ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 15 



In meteorology about thirty volunteer stations were established 

 by the survey in different regions of the State, where observa- 

 tions have been taken with more or less regularity, as to the 

 temperature, rain-fall, clouds, winds, and, in a few cases, atmos- 

 plieric pressure and dew-points. 



In chemistry the work included the analyses of soils, marls, 

 minerals, the assay of ores, etc. From 1866 to 1877 the survey 

 did not have adequate laboratory facilities, and specimens for 

 analysis were mainly sent to the laboratory of specialists not 

 connected with the survey. Subsequent to 1877 this work was 

 done by the State Chemist, who was, by legislative enactment, 

 ex officio chemist to the survey. 



In agriculture the work done by the survey consisted in the 

 analysis of soils, marls, fertih'zers (prior to 1877), and the 

 instruction of the people of the State, through the press and lect- 

 ures by the geologist, as to the methods of improving soils. 



In connection with the mining interests, the principal mining 

 properties were examined by the geologist in person, and analy- 

 ses or assays made of the ores were in many cases made under 

 his direction. 



The Museum of the survey, located in Raleigh, contains the 

 following collections: Of minerals and ores, about six thousand 

 specimens; rocks (hand specimens), about three thousand; build- 

 ing stones (a foot cube and less), about one hundred; soils and 

 marls, nearly two hundred; fossil vertebrate remains, a small 

 collection; fossil shells, several thousand specimens, including a 

 large number of species from the cretaceous and tertiary deposits 

 of the State; shells of living forms, land, fresh-water and 

 marine, a small collection of each ; native woods, upwards of 

 two hundred specimens; small collections of Indian antiquities 

 and agricultural products; and a few miscellaneous specimens, 

 among whicli may be mentioned the skeleton of a whale (Bal?ena 

 mysticetus) 65 feet in length. 



The Library of the survey contains three hundred volumes, 

 including treatises on geology, mineralogy, metallurgy, agricult- 

 ure and general natural history, partial sets of the American 



