26 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 



and John MacKenzie, has recently been issued by the Department 

 of Mines ; and a new edition of " The Minerals of New South 

 Wales," by Professor Liversidge, M.A., F.R.S., has just been 

 published. 



Some idea may be formed of the importance of the mining 

 industry from the statistics given in the Annual Report of 

 Mr. Harrie Wood, Under-Secretary for Mines. It is stated that 

 the value of the mineral production for the year was £3,165,938, 

 and that of the total production of minerals to the end of 1887, 

 £72,938,124. 



Then as to Agriculture. A glance at the geological map will 

 show that about one-half of the area of the Colony consists of 

 formations which produce soils suitable for cultivation. And as 

 these formations occur at all altitudes up to 7,000 feet above sea 

 level, and under nearly every condition of climate — from the 

 almost tropical atmosphere of the Clarence and Richmond River 

 Districts to the cold air of the Kiandra Mountains ; and from the 

 humid atmosphere of the coast lands to the dry air of the 

 interior, with a variable rainfall throughout as indicated on the 

 Government Astronomer's map — almost every class of agriculture 

 may be carried on. The importance of this is enhanced from the 

 fact that the principal districts are either within easy access of 

 waterway to the ocean, or within one day's journey by rail from 

 the Metropolis. The value of the Agricultural production for 

 the year 1887-8 is about £3,600,000. 



It is, therefore, a matter of great moment that scientific 

 observations should be made in numerous localities as to the 

 average and periodic rainfall ; the character of the soils by 

 analysis, whether deficient or not in the elements necessary for 

 the growth of certain kinds of agricultural produce ; the effects 

 •of cross-fertiltzation upon certain plants ; to ascertain the nature 

 of plant diseases ; and to determine, with a view to forest culture, 

 what species of timber trees and trees producing tanning-bark 

 are most suited for each district. 



