combined crop of the similarly 
manured plots, to serve for the determination of dry matter. The roots are 
placed in a tared basket, 23 feet deep and 2 feet in diameter, weighed, and a 
sample of the combined similarly manured crops taken for ascertaining the 
weight of adhering mould and dry matter. % 
HOW SHOULD THE YIELD OF MEADOWS AND CLOVER FIELDS BE 
DETERMINED? 
Meadows and clover fields are cut at the usual period. The masses 
harvested from each particular plot are wrapped in cloths in quantities of about 
140 to 160 Ib. Mean samples of about 10 lb. each are taken from the duplicate 
plots, marked, carried, weighed, exposed to dry in a suitable place where they 
are protected from loss by wind, &c. When dry they are again weighed, and 
the yield of dry substance is recorded. 
The harvested crop cannot be efficiently dried in the field or meadow, inas- 
much as rain, loss of leaf, and all sorts of uncontrollable disturbing influences 
lead to errors that make results quite unreliable. 
IS A CHEMICAL EXAMINATION at SES PASO ICN AND OF THE SOIL OF 
A 
This question is to be answered decidedly in the affirmative, because, in 
addition to the weight of the produce, a knowledge of the total amount of 
nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash in the harvested product, and of the store 
of these constituents in the soil, is absolutely necessary in order either to obtain 
a satisfactory insight into the manurial requirements of the soil, or to forma 
clear and decided judgment on the action of the manurings. 
Therefore, samples of harvested produce should be sent to an agricultural 
chemist, of recognised ability, to be subjected to chemical analysis. ‘Moreover, 
it is advantageous to send in a sample of the particular soil for the same purpose. 
The soil sample should be taken from the unmanured plot, and it is recommended 
to defer taking it until the end of the experiment—that is, until after the 
gathering of harvest—for then only can it be known whether a chemical exami- 
nation of the soil is requisite or not. Jf any derangement, omission, or 
inaccuracy has occurred in the conduct of the experiments, or if the yields 
from duplicate plots differ too widely from one another on account of the 
inequalities of the soil, the whole experiment would, as a matter of course, be 
worthless, and there would be no need for an examination of the soil. 
The sample is taken in the following way :—A pit 1 foot deep, with sides 
as straight as possible, is dug with a spade and spoon-shaped shoyel, the earth 
removed is collected in a barrow, and a similar proceeding is followed at another 
spot on the same plot, and then two holes are excavated in the same way in 
each of the duplicate plots, so that the barrow ultimately contains the samples 
taken from six different spots. 
The contents of the barrow are then carefully mixed, and an average 
sample of about 10 lb. taken, put into an unused sack and sent to the chemist. 
Particular care must be taken that a perfectly clean sack is used, and on no © 
account must a manure sack be used for this purpose, even if it has been 
washed. 
WHAT NOTES SHOULD BE MADE CONCERNING THE FIELD, -PREVIOUS 
CROPPING, &c., &c.? 
Notes on the general condition of the soil, and on its cultivation, as well 
as information of the previous cropping, and of the period and magnitude of 
the last dressing with farmyard manure, or of any green manuring, or of the 
use of other manures in preceding years; all must be known in order to form a 
correct judgment on the results of the experiments. It is useful to have forms 
upon which to enter these data. 
