342 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1885. 



Prof. Cleveland Abbe has, nnfortunately, been unable to famish his 

 usual survey of the advances made in the department of meteorology, 

 and the time did not permit an attempt to obtain a substitute in this 

 important field. 



Prof. William G. Farlow's record of progress in botany, omitted from 

 the last report, is, from unforeseen circumstances, again omitted from 

 this. 



With every effort to secure prompt attention to all the more impor- 

 tant details of such a work, various unexpected delays frequently ren- 

 der it impracticable to obtain all the desired reports in each department 

 within the time prescribed. In such cases it is designed, if possible, to 

 bring up deficiencies and supply them in subsequent reports. 



The value of this annual record of progress would be much enhanced 

 by an enlargement of its scope, and the inclusion, not only of such 

 branches as mathematics, physiology, pathology, and medicine, micros- 

 copy, &c., but also of the more practical topics of agriculture 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 

 progress 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 occa- 

 sionally receive hints that will be found of interest, he will naturally 

 be led to consult for fuller information the original journals and special 

 periodicals from which these brief notices or abstracts have been com- 

 piled. 



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. 



