ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 29 



for this great work ; three years of the time were spent by the 

 instrument makers, and every stage of the preparation for this 

 great work has been marked by deliberation and the most careful 

 criticism of every part. The work fairly bristles with difficulties, 

 but at the meeting of the Conference in the first days of last 

 month, the final resolutions will have been passed how the work 

 shall be carried out, and in a few weeks, i.e., as soon as these can 

 be distributed to all the observatories, the great work will begin. 

 It is a new departure, a grand step forward in the study of the 

 stars and we wish it every success. 



Agriculture. — One of the most important steps towards advanc- 

 ing the welfare and prosperity of this Country was taken when 

 the Government decided last year to establish an Agricultural 

 Department under the Minister for Mines and Agriculture. The 

 object in view was twofold : Firstly to furnish the farmers with 

 the best advice, based upon scientific investigations and practical 

 experiments in all matters connected with their business, and 

 secondly to establish an Agricultural College and Experimental 

 Farm for the thorough .education and training of young men desir- 

 ous of becoming agriculturalists. 



The appointment of Mr. H. C. L. Anderson, m.a., as Director 

 of Agriculture, was soon followed by the engagement of a staff of 

 scientists and experts, consisting of Dr. 1ST. A. Cobb, as Pathologist, 

 Mr. A. S. Olliff, f.e.s., as Entomologist, Dr. A. Helms as consult- 

 ing Chemist, Mr. F. Turner, f.r.h.s., as consulting Botanist, and 

 Mr. J. A. Despeissis, m.r.a.c, as Inspector of the wine-growing 

 districts and expert in viticulture. 



The thoroughly practical steps taken by the Department in 

 order to advance Agriculture and assist the Agriculturalist in 

 every possible way, were very soon in evidence on the publication 

 of the first part of Vol. I., of the newly established Agricultural 

 Gazette of N.S.W., in July last, followed by parts ii. and iii. in 

 August and December, and by parts i., ii., and iii. of Vol. n. in 

 January, February and March last. It is the intention of the 

 Department to issue monthly parts of this valuable Gazette in 



