BY J. C. BRUNNICH, F.I.C. 53 



caused by fungi. The infection frequently takes ()lace 

 in the seedling stage, and the germs of the disease may 

 also be lying dormant in the seed itself. In the case of 

 wheat and barley, the seedling is not attacked by the 

 smut spores, but during the flowering stage attacks the 

 plants, settling on tlie ripening grain. Fungicides, rotation 

 of crops, obtaining seed from healthy crops, and the 

 breeding of disease-resisting varieties are the principal 

 remedies. 



Perhaps no science has made such great progress, 

 and has been of such far-reaching influence in every day 

 life as Bacteriology. The influence of bacteria on agri- 

 culture is of utmost importance. We have already men- 

 tioned that by the aid of bacteria leguminous plants may 

 directly assimilate nitrogen from the air. In nearly all 

 cases reaction and changes going on continually in soil 

 micro-organisms are the principal factors. The change 

 of the nitrogenous matters into ammonia compounds, 

 and finall}'- into nitrates, generally called the process of 

 nitrification, is caused by certain bacteria. A reversal 

 of the ])YOGess-denitrification — by which from nitrates 

 and ammonia salts free nitrogen is liberated, and thereby 

 lost — is likewise caused by bacteria. Soil Biology is quite 

 a science of its own, and some observers attiibute the 

 assimilation of all inorganic and organic plantfoods, by 

 the roots from the soil, to the action and help of bacteria. 

 Bacteriology is of equal importance to dairying : the 

 ripening of cream and cheese are both caused by bacteria, 

 and so are souring of milk, development of bad flavours 

 in butter and cheese. Desired results can only be obtained 

 by thorougli sterilisation of milk and cream, and the sub- 

 sequent use of pure cultures of certain bacteria as starters. 



The great and principal objects of sciences of 

 Engineering and Mechanics are to harness the forces of 

 Nature to the service of agriculture, and to improve the 

 various implements and machines used in its various 

 branches. Thsse sciences are of further importance in 

 the carrying out of schem.es of water conservation, and in 

 the preparing and laying out of land foi- draining and 

 irrigation. This branch of engineering is of particular 

 value to our State, and just at present, when the Govern- 

 ment are anxious to carry out such schemes, the want of 



