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School of Agriculture, Cambridge, [aug., 



Department relates to the part played by the mucilage in 

 linseed. It appears that this substance is not affected by the 

 digestive juices, but under the action of bacteria is split up 

 in the small intestine into substances which may be of use 

 in the animal economy. 



Investigations on the "strength" of flour are also going 

 on. A rapid and accurate physical method of estimating the 

 strength of flour has been discovered. Hitherto the only 

 method was a baking test requiring a considerable quantity 

 of flour for carrying it out. The new method is applicable 

 to single grains of wheat. 



Soil surveys of Norfolk, Hunts, and Salop have recently 

 been completed, and await publication. Surveys of Cam- 

 bridgeshire and the Isle of Ely are being undertaken. 

 Four research students are engaged on this branch of the 

 work. 



In the Botany Department investigations are in progress 

 on silver leaf disease. An investigation of the microflora of 

 the soil of the Woburn experimental farm is in progress and 

 tends to indicate that the effects of manures in altering the soil 

 flora may be the primary cause of the observed variations in 

 fertility. 



Work is also being done on "Bigbud" in black currants, 

 and, concurrently, investigations have begun with a view 

 to ascertaining the extent to which individual plants are 

 immune or resistant to insect attack. This inquiry has been 

 suggested by the observed fact that the immunity to attack 

 by American aphis varies considerably from one individual 

 to another of the same variety. Certain bacterial diseases 

 of the potato are also under investigation. 



On the College farm the work on cereal breeding, for which 

 the Department is so justly distinguishea, is being continued. 

 Two useful varieties of wheat, one rust-resistant and a prolific 

 yielder, and the other a strong wheat combining the quality 

 of Fife and the cropping capacity of the best English 

 varieties, are now fully established on a field scale, and a 

 beginning has been made in combining in one wheat the 

 desirable qualities of these two. Small field plots of wheats 

 suitable for the special conditions of the Fens will be harvested 

 this year. It is hoped that experiments in breeding improved 

 clovers will soon be under way. 



