BY J. C. BRUNNICH, F.I.C. 51 



value of the methods in practice by all millers to blend 

 their wheats, and also shows that the results of milling and 

 anaylses alone are not at all sufficient by which to judge 

 the value of any wheat. As a matter of fact, experi- 

 mental milhng should be carried out on a far larger scale, 

 and a few bags of each of the flours produced, so as to 

 enable different blends to be made and bread from the 

 separate and blended flours to be tested. 



A further important research is the detection of 

 injurious and poisonous compounds in fodder plants, and 

 with regard to this an enormous amount of work will 

 have to be done in Australia. Of particular interest has 

 been the discovery of a hydrocyanic acid-yielding glucoside 

 in the fodders belonging to the Sorghum family. Already, 

 in 1803, Schrader had proved the toxic principle of bitter 

 almonds to be hydrocyanic acid, since when investigators 

 have shown the presence of free prussic acid and of 

 cyanogenetic glucosides in many seeds and plants. Most 

 likely they play an important role in the synthesis of the 

 Proteins. Treub asserts that these bodies are the first 

 recognisable j)i'oduct of the assim.ilation of the nitrogen 

 of nitrates by plants. How the hydrocyanic acid itself 

 is first formed is still a mystery, although Gautier's sug- 

 gestion that it may be formed by a reduction of nitrates 

 by formaldehyde is a very feasible one. 



I cannot leave the apx->lication of chemistry to agri- 

 culture without mentioning the great value which chemical 

 methods of analysis have been in the develoment of the 

 dairying industry. The introduction of simple methods 

 for the determination of fat in milk and cream has put 

 the industry on a sound scientific basis. 



I shall now pass on to the consideration of some of 

 the other sciences influencing the development of agri- 

 culture, and of necessity can only give bare outlines in 

 some cases. 



Botany has always been of recognised importance in 

 the searcli for new plants suitable for food, or of 

 other commercial value. But perhaps one of the chief 

 functions of the application of this science is the improve- 

 ment of plants by breeding and cross-fertilization. 



As early as the beginning of last century Lamarck 

 revolted against the dogma of the immutability of species. 



