316 ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTS [Vol. V, No.

R E P O R T OF COMMITTEE ON T H E REVISION OF METHODS

OF SOIL ANALYSIS 1 .
By C. B. LIPMAN (Agricultural Experiment Station, Berkeley, Calif.),
Chairman.

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jaoac/article/5/3/316/5780874 by guest on 04 November 2020

The gigantic strides which have been taken by chemists in recent
years in their progress on soil studies and the relation of soils to plants,
have rendered necessary very material revision, not only of the actual
methods of analysis which have been in vogue in the past, but also of
the point of view and conceptions of the soil chemist with reference to
the value and the validity of the procedure of soil analysis itself. This
committee has, therefore, tried to bear in mind these important advances,
and to revise the methods of soil analysis as much as possible in accord-
ance therewith. It must be obvious to all chemists, and particularly
to all soil chemists, that the difficulties in the path of making a perfect
revision are very numerous and, in some cases, almost insuperable. Your
committee has, however, done the best that it could in the light of the
knowledge at hand.
Three years have passed since the committee had an opportunity to
give detailed consideration to this report and to the methods of soil
analysis. Much, indeed very much, has transpired sSice, which will
make it necessary to suggest to the association many further far-reaching
revisions and additions. I t is hoped, therefore, that the committee will
be continued and that it will be requested to present to the next meet-
ing of the association a new statement of the revised methods of soil
analysis.
Adopted.
I t was moved, seconded and adopted that the committee be con-
tinued and that someone be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of E. C. Shorey.

i Presented by W. H. Maclntire.