ich his scholars at Bootham School, York,
have worked. They are inserted here to afford hints to other teachers
and to show how the lessons may be varied. They should also prove
useful for revising and testing the scholars' knowledge.

1. Collect samples of the different soils in your neighbourhood--garden
soil, soil from a ploughed field, from a mole-hill in a pasture field,
leaf mould from a wood, etc. Collect also samples of the sub-soils,
sand, gravel, clay, peat.

2. Supplement your collection by purchasing from a gardener's shop some
mixed potting soil and also the separate ingredients used to form such
a mixture--silver sand, leaf mould, peat.

3. How many different sorts of peat can you get samples of? Peat
mould, peat moss litter, sphagnum moss, turf for burning, dry moor peat?

4. Find for what different purposes sand is in use, such as mortar
making, iron founding, scouring, bird cages, and obtain samples of each
kind.

{129}

Analysis of Garden Soil. About a handful of soil will be required by
each pupil.

5. Describe the appearance of the soil. Is it fine or in lumps? Does
it seem damp or dry? Can you see the separate particles of mineral
matter? How large are these? Is there any evidence of vegetable
matter in the soil?

6. Put some of the soil in an evaporating basin and over this place a
dry filtering funnel. Warm the basin gently. Is any moisture given
off?

7. Dry some of the soil at a temperature not greater than that of
boiling water, e.g. by spreading it out on a biscuit tin lid, and
laying this on a radiator. How have the appearance and properties of
the soil been changed by drying?

8. Crumble some of the dried soil as finely as you can with your
fingers. Then sift it through a sheet of clean wire gauze. What
fraction of the soil is fine enough to go through the gauze? Describe
the portion which will not pass through the gauze. Count the number of
wires per linear inch in the gauze.

9. Mix some of the soil with water in a flask. Let it stand. How long
does it take before the water becomes quite clear again?

10. Mix some more soil with water. Let it settle for 30 seconds only.
Pour off the muddy water into a tall glass cylinder. Add more water to
the remaining soil, and pour off a second portion of muddy water,
adding it to the first, and so on until all the fine mud is removed
from the soil. Allow this muddy water ample time to settle.

11. When the fine