The essential conditions to be observed are the proper sifting of the material and avoidance of mechanical communition of the solid particles too large to pass the meshes of the sieve. If possible the material should be passed through a sieve of one millimeter mesh. In cases where this is impracticable a larger mesh may be used, but as small as will secure the necessary separation. Before final chemical analysis a half millimeter mesh sieve should be employed if the soil be of a nature which will permit its use. Over-heating of the sample should be avoided. Rapid drying is advisable when the samples are to be examined for nitrates. The method recommended by the French commissions seems well adapted to the general treatment of samples, but the analyst must be guided by circumstances in any particular soil. AUTHORITIES CITED IN PART SECOND. Footnote 39: Bulletin 38, pp. 61–2. Footnote 40: Ms. communication to author. Footnote 41: Bulletin No. 10. Footnote 42: Landwirtschaftliche Versuchs-Stationen, Band 38, Ss. 309 et seq. Footnote 43: Annales de la Science Agronomique, Tome 1, Part 2, p. 240. Footnote 44: Agricultural Chemical Analysis, p. 166. Footnote 45: Zeitschrift für analytische Chemie, Band 3, S. 87. Footnote 46: Anleitung zur Wissenschaftlichen Bodenuntersuchung, S. 17. Footnote 47: Traité de Chimie Analytique, p. 149. Footnote 48: Bulletin 35, p. 108. Footnote 49: Op. cit. Footnote 50: Bulletin 10, p. 33. Footnote 51: Analyse des Matières Agricoles, p. 131. Footnote 52: Bulletin 38, p. 200. Footnote 53: This in some instances would include a part of the subsoil. Footnote 54: All soils do not become friable on drying. Footnote 55: Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, (2), Vol. 25, p. 12. Footnote 56: Annales de la Science Agronomique, Tome 1, Part Second, pp. 240 et seq. The personnel of the commission is as follows: MM. Risler, Grandeau, Joulie, Schloesing, and Müntz. Footnote 57: Vid. 7. Footnote 58: Anleitung zur Wissenschaftlichen Bodenuntersuchung, S. 17. Footnote 59: Untersuchung Landwirtschaftlich und Gewerblich Wichtiger Stoffe, S. 5. Footnote 60: Seventh Annual Report of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, p. 161. Footnote 61: Deutsche Landwirtschaftliche Presse, Band 19, No. 35, Ss. 383–4. Footnote 62: Journal American Chemical Society, Vol. 16, p. 36. Footnote 63: Agricultural Chemical Analysis, p. 168. Footnote 64: Vid. 7. Footnote 65: Vid. 16. Footnote 66: Vid. 9. Footnote 67: Vid. 8, p. 19. Footnote 68: Methods of Analysis of Soils, Fertilizers, etc., adopted by the Swedish Agricultural Chemists, translated for the author by F. W. Woll. Footnote 69: L’Analyse du Sol, p. 14. PART THIRD. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS.