1917] NOTES. 299 



agriculture, and drew attention to tlie many opportunities for constructive 

 worli still available. 



The honorary president, Dr. H. W. Wiley, also addressed the convention and 

 spoke of the development of various branches of chemistry which he had been 

 privileged to observe. He pointed out the dependence of the public health and 

 welfare on the work of the chemist, and maintained that the important service 

 rendered justified adequate recognition by the people. 



The usual reports of the refei'ees and associate referees were read and dis- 

 cussed, and, following reports from the committees on recommendations of 

 referees, were accepted. It is expected that these reports will be published in 

 full in the Journal of the association at an early date. 



Dr. C. B. Lipman pointed out that many methods at present used for soil 

 analysis are of little value, while there are many methods used by soil chemists 

 throughout the country which yield excellent results but are not considered 

 official. He emphasized the necessity of gathering, studying, and revising 

 these various methods so as to produce, if possible, a uniform set of accurate 

 procedures for soil analysis. A special soil analysis committee composed of 

 the referee (Dr. Lipman), the associate referee (W. H. Mclntire), and E. C. 

 Shorey, A. W. Blair, and Robert Stewart, was appointed to consider these 

 matters. 



A committee was also appointed to study and consider the subject of the 

 sampling of fertilizers, to cooperate with a like committee from the fertilizer 

 section of the American Chemical Society. This committee consists of C. H. 

 Jones, W. J. Jones, jr., and B. F. Robertson. 



The report of the committee on editing methods of analysis was accepted, 

 and the committee continued and authorized to incorporate such further 

 changes in the methods as have been or might be recommended by the associa- 

 tion. The committee expressed the hope that it would soon be able to publish 

 the newly revised methods in compact and convenient form. 



A recommendation from the executive committee for a new classification of 

 subjects for the referees and associate referees was accepted. The new classifi- 

 cation is considered more uniform and consistent than its predecessor. Several 

 minor changes were also made in the constitution and by-laws. 



The secretary reported that the Journal of the association had removed its 

 financial deficit, and that its permanency seemed established. The number of 

 foreign subscriptions was deemed especially gratifying, indicating the wide- 

 spread appreciation of the value of the publication. A vacancy on the board 

 of editors, caused by the expiration of the term of Dr. L. L. Van Slyke, was 

 filled by his reappointment. 



The following special papers were read at the meeting : The Inosit Phosphoric 

 Acid of Cotton-Seed Meal, by J. B. Rather ; The Titration of Grain Extracts in 

 the Presence of Alcohol, and A Simple Method for Measuring the Acidity of 

 C;ereal Products and Its Application to Sulphured and Unsulphured Oats, by 

 V. Birckner ; Origin of the Neutralization Precipitate of Cow's Milk, by L. S. 

 Palmer ; The Separation and Gravimetric Estimation of Potassium, by S. B. 

 Kuzirian ; A New Rapid and Accurate Method for Estimating Lime and Potash 

 in Soils, by T. E. Keitt and C. J. King; The Occurrence and Determination of 

 As'' and As'" in the Presence of Each Other in Arsenical Insecticides, by 

 R. C. Roark ; The Relation of the Lime Requirement of Soils to Their Retention 

 of Ammonia, by L. P. Howard ; Titration of the Acidity of Colored Solutions, 

 by B. G. Hartmann ; A Note on the Calculation of the Volume of a Liquid from 

 Weight and Specific Gravity, and The Volatile Reducing Substances in Cider 

 Vinegar, by R. W. Balcom; The Isolation and Identification of Glycerin in 



