ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 13 
(6) Special work.—An investigation was undertaken into the 
milling qualities of a number of the different varieties of pure 
wheats. This is the first time such work has been done, and its 
main object is to ascertain what are the best varieties for the 
farmer to produce, taking into account their suitability to different 
districts, the milling quality of the grain and the bread-making 
quality of the flour. The characteristics of the different varieties 
are thus established, and the results indicate the manner in which 
by proper selection or cross-breeding, an improvement may be 
effected in the quality of the wheats grown in the Colony. The 
results of the first batch of these experiments were published in 
the Agricultural Gazette during 1895, and have been followed by 
a further batch during this year. - 
This work has suggested a number of problems which require 
solution, of which one is the subject of an investigation now almost 
complete and ready for publication. This refers to the power 
possessed by flours from different grain of absorbing water. This 
property, of great importance to the bread-maker, is found to be 
due to the varying proportion of the soluble and insoluble proteids 
contained in the gluten. 
An investigation into the chemical nature of the wines produced 
in the Colony was commenced with the publication of the results 
of analysis of some wines, from the northern river vineyards. 
The results of a further batch of northern river wines will appear 
in the forthcoming number of the Gazette. In addition to the 
purely scientific interest attaching to this investigation, it affords 
a means of comparing our wines with those of other countries, 
and indicates in what direction improvements are possible. 
Samples of the different timbers: of the Colony are being 
examined with a view to determining the nature and quantity of 
their mineral constituents. Analyses of the ash of various timbers 
grown in different parts of the Colony, systematically carried out 
should give us valuable information, firstly as to the nature 
(chemical) of the soil on which they grow, and also of their value 
