CONVENTION OF ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL A(;RICULTURAL 



CHEMISTS, 1903. 



H. W. Lawson, 

 Office of Experiment Stations. 



The twentieth annual convention of the Association of Official Agri- 

 cultural Chemists was held at the Columbian University, Washington, 

 D, C, November 19-21, 1903, the president of the association, R. J. 

 Davidson, presiding. In his opening address the pi"esident called 

 attention to the desirability of uniform fertilizer laws and proper 

 standards for use in inspection work. An examination of the ferti- 

 lizer laws of 23 States showed no mutual agreement as regards 

 requirements or the form of statement of composition of fertilizers. 

 The association was urged to exert its influence in bringing about 

 a conformity of fertilizer laws to some definite standard, and having 

 plain, simple, and intelligent statements made regarding fertilizer 

 constituents. The limit of error or deficiency allowable in the per- 

 centage composition of fertilizers was considered, and attention was 

 called anew to the resolution adopted by the association in 1900 recom- 

 mending that the form of nitrogen in fertilizers be determined and 

 reported upon. The speaker commended to the consideration of the 

 association the matter of a uniform method of stating the results of 

 investigations, a change in the temperature used for the graduation 

 of measuring apparatus, and the republishing of Battle and Dancy's 

 chemical conversion tables: and urged the importance of a more 

 hearty cooperation by members of the association in the testing of 

 methods. 



The latter point was also emphasized in a brief address by H. W. 

 Wiley, l)earing on the needs of the association. The matter of repub- 

 lishing the conversion tables was referred to a committee consisting of 

 H. B. McDonnell, C. B. Williams, and B. B. Ross, with directions to 

 report upon this subject to the secretary of the association. 



Hon. James Wilson, Secretar}^ of Agriculture, and Dr. Charles W. 

 Needham, president of Columbiaii University, were present upon invi- 

 tation, and addressed the association. Secretary Wilson characterized 

 the work of the association as of great value to the country, and 

 spoke briefl}' of the progress being made in the execution of the law 

 regarding the importation of food products, declaring that we have 



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