In comparison with other apparatus which are used for taking samples, it appears without doubt that with the one just described a better and less mixed portion of the soil can be obtained at great depths. The apparatus is said to have many advantages over a similar one known as Fraenkel’s, and is much more easy to clean. The advantages of the apparatus are said to be the following: The farmer with this piece of apparatus in a short time can go over his whole farm taking samples to the depth of ninety centimeters since a single boring does not take more than one minute. Geologists and others interested in the soil at greater depths can use an apparatus three to four meters in length and obtain unmixed samples from these lower depths. These are also interesting from a bacteriologic point of view. The entire apparatus is especially valuable for the investigation of the lower parts of peat and muck soils. The apparatus has been tried in the collection of samples for the laboratory of the Department of Agriculture and is too complicated to be recommended for ordinary use. When however samples are to be taken at great depths as in peat soils it is highly satisfactory. =78. Soil Sampling= depends for its success more on the judgment and knowledge of the collector than on the method employed and the apparatus used. One skilled in the art and having correct knowledge of the purpose of the work will be able to get a fair sample with a splinter or a jack-knife while another with the most elaborate outfit might fail entirely in collecting anything of representative value. There are some special kinds of soil sampling, however, which cannot be left to the method of the individual and it is believed that with the descriptions given above nearly all purposes for which samples are desired may be served. For the study of nitrifying organisms, however, special precautions are required and these will be noted in a more appropriate place. In taking samples for moisture determinations the method of Whitney is recommended as the best. For the general physical and chemical analytical work the standard methods are all essentially the same. The principles laid down by Hilgard will be found a sufficient guide in most cases. TREATMENT OF SAMPLE IN THE LABORATORY.