26 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



the expense of the Institution. The translations continue to be made 

 with spirit and fidelity by C. A. Alexander, A. M., of Washington, 

 whose services in this connection for many years have been frequently 

 referred to in previous reports. 



Meteorology. — In order to advance those branches of science 

 which depend especially upon instrumental observations, two kinds 

 of labor are necessary; that which is devoted to the making and 

 recording observations, and that which is expended in reducing and 

 discussing them. The first, which frequently requires a large num- 

 ber of observers, as in the case of simultaneous meteorology, fortu- 

 nately can be performed by persons having a limited amount of scien- 

 tific training, although the precision and value of their observations 

 are much enhanced by a critical knowledge of the principles upon 

 wliich the observations depend; while the discussion and reduction 

 require a knowledge of mathematical analysis, possessed by compara- 

 tively few; and hence it is not' surprising that the accumulation of 

 crude observations should be far in advance of their philosophic dis- 

 cussion, or that at the present time the great desideratum in meteo- 

 rology is a full discussion, on a general plan, of all the series of obser- 

 vations which have been recorded. If this were properly executed, w^e 

 should be prepared to commence a new era in this branch of science, 

 and to direct attention to now points of investigation, from indica- 

 tions furnished by the discussions. 



In consideration of this state of meteorological data we have con- 

 cluded, in view of the improvement of the funds, to resume the gen- 

 eral discussion of the material which the Institution has already ac- 

 cumulated. We have accordingly commenced this Avork by the 

 reduction and discussion of all the observations on the rain-fall of the 

 North American continent, the results of which are much called for 

 on account of their agricultural, manufacturing, commercial, and san- 

 itary applications. Observations from upwards of twelve hundred 

 localities are now in the hands of the computers, and it is expected 

 that the results will be ready for publication towards the close of 

 18G8. After having discussed all the observations which have been 

 previously recorded, we shall then be prepared to commence a new 

 and more extended series relative to precipitation, and for this pur- 

 pose we have had prepared a large number of measuring scales, con- 

 sisting of slips of box wood graduated to the tenth of an inch, to 

 be distributed very generally over the country, with instructions for 

 the observation and record of rain-fall. After carefully considering the 



