20 J. H. MAIDEN. 
tant investigations. His accommodation promises to be so 
improved that I hope his taking possession of his new laboratory 
will be synchronous with the commencement of a long period of 
important research work. 
The work of Mr. F. B. Guthrie, Chemist to the Department of 
Agriculture, has progressed during the past year, and there is no 
doubt that, under his direction, the new chemical research labora- 
tory at the Bathurst Experiment Farm will produce results highly 
important to agriculturists. The establishment of laboratories at 
the different experiment farms will enable researches to be con- 
ducted where suitable material and conditions are available, and 
must result in great benefit to the colony. Mr. Guthrie’s routine 
work has included advice on all matters connected with agricul- 
tural chemistry, the best methods of treatment of soils and most 
suitable crops, based on chemical examination of the different 
soils ; analyses of fertilizers, feeding-stuffs, beet roots, and farm 
and dairy produce generally. The routine work occupies the time 
of the laboratory staff pretty fully, and special investigations have 
to be carried out when time permits, and as during the year, in 
addition to the departmental work, Mr. Guthrie undertook the 
duties of Acting Professor of Chemistry at the University during 
Professor Liversidge’s absence on leave, this spare time was 
necessarily reduced to a minimum. In addition, towards the end 
of the year, arrangements had to be made for removing the 
laboratory to new premises, and work was consequently entirely 
suspended for a time. : : 
The investigations in wheat, commenced in 1895, were continued 
during the year, a large number of additional wheats being ex- — 
amined, and particularly a number of carefully selected cross-bred 
wheats grown with the special object of improving the class of 
grain grown in the colony.. An investigation was undertaken 
with the object of determining the cause of the different power of 
absorbing water which is possessed by the flour from different — 
wheats, the result of which was communicated in a paper read — 
before our Society during the past year. The work done in this : 
