184 



the question of determining what should be designated as "available potash," pro- 

 vided for in a resolution adopted in 1906, be undertaken by a special referee or associate 

 referee. 



PHOSPHORIC ACID. 

 It is recommended 



(1) That the recommendation of 1907 be repeated, namely, that the referee on 

 phosphoric acid shall take up for report, at the next meeting of the association, methods 

 applicable under American conditions to the official examination of basic slag 

 phosphates. 



Adopted. 



(2) That the referee make a further study of methods for the preparation of neutral 

 ammonium citrate. 



Adopted. 



(3) That the referee investigate the amount of wash water to be employed in the 

 treatment of the residue from the ammonium citrate digestion. 



This recommendation was amended to include a study of the manner of filtering 

 and was so adopted. 



INORGANIC PLANT CONSTITUENTS. 

 It is recommended 



(1) That the method for the separation of iron and aluminum offered as an official 

 method be referred to the referee for 1909 for final recommendation. (See p. 93.) 



Adopted. 



(2) That further work be done on the sodium peroxid method for the determination 

 of total sulphur in plants and plant products (Bulletin 107, p. 23). 



Adopted. 



SOILS. 

 It is recommended 



(1) That the modified J. L. Smith method for total potassium be adopted as a pro- 

 visional method and be further studied. (Circular 32, p. 4.) 



This recommendation was adopted in the modified form, as presented by the com- 

 mittee, the referee having recommended its adoption as an optional method. 



(2) That the sodium peroxid fusion for total phosphorus be continued as a pro- 

 visional method and be further tested. (Bulletin 105, p. 145.) 



This recommendation also was adopted in the form presented by the committee, 

 the referee having recommended the adoption of the method as official. 



(3) That the magnesium nitrate method for total phosphorus be adopted as a pro- 

 visional method and be further tested. (See p. 115.) 



Adopted. 



(4) That the Knorr method for the determination of carbonates in soils be further 

 studied. (Wiley's Principles and Practice of Agricultural Analysis, vol. 1, ed. 1894, 

 p. 338; ed. 1906, p. 380.) 



Adopted. 



CONVERSION TABLES. 



Five conversion tables, submitted by W. J. Gascoyne, of Balti- 

 more, Md., for the consideration of the association, were referred to 

 Committee A, which recommended that the whole question of the 

 adoption of such tables be referred to a special committee, and after 

 some discussion the matter was referred to the standing committee 

 on revision of methods. 



