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Influence of Hairiness on Processing The object of this work, for which a grant was made to the Association by the New Zealand Wool Council, was to determine the effect of a known degree of hairiness in wool on its processing properties and on the finished material. Two lots of 48's quality each about 200 lb. were collected by Dr. P. R. McMahon as nearly identical as possible except for a measurable difference in hairiness. These two lots have now been processed, a portion of each being converted into serge cloth and the remainder into hosiery yarn. Some of the latter was knitted up on a frame knitting-machine and some on a circular machine. Full analysis of the processing details remains to be completed. Any differences which exist in the finished goods are only slight. Apart from the main test, smaller investigations have been incorporated—e.g., comparisons of different methods of dyeing—which are of interest to the industry. Service to Members Numerous consulting problems have continued to be dealt with, and some of these have required special visits to mills. A few examples of these are the cause of uneven dyeing of cloth, the origin of dermatitis on the arms of workmen, the explanation of the unsatisfactory working of knitting yarns, and the devising of substitutes for chemicals in short supply. Further work has been done on woollen batching oils. Assistance has been given to a member in designing a mill laboratory and in training a laboratory worker. Quarterly bulletins containing the results of research both in the laboratories of this Association and from abroad are circulated to members as in past years. PLANT CHEMISTRY LABORATORY Director: Dr. J. Melville, on active service. Acting-Director: Dr. B. W. Doak Vegetable> Dehydration.—Early in the year attention was devoted to the problems of vegetable dehydration. These investigations have considerably increased in scope, and virtually the whole of the staff is devoted to work on this and associated problems. Particular attention has been devoted to the retention of vitamins, especially ascorbic acid (vitamin C), in the dried product. "Very satisfactory retention of ascorbic acid has been obtained, and in certain cases the ascorbic-acid content of the cooked dehydrated vegetables is greater than that of the cooked fresh vegetables. Attention has been mainly devoted to potatoes, cabbage, onion, swede, parsnip, and beet-root, from all of which excellent products can now be obtained. Some attention has also been given to beans, green peas, spinach, and cauliflower, though results from these have been rather less satisfactory. As a result of the investigations here, small commercial lots have already been dried and a large plant is about to commence operations. To satisfactorily retain flavour, colour, and vitamin content, the vegetables need to be given a blanching treatment in steam or in hot water to which small amounts of chemical have been added. Vitamin Work.—Arising out of the vegetable-dehydration work, the estimation of vitamins in plant materials has been extensively studied. It has been found that plants vary very considerably in their vitamin content, and from some of the highest testing species attempts have been made to extract and concentrate ascorbic acid for the fortification of rations for the fighting forces. Good progress has been made in this direction. Bye-grass Alkaloids—ln the early part of the year some attention was paid to the alkaloids in perennial rye-grass. Some interesting observations were made, but the urgent requirements of the vegetable work precluded the further investigation of several strongly fluorescent derivatives of perloline. Silage.—lm collaboration with the Grasslands Division the investigation into losses in making silage has continued. PLANT RESEARCH BUREAU Plant Research Bureau Committee.—Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Chairman; Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf,* Vice-Chairman; Professor G. S. Peren; Professor E. R. Hudson; Sir Theodore Rigg; Dr. E. Marsden; Mr. R. B. Tennent; Mr. C. A. Marchant; Mr. Alan Grant; Mr. F. R. Callaghan, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer. The Plant Research Bureau now comprises five Divisions, viz.:—

Participating in the Bureau are (1) the Department of Agriculture and its various Divisions; (2) the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and its several research sections; (3) Massey Agricultural College; (4) Canterbury Agricultural College; and (5) Cawthron Institute.

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Location. | Director. Agronomy Division .. .. .. Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln .. j-Mr. R. A. Calder (ActingDirector). Botany Division .. .. 8 The Terrace, Wellington .. .. Dr. H. H. Allan. Entomology Division .. .. .. Cawthron Institute, Nelson .. .. Dr. D. Miller. Grasslands Division .. .. .. Massey College, Palmerston North .. Mr. E. Bruce Levy. Plant Diseases Division .. .. .. Owairaka, Auckland .. .. .. Dr. G. H. Cunningham. * See Secretary's report, t Mr. J. W. Hadfield, Director, was seconded to Linen Flax Section, Industries and Commerce Department, as from 1st June, 1040.