ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 21 
connection has been largely instrumental in modifying the views 
previously held as to the suitability or otherwise for milling of 
different wheats, and enabled. the Rust in Wheat Conference 
which met in Melbourne in 1896, and to whom Mr. Guthrie com- 
municated his results, to recommend as good milling wheats 
certain varieties of grain which have been found to be rust-resis- 
tant. These wheats were formerly considered less suitable for 
milling than those usually grown, but the result of the above 
investigation has been to clear away a great deal of previously 
existing prejudice, and, as a matter of fact, these wheats are now 
being more extensively grown and with most encouraging results. 
The examination of the wines and timbers of the colony has 
also been continued. Further results on the first of these subjects 
have been published during the year in the Agricultural Gazette, 
and the results of the examination of a number of New South 
Wales timbers, which has proved a more lengthy task than was 
anticipated, are now being revised ready for publication. Another 
investigation, the results of which should shortly be ready for 
publication, is one into the chemical action of lime upon the soil, 
undertaken with the view of ascertaining exactly what chemical 
changes in the state of the plant food are brought about by the 
addition of lime. 
In the laboratory for agricultural chemistry at Bathurst it is 
Proposed to undertake almost purely research work, Amongst 
the more important lines of work which will be there taken in 
hand are :—First, investigations into the nitrifying organisms of 
the soil, with special reference to conditions prevailing in New 
South Wales. Secondly, examination by means of pot-experi- 
ments, of the action of fertilizers on different crops. 
The chemical investigations undertaken during the year by 
Mr. H. G. Smith, Mineralogist of the Technological Museum, 
have been of an important character. The chemistry of the 
new substance “ Aromadendrin,” isolated from a kino belonging 
to the turbid group of Eucalyptus kinos, was brought under 
the notice of this Society in a paper read in August. A paper - 
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