C. 0. BANNISTER.
During rcccnt ycnrs n considerublo nmount of interest lins h e n tnkon in tlio question of the supply, ccrtificrition, and distribution of eheinicnl stnndnrd snrnples, nnd this intercst lins been shnrcd by sovornl of tho British societies dircctly or indircct.ly interested i n pnrticulnr brnnclics of niinlgticnl chciiiistry. Tho Iron n i d Steel Institiito lins conimittccs engugcd in tho prcpnrntioii of iron nnd steel standnrds; tlicsc arc probnbly the most importniit nt tho prcsent tinic owin to the fnct that siiiiilnr stnndnrds iriivo for genrs Li,ecn ~n r g c ~y uscd in steel-works Inborntorics, nnd tlicir function niid vnlue nro thcrcforc wcll uiiderstood. Tho Institute of Rlctnls hns n cornniittco considering stnndnrds for non-fcrrone metalstlic Instituto of Chemistry nn(1 tlio socioty of ~u l ~i c ~n n ~y s t s iinvo n ~s o coniiiiittccs nppointcd to consider tho desirnbility of mnking provision for supplies of stnndnrd chcmicnl siibst:in~~s, nnd linvo issued n preliminary report (J. Inst. Cliem., 1920, 109). Tho Society of Chomienl Industry line been represented nt n confcrenco dcnling with tho subjcct, and nt n meeting of tho B i r m i n ~h n n ~ Section n pnper on Clieniicnl Stnndnrds by Rlessrs. C. H. nnd N. D. 1tidscI;ilc wns rend and discussed (cf. J. 1919, ). l h c first serious nttcnipt to undcrtnfro tho prcpnrntioii of n serics of stnndnrd sninplcs of steel ivns tho result of n sug estion iiintlo nt tho Bath iiieeting of tho British kssocinticn, in 1888, by Prof. J. I'. Lnncloloy. Tho objcct wns to prcpnro interiintioiinl stnntlnrds to control tho nnnlysis of iron nnd steel, nnd n committeo ivne formed which puql,islied rcports during tho following fivo ycnrs. lliis comnrittcc co-opcrntcd with siniilnr coininittecs in ~orcrril of tho most iinliortniit iron-producing countrics, nnd definite instructions ivero ngreed to iii respect of tho nictliod of prepnrntion nnd prescrvntioii of tliu snn~plce obtained. As I I result of