growing a number of varieties in certain areas liable to rust, there were usually some which were comparatively free, although none were absolutely rust-proof; and by selecting the cleanest plants year after year, ultimately a rust-resistant variety might be secured for that district. But that quality and rust resistance might be, and often is, associated with other qualities which rendered wheat undesirable. Cross-breeding would then step in, and new kinds might be made, which would combine the desirable qualities with the indispensable rust-resistance. A process of vigorous selection would be required to fix the characters of those improved wheats, and the varieties thus obtained could be tested in different districts, for they might prove rust resisting and prolific in one locality, and fail in one or both of those characters in another.

RESULTS OF TREATMENT For Bunt, or STINKING SMUT. Experiments were directed during the past season to the three principal substances which were known to destroy the bunt spores, and their relative effects on the germination of the grain were noted. These were: Sulphate of copper, corrosive sublimate, and formalin.

the treatment were:

The

results of

SECTION H.

ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

By PERCY OAKDEN, A.R.I.B.A., President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects.

THE RELATION OF ARCHITECTURE TO
ENGINEERING.

MANY writers have essayed definitions of architecture and engineering, and some have attempted to draw very definite distinctions between the two professions. One authorFergusson goes so far as to publish parallel illustrations of a building in different stages of ornateness, professing to discriminate where engineering ends and architecture begins. But neither architects nor engineers, I think, would care to subscribe to his limitations.

Without wearying you with quotations, I would here like to read an extract from Gwilt which, I think, gives the key to the discovery of the purpose and origin of both professions." Protection from the inclemency of the seasons was the mother of architecture. Of little account at its birth, it rose into light and life with the civilisation of mankind; and, proportionately as security, peace, and good order were established, it became not less than its sisters, painting and sculpture, one method of transmitting to posterity the degree of importance to which a nation had attained, and the moral value of that nation amongst the kingdoms of the earth." This idea has been more tersely put by another great writer.-" All architecture is but a glorified roof," and I would here expand that idea by saying that practically both architecture and engineering take their use from the desire of mankind to dwell, or to assemble for various purposes, under a roof-a glorified roof. If there is a distinction between us, it would be that the emphasis with you, my brethren of the engineering professions, would be on the word roof"; with us architects, on the word "glorified."

Taking, then, this as our starting point, that the gregarious instincts of our race demand opportunities for

dwelling and assembling for various purposes under one roof, in one building, or group of buildings, let us consider for a moment some of the requirements of a modern city, or modern great building (which is a city in miniature), and see how the lives, health, comfort, and even the morality of a community are in our hands.

We may group these requirements under the following heads:

1. Capacity. The adequacy of the accommodation for
the purposes to be served.

2. Cost.-Economy of materials and labour—
A. In construction;

B. In management and maintenance.

3. Access.

A. From without: by road, rail, tram, water,

&c. ;

B. From within: by stairs, elevators, &c.

4. Communication.—

A.--From without: postal, telegraph, telephone, despatch tube, speaking tube, bell, semaphore, &c.;

B. From within: ditto.

5. Health. Sanitation in all its branches; lighting. heating, ventilation, water-supply, drainage, &c. 6.-Comfort. Suitability of purpose, and provision in detail for fulfilling all the demands which will be made upon it with a minimum of strain or inconvenience.

7 Safety.

A. Safety in construction: stability;

B. Safety in working: provisions against fire, panic, &c., and for efficiency of manage

8. Beauty.

A.

ment.

Both externally and internally-

-Of form;

B. Of color;

C.

Of material, as far as is consistent with cost.

1. Capacity. The quite recent developments of science and the extension of the uses of iron and steel have enabled the demands upon capacity to be met on a greater scale than formerly. Spaces may be, and are, now roofed over in one span which could not have been so treated in any former age. The gregarious instincts of mankind can therefore be indulged in to a greater extent than ever before, and provision has to be made for the assembling

and dispensing of greater numbers, putting exceptional demands upon all the requirements of the building.

2. Cost. It should be scarcely necessary for me to say that, consistently with the proper attainment of its objects, our aim is necessarily to attain those objects with the greatest economy, but I take the opportunity of making this statement here publicly on behalf of both professions, because we are often so misunderstood and suspected of an unworthy ambition to glorify ourselves and save ourselves time and thought at the expense of our clients. It is often forgotten that we have to look for true economy under the two heads of " first cost" and subsequent wear and tear and cost of working," and that what may seem a saving in first cost may be absolutely a loss when the reduction in durability and the increased cost of maintenance and working are considered.

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3. Access. It would swell this paper beyond all proper limit were I to more than glance at the requirements which may be included under even the first subdivision of this heading, access from without," but I will just refer to them in order to justify my contention that all engineering, as well as all architecture, centres round the idea of the "glorified roof." The road, the rail, the tramway, the waterway, the various agencies for propulsion and traction-wind, water, steam, electricity-all are feeding agen-. cies which become necessary to the existence of the modern city or great building.

And so with access from within, re from one part of the edifice to another. The lofty building of the present day would be an impossibility but for the use of the modern elevator, both for passengers and goods. I do not know what papers are going to be contributed to our section this Session, but it would be interesting to have one on the comparative merits of the various forms of elevators now competing for public favour, more especially a dispassionate comparison between the hydraulic and the electric types.

I have referred here to lofty buildings. In passing, let me say here, that the instinct of imitation is sometimes liable to make us overlook the different conditions which prevail in different communities. The restricted area of a certain business portion of New York, confined by rivers on either side, has rendered the 10 to 25-storey building a necessity there; but it by no means follows that where lateral extension is possible any such growth skywards is advisable. If equal pains and money be expended in providing means of horizontal transmission as are absorbed by