[ 120 ] 18 



mentioned in my report of last year have been completed, or are very 

 nearly ready for the press. The appropriations, however, for the last year 

 were not found sufficient for carrying out further this part of the plan . 



The most important report now in progress is that on the forest trees ot 

 North America, by Dr. Gray, Professor of Botany in Harvard University. 

 It is intended in this work to give figures from original draAvings of the 

 flowers, leaves, fruit, &c., of each principal species in the United .States 

 proper for the most part of the size of nature, and so executed as to furnish 

 colored or uncolored copies— the first being intended to give an adequate 

 idea of the species, and the second for greater cheapness and more general 



diffusion. . • . ,i r 



This work will be completed in three parts, in octavo, with an atlas ol 

 quarto plate— the first part to be published next spring. A portion of this 

 will be occupied with an introductory dissertation giving the present state 

 of our knowledge, divested as much as. possible of all unnecessary tech- 

 nical terms— of the anatomy, morphology, and physiology of the tree- 

 tracing its growth from the embryo to its full development and reproduc- 

 tion in the formation of fruit and seed. This will be illustrated by draw- 

 ings from original dissections under the microscope, and sketches made, 

 in every instance, from Nature. As the work will be adapted to general 

 comprehension, it will be of interest to the popular as well as the scientific 



Report on the history of the discovery of the planet Neptvne.— The first 

 part of a report on recent discoveries in astronomy has been completed,, 

 and is ready for the press. This is written by Dr. B. A. Gould, of Cam- 

 bridge, editor of the American Astronomical Journal. Copious references 

 to authorities are given in foot-notes, which will render the work interest- 

 ing to the professed astronomer as well as to the less advanced student. 



A report has been prepared by Professor Guyot, late of the University 

 of Neufchatel, on the construction and use of meteorological instruraentSj 

 more particularly designed for distribution among our meteorological ob- 

 servers. This gentleman is now engaged, at the expense of the Regents 

 of the University of the State of New York, in establishing a new system 

 of meteorology, and in instructing the observers in the use of the instru- 

 ments; for which service he is well adapted by his experience in a similar 

 undertaking in Switzerland. 



The report on the application of chemistry to agriculture is also nearly 

 ready for the press. This is by Dr. Lewis C. Beck, of Rutgers College. 

 New Jersey. 



Collections. 



Apparatus. — The plan of organization also contemplates the formation 

 of a museum of physical instruments, which may be used for experimen- 

 tal illustration and original research, and may serve as models to_ work- 

 men as well as to illustrate the general progress of inventions in this line. 



The munificent donation of Dr. Hare has enabled us to commence this 

 collection with veiy flattering prospects. It now contains, besides the 

 articles of Dr. Hare, instruments for the illustration of the principles of 

 light, heat, and sound, procured fron^ Paris, and a full set of pneumatic 

 instruments, of superior size and workmanship, constructed expressly tbr 

 the institution by Mr. Chamberlain, of Boston j also, a number of chemi- 



