CONVENTION OF ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL AGRICULTURAL 



CHFMISTS, i8()4. 



The eleventh annual convention of the Association of Official Agri- 

 cultural Chemists was held in the lecture room of the National Museum 

 at Washington, D. C, August 23-25. The first day's session was pre- 

 sided over by Vice-President H. A. Huston, the president, E. B. 

 Voorhees, being unavoidably detained until the second day. About GO 

 chemists were in attendance. 



In the president's address the history of the Association was l)riefly 

 reviewed. Its relations especially to the fertilizer industry were dis- 

 cussed; and the broadening of lines of investigation, more thorough 

 study of methods, particularly those for estimating the availability of 

 fertilizing constituents, and cooperation with foreign chemists were 

 urged. It was also urged that in the publication of fertilizer work the 

 practical application of the results should be more clearly brought out. 



Several new and important features were inaugurated at this session 

 of the Association. All proposed changes in methods were referred to 

 a committee, composed of the reporters for the year, before being acted 

 upon by the Association. The advantages ot this method of procedure 

 were apparent in the economy of time in the general sessions, more 

 intelligent action ou the part of the Association, and greater conserva- 

 tism. Another desirable action was the recommendation to the presi- 

 identof the Association that he continue the reporters in otfice for at 

 least two years, and the appointing of associate reporters. It was 

 believed that two years would give each reporter better opportunity to 

 develop his plan of work and carryit into effect than one year, enabling 

 him to profit the second year by his experience the first year. The 

 associate reporters are to assist in carrying out the work planned by 

 the reporters, and may succeed the latter. 



The constitution was also amended to provide that no changes in 

 official methods of fertilizer analysis vshall be made, except by unan- 

 imous consent, until an opportunity shall have been given to all official 

 chemists exercisingofficial fertilizer control to test the proposed changes. 



The scope of work of the Association was widened to include inves- 

 tigations of methods employed in the tanning industry, and a reporter 

 on tannin was provided for. 



A connnittee on revising and editing the methods of analysis, con- 

 sisting of L. L. Van Slyke, E. .1. -T. De Eoode, and W. D. Bigelow, was 

 appointed. 

 178 



