Section K. 



AGRICULTURE. 



ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT : 

 F. B. GUTHEIE, F.I.C., F.C.S. 



(Chemist, Department of Agriculture, New South Wales ; Lecturer in 

 Technology of Commercial Products. Sydney University). 



A Short Survey of Present Views on the Relation of 

 Fertilizers to Soil Fertility. 



In looking through previous volumes of the Association, I find 

 tliat the addresses of my predecessors in the oflSce to which you have 

 done me the honour to elect me, have dealt without exception with 

 the broader aspects of the connexion of the State or of this Associa- 

 tion with agricultural progress or agricultural education. It 

 seemed, therefore, more fitting that I should take as the subject- 

 matter of my address the development of some specific branch of 

 agricultural science, especially as nearly everything I could say on 

 the subject of agricultural policy has been well said by my prede- 

 cessors. An occasion like the present appears a fitting one in which 

 to pass in review the most recent advances made in our science, as 

 the presence of so many workers from the different States renders 

 it possible to discuss new developments from various points of view. 



A great deal of what I shall have to say, probably all of it, will 

 not be new to those of you who are engaged in scientific work in 

 agriculture, and have followed recent developments at all closely; 

 but there are no doubt many who have not the time nor opportunity 

 to keep themselves posted in the literature of the subject, to whom I 

 trust a presentment of the matter may prove of some interest. To 

 all alike, a review of what has been done in any given line of work 

 should stimulate discussion, and be an incentive to further investi- 

 gation. I purpose to review shortly the main lines along which 

 recent work has been conducted regarding the relation of ferti- 

 lizers to soil-fertility. 



