Using ADO.Net to retrieve data from Excel 2007 - Cannot import more than 255 columns

'The connection string.
            Dim xlCon As String = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;" & _
                                "Data Source=" & lblImportFile.Text & _
                                ";Extended Properties=""Excel 12.0;HDR=YES"""
 
 
            Try
 
                    'Excel "SELECT" statement
                    XlsSQL = "Select * from [Sheet1$]
 
                    'Declare and instantiate the connection object.
                    Dim con As New OleDbConnection(xlCon)
 
                    'Declare and instantiate the command object.
                    Dim com As New OleDbCommand()
 
                    'Declare and instantiate a DataAdapter which fill the dataset with data.
                    Dim da As New OleDbDataAdapter
 
                    'Add values to the command object's properties.
                    With com
                        .Connection = con
                        .CommandType = CommandType.Text
                        .CommandText = XlsSQL
                    End With
 
                    With da
                        .AcceptChangesDuringFill = False
                        .SelectCommand = com
                        'Add data to the dataset.
                        .Fill(dsXLData, "Ratings")
                    End With
 
                    MsgBox(dsXLData.Tables("Ratings").Rows.Count & " Rows")
                    MsgBox(dsXLData.Tables("Ratings").Columns.Count & " Clmns")
                    da.Dispose()
                    con.Dispose()