276 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1882. 



but also of the more practical topics of agricultural and horticult- 

 ural economy, engineering, mechauics, and technology in general ; but 

 the space required for such larger digest seems scarcely available in 

 the present channel. The scientific resume, which in 1880 occupied 2G0 

 pages, and in 1881 extended to 330 pages, has this year reached 400 

 pages. An efficient condensation of this matter does not seem easily 

 practicable. 



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 have 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. 



Spencer F. Baird. 



