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men; certainly no branch of physical science seems more efficient to “replenish and subdue the earth” than chemistry. PULASKI, N. Y. September 26, 1924
WILLIAMELLIOT GRIFFIS
T h e Application of X-Ray Crystal Analysis to Metallurgy Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: The work reported under this title in THISJOURNAL, 16, 602 (1924), was carried out under the authorization of B. L. Benbow, manager, a t the Cleveland Wire Division, National Lamp Works, Cleveland, Ohio. The author’s address a t the time of publication was Atlas Steel Corp., Dunkirk, N. Y . , where he was research metallurgist.
Vol. 16, No. 11
The phenomenon of the development of preferred orientation by directional cold work is described by Burger of Holland [Physica, 1, 214 (1921)1, and by Polanyi and Weissenberg in Germany [ Z . tech. Physik, 4, 199 (1923)l. The work done by these investigators was undoubtedly begun before the studies in America, and the author desires to rectify the error made in omitting these references. EDGAR C. BAIN October 9, 1924
A. T. Larson and R. L. Dodge are leaving the Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, to join the chemical staff of Lazote, Inc., a subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del.
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES 1924 Meeting of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists C. A. Browne, chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, in welcoming the association to Washington on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, struck the keynote of the meeting when he stated t h a t i t was remarkable for three reason$: the birthday of one of its founders--Harvey Washington Wiley ; the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the association; and the completion of the new edition of methods of analysis, which book he considers the most complete and authoritative on this subject. R. E. Doolittle, in his presidential address, made a strong plea for greater coordination of association activities. He showed how the association has grown in the forty years of its existence from a society organized for the study of methods of analysis of fertilizers to one whose object is “to secure uniformity and accuracy in the methods, results, and modes of statement of analysis of fertilizers, soils, cattle foods, dairy products, and other products connected with agricultural industry.” Instead of three committees of three members each, studying methods for a particular class of products, the association now has about thirty referees and fifty associate referees studying methods for more than thirty different classes of products; a committee of nine members to consider the reports of these referees and associate referees; and ten other committees, composed of from three to eleven members each, to consider general and specific association activities. Dr. Doolittle stressed the advisability of securing greater cooperation between referees, associate referees, and committees. Another point brought out was the need for standardization of methods. Some plan should be evolved whereby the need for new methods, the shortcomings of existing methods, and the duplication of studies of methods by other associations would be brought t o the attention of the secretary of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. The encouragement of open conferences on subjects of interest to small groups was emphasized. Perhaps a few such conferences would solve the difficulty of providing time a t the general meetings for the discussion of those topics which are of interest to but a limited number. The Committee on Definitions of Terms and Interpretation of Results on Fertilizers presented twelve definitions and standards which were tentatively adopted (first reading), and four which were adopted as tentative (second reading). Those which were recommended for the first time this year were fertilizer formula, fertilizer grade, analysis, brand, brand name, unit, unleached wood ashes, leached wood ashes, ashes from leached wood, dissolved bone, form of nitrogen in cyanamide, and activity of waterinsoluble nitrogen in mixed fertilizers. The following definitions are of particular interest:
A brand is a term, design, or trade mark used in connection with one or several grades of fertilizers. A brand no.me is a specific designation applied to an individual fertilizer. Form of nitrogen i n c y a n a m i d e . The nitrogen in calcium cyanamide shall be considered as being of organic nature. Aclioity o j water-insoluble nitrogen in m i x e d fefevtilizers. The following procedure is recommended in t h e study of the activity of the water..insoluble organic nitrogen in mixed fertilizers by means of the alkaline and neutral permanganate methods. These methods distinguish between good and poor sources of water-insoluble nitrogen and do not show the percentage availability of the material. (a) The methods sha!l be used on mixed fertilizers containing water-insoluble nitrogen amounting to 0.3 per cent or more of the weight of the material. ( b ) The water-insoluble nitrogen in mixed fertilizers showing activity below 50 per cent by the alkaline method and below 80 per cent by the neutral method, shall be classed as inferior; water-insoluble nitrogen activity 50 per cent or above by the alkaline method, and 80 per cent or above by the neutral method, shall be passed without adverse criticism.
R. W. Balcom, chairman of the board of editors of the Journal of the Association of Oficial Agricultural Chemists, reported a healthy financial condition of the journal. The number of foreign subscriptions has increased until they now constitute one-sixth of the total subscriptions. I n his opinion authors of contributed papers should be given fifty reprints, without covers, free of charge. He recommended that the suggestion which has so often been made-namely, that the volume numbers of the journal coincide with the calendar year so t h a t the complete proceedings of any meeting will be found in one volume-be put into effect as soon as possible. This recommendation was later approved by the association. Upon the recommendation of the Committee to Consider the Advisability of Studying Methods for the Analysis of Paint, the association voted that a conference to discuss this subject be held a t the next annual meeting. It also voted to appoint referees who are to prepare reviews on certain specified subjects and t o continue the Committee on Bibiiography so that this plan may be put into effect. Such reviews, including a comprehensive bibliography, are to be published in the Journal of the Association of Oficial Agricultural Chemists, and are to be brought up to date every five or ten years. One of the outstanding papers was that presented by G. L. Bidwell on the determination of moisture in food products, using the old method with a new apparatus. By this method moisture can be determined in honey, molasses, flour, dried fruits, and other food products. The method consists in distilling the product in toluene and measuring the moisture that is distilled off with the toluene in a graduated tube. Another particularly interesting
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November, 1924
INDUXTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
paper WELS that of F. W. Zerban on “Polariscopic Methods.” He showed that in the Clerget method the Clerget factor should be based upon the total sugar concentration and not upon the concentration of sucrose alone. This is the first time that this general principle has been considered by the association.
FORTIETH ANNUALMEETING OF
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-it requires a human being with human instincts and a knowledge of human nature. One thing to be avoided in the teaching of chemistry is luxury. Hunger is the greatest stimulus to industry and the chemist who has everything provided for him is never hungry and never develops all that is in him in the way
ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIALAGRICULTURAL CHEMISTS
The paper on “Chaulmoogra Oil,” which was presented by I,. E. Warren, attracted considerable attention because of the importance of this oil in the treatment of leprosy. J, W. Sale presented a paper on “Radioactivity in Drug., and Water.” This is the first time that the association has undertaken a study of methods for the determination of radioactivity in drugs. Several new subjects of growing importance will be studied next year---e. g., santonin, apomorphine, and nitroglycerol. No meeting of this association would be complete without an address by its honorary president. Dr. Wiley gave a brief history of the teaching of chemistry in American universities, going back to the days when there were no laboratories and the textbook was the only source of instruction. He paid a glowing tribute to the professors under whom he studied, stating that it takes more than a laboratory, more than books to teach chemistry
of invention. The over-endowed chemical laboratory is a great deal worse than the under-endowed. The teaching of chemistry has been an evolution-just like the growth of the association. If the latter had been created as perfect in its functional activities as it is today, it would probably have died long ago. Its struggle up through difficulties which i t has learned to overcome has made it what it is today. So it is with the teaching of chemistry. Every difficulty overcome gives strength, vision, and foresight, all of which are necessary, not only for the successful teaching of chemistry, but in all forms of business as well. The officers elected lot the ensuing year are: honorary president, H. W. Wiley; president, C. A . Browne; vice president, H. D. Haskins; secretary-treasurer, W. W. Skinner: additional members of the executive committee, W. W. Randall and W. H. McIntire.
Packinghouse Chemists Meet
not be surprised to find some historian date a brighter trend of affairs from this time.
For the first time in the history of the business, chemists and other technical men in the meat packing industry met in Chicago on October 18 to present papers and exchange views concerning major problems confronting the industry. A full day’s program was presented preceding the 19th annual meeting of the Institute of American Meat Packers. This institute through its Bureau of Scientific Research has begun a program which touches the interest of all the institute members and thus illustrates the advantages of cooperative work. Like maiiy other well-founded industries, there are a number OF trade secrets still cherished among meat packers, and while it is not expected that wide publicity will be given to the special practices of different concerns, frequent meeting of technical men and a free exchange of views on fundamental problems should in time do away with trade secrecy and unite the industry in a really progressive movement. There is reason to believe that this is but the first of a series of such conferences and we should
Calendar of Meetings American Institute of Chemical Engineers-Pittsburgh, Pa., December 3 to 6, 1924. American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists-Philadelphia, Pa., December 5 to 6, 1924. Third Pan-American Scientific Congress-Lima, Peru, December 20, 1924. American Association for the Advancement of Science-Washington, D. C., December 29, 1924, to January 3, 1925. American Chemical Society-69th Meeting, Baltimore, Md., April 6 t o 11, 1925. American Institute of Chemical Engineers and National Chemical Equipment Exposition-Providence, R. I., June 22 to 27, 1925. National Exposition of Chemical Industries-New York, N. Y., September 28 to October 3, 1925.
