158 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1884. 



copy, &c., but also of the more practical topics of agricultural and hor- 

 ticultural economy, engineering, mechanics, and technology in general ; 

 but the space required for such larger digest seems scarcely available 

 in the present channel. 



It is hardly necessary to remark that in a summary of the annual pro- 

 gress of scientific discovery so condensed as the present, the wants of 

 the specialist in any branch can be but imperfectly supplied ; and very 

 many items and details of great value to him must be entirely omitted. 

 While the student in a special field of knowledge may occasionally re- 

 ceive hints that will be found of interest, he will naturally be led to 

 consult for fuller information the original journals and special periodi- 

 cals from which these brief notices or abstracts liave been compiled. 



The plan of devoting some 350 pages of the annual report to such a 

 compilation is not designed to preclude the introduction into the "Gen- 

 eral Appendix," as heretofore, of special monographs or discussions 

 that may prove interesting to the scientific student. 



Spencee F. Baird. 



