=86. Compact Soils.=—If the soils are not sufficiently loose to be treated as before described, it is necessary to have recourse to other means of division, which should not, however, be sufficiently energetic to reduce the rocky elements to fine particles. For this purpose the earth may be broken by means of a wooden mallet, striking it lightly and separating the fine elements from time to time by sifting. A wooden roller may also be used with a little pressure, for breaking up the particles or a roller made out of a large glass bottle. These methods will permit of a sufficiently fine division of the soil without breaking up any of the pebbles. Sometimes, however, a soil can not be broken up by such treatment. It is then necessary to have recourse to the following process: The soil is thoroughly moistened and afterwards rubbed up with water. The paste which is thus formed, is poured upon the sieve and washed with a stream of water until all the fine particles are removed. The wash water and the fine particles are left standing until the silt is thoroughly deposited when the supernatant water is poured off and the deposited moist earth is transferred into a large dish and dried on a sand or water-bath. In this way a firm paste is formed which can be worked up with the hand until rendered homogeneous and afterwards an aliquot portion be taken to determine moisture. =87. Method of Peligot.=—The method recommended by Peligot[66] for the preparatory treatment of the sample is essentially that already described. The sample is at first dried in the air and then in an oven at 120°. When dry and friable 100 grams are placed in a mortar and rubbed with a wooden pestle. It is then passed through a sieve of ten meshes per centimeter. The largest particles which remain in the sieve should have about the dimensions of a pin’s head. The stones are separated by hand. They should be shaken with water in order to detach any pulverulent particles adhering thereto. The turbid water resulting from this treatment is added to that which is used in separating the sand from the impalpable part of the soil. =88. Wahnschaffe= prescribes[67] in the further preparation of the sample for analysis that the coarse pieces up to the size of a walnut be separated in the field where the sample is taken and their relative weight and mineralogical character determined. The soil sample is then to be placed in linen or strong paper bags and carefully labelled. In order to avoid any danger of loss of label the description or number of the sample should be put on the cloth or paper directly.