96 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



There were many interesting papers on the methods of agricultural 

 analysis. Several papers discussed the determination of phosphoric 

 acid in soils and fertilizers, dealing especially with the methods appli- 

 cable to phosphatic slags. The Wagner method of solution in ammo- 

 nium citrate of definite composition was advocated by nearly all those 

 taking part in the discussion. A paper by Dr. von Grueber gave 

 the official German method of determining iron and alumina in i^lios- 

 phates. The method of E. Glaser, as modified by Jones, is regarded 

 by German chemisls as the most reliable for this purpose. Peter- 

 mann discussed the detection and prevention of fraud in the sale of 

 commercial fertilizers, and Kjeldahl gave a brief statement of the pres- 

 ent methods of conducting his process for the determination of nitrogen 

 in moist combustion. There were also communications and resumes 

 on methods for the analysis of fats, distinguishing of butter from oleo- 

 margarin, and sugar analysis. A paper by the representative of this 

 Department on the importance of international agreement in methods 

 of agricultural analysis was followed by a general discussion and a 

 vote that the congress collect and publish in German and French the 

 official methods of France, Germany, and the United States. An 

 editor was appointed to take charge of this matter. There has been 

 much discussion on international cooperation and methods before the 

 Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, and it is a matter for 

 congratulation that this preliminary step in that direction has been 

 taken. 



Of quite general interest was a paper by Moissan on the electrical 

 furnace. The construction and operation of the furnace were described 

 and a large number of samples of typical compounds obtained at the 

 intense heat of the furnace were exhibited and a description given of 

 their physical and chemical properties. Another discussion of unusual 

 interest was devoted to the official graduation of instruments of ])ie- 

 cision. It was the general consensus of opinion that a uniform 100 gm. 

 weight of platinum should be adopted by all countries, and that all 

 implements and utensils for weight and volume should be referred to 

 this standard. The official meter was regarded by all to be the ultimate 

 standard of instruments to measure length. 



The chemistry of food and nutrition received a goodly share of atten- 

 tion. There were interesting communications on food adulteration, 

 the gases contained in canned goods, by Doremus, of New York, and 

 the difficult digestibility of sterilized milk; and one entire session was 

 devoted to the chemical study of processes of bread making, and espe- 

 cially to the methods of analysis of moist and dry gluten. An inter- 

 esting exhibition was given of the workings of the latest form of bomb 

 calorimeter for determining the thermal equivalents of food. The 

 emploj^ment of aluminum in the construction of cooking utensils and 

 its influence on the wholesomeness of food prepared therein was the 

 subject of a paper by Baroma. It was shown that with proper pre- 



