NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
409 
of a scheme for international cooperation in the collection and publication of 
chemical abstracts. 
Division of Geology and Geography. — The work of the Committee on Geo- 
logic Service in the field of military operations has been completed. The 
Secretary of War reports that the geologic service will be included in the work 
of the Engineer Corps, and General Black, Chief of Engineers, states that the 
Corps is taking up geologic work both in the United States and abroad. Ap- 
preciative reference is made to the work of our Division which seems to have 
served a good purpose. At the present time the geologic service of the Central 
Powers is greatly superior to that of America and our Allies and is very effec- 
tively employed; but there is no doubt that we shall soon surpass the German 
army in this field of endeavor. 
The committee on suggestions as to inclusion of materials from geography 
and geology in the training courses for officers and men, after a carefully con- 
ducted examination of the field, has made its report to the War Department. 
This report is very favorably received and will be acted upon in the near future. 
Much credit for this work is due Dr. C. P. Berkey. 
The committee on preparation of recommendations on the best organization 
of instruction in geology and geography has reported and this statement is in 
the hands of the Committee on Education and Special Training. 
Division of Agriculture, Botany, Forestry, Zoology and Fisheries. — In the 
Agriculture Committee special consideration has been given the problem of 
fertilizers. This Committee has cooperated with the Fertilizer Committee of 
the Division of Chemistry. In accordance with the joint recommendation 
of the two Divisions, the fertilizer work has now been consolidated under 
the Committee on Agriculture with a Special Committee made up of repre- 
sentatives of the two Divisions. Plans are being formulated to bring about 
cooperation in some of the larger fertilizer questions facing the country. 
Representatives of the State Colleges of Montana, North and South Dakota, 
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas were asked to form a 
special organization cooperating with«the National Research Council for the 
purpose of collaborating in the study of the fertilizer problems of that area with 
special reference to the most economical use of the large deposits of phosphate 
rock in Montana in connection with the utilization of the large quantities of 
sulphuric acid that will be available following the war. It is planned also to 
study the possible utilization of ammonia compounds which will be available 
as by-products of war industries. It is planned to develop similar cooperative 
organizations in the study of other fertilizer problems. A special sub-commit- 
tee has been organized for certain research work in connection with potash 
substitutes. 
A special Committee on Fibers is making a study of the fibers available for 
binder twine. 
