4 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1934 



pounds. The clearance of consignments arriving at New York for 

 the Institution was taken over in April 1934 by the United States 

 Government Despatch Agent. 



National Zoological Park. — Accessions to the collection during the 

 year numbered 772, and removals through various causes totaled 

 1,030, leaving the collections at the close of the year at 2,238 animals, 

 representing 707 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and 

 other forms. The number of visitors was 2,978,041, including groups 

 from 586 schools in 20 States and the District of Columbia. With 

 the help of the C. W. A. and of the Work Planning and Job Assign- 

 ment Committee of the District, a large number of important projects 

 involving improvements to buildings and grounds were completed. 

 The great need of the Zoo continues to be the carrying out of its 

 program of providing adequate buildings for the splendid collection 

 of animals. 



Astrophysical Observatory. — A statistical analysis of the solar-con- 

 stant observations made at the Mount Montezuma station led to an 

 improved method of reduction of the observations; this method was 

 applied at Mount Montezuma and resulted in increased accuracy. 

 The study of the relations of solar variation to the weather has shown 

 marked progress. The daily solar-constant values from Table Moun- 

 tain, Calif., have been broadcast. A new station for solar-constant 

 observations has been established on Mount St. Katherine, near 

 Mount Sinai, Egypt. The Eighth Revised Edition of the Smithsonian 

 Physical Tables, greatly enlarged, prepared by Mr. Fowle, was pub- 

 lished during the year. 



Division oj Radiation and Organisms.— -The following investigations 

 were undertaken by the scientific staff of the division: Measurements 

 of the absorption of carbon dioxide from the air by wheat plants 

 under the influence of radiation; measurements of the effect of radia- 

 tion on worm eggs ; the development of powerful apparatus for visible 

 and infrared absorption spectral investigations; growth experiments 

 with special radiation on tomatoes; measurements of photo tropism in 

 oat coleoptiles; experiments to determine the influence on wheat of 

 modifying the supply of carbon dioxide; and studies of the influence 

 of radiation of various wave lengths on the multiplication of the alga 

 Chlorella vulgaris. 



THE ESTABLISHMENT 



The Smithsonian Institution was created by act of Congress in 

 1846, according to the terms of the will of James Smithson, of England, 

 who in 1826 bequeathed his property to the United States of America 

 "to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 

 among men." In receiving the property and accepting the trust, 

 Congress determined that the Federal Government was without 



