28 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



wliicli have been commenced, and tlius far successfully prosecuted in 

 this line, will be continued, and will supply the desiderata which 

 have so long been felt. If all the military posts, or a selection which 

 might be made from them, were furnished with a full set of instru- 

 ments, and the observations made with due precision, results of the 

 highest interest to the man of science, as well as to the agriculturist, 

 the physician, and the engineer, would be obtained. 



As first approximations tlie simple observations at the diiferent 

 posts, which have thus far been published, are acceptable additions 

 to knowledge; but whatever is worth doing at the expense and under 

 the direction of the general government, ought to be as well done as 

 the state of science and the circumstances under which the work is 

 commenced will admit. 



A series of continued observations at a few. posts, made at each 

 hour during the twenty-four, similar to those carried on under the 

 direction of Major Mordecai, at the Frankford arsenal, would afford 

 materials of much interest for determining in the interior of the con- 

 tinent the hours of the day most suitable to be chosen for ascertaining 

 the mean temperature, and for reducing the observations made at 

 different times to the same hours, as well as for settling the time of 

 occurrence of the daily periodical changes of the atmosphere. 



Besides the collection of meteorological materials relative to the 

 climate of the United States, the Institution has in its j)ossession an 

 extensive series of observations made in Texas and Mexico by Dr. Ber- 

 landier. These were placed at our disposal by Lieutenant Couch^ who 

 was favorably mentioned in the last report as having made a valuable 

 exploration a few years ago in the southern part of our continent. 

 Portions of this material will be published, from time to time, as an 

 appendix to the Smithsonian Contributions. 



I am happy to state to the Board, that the Provincial Parliament 

 has made provision for the establishment of a system of meteorology 

 in Canada^ which will co-operate with that of the Institution. The 

 act is in the following words : 



' ' Whereas it is desirable at all seminaries and places of education 

 to direct attention to natural phenomena, and to encourage habits of 

 observation ; and whereas a better knowledge of the climate and 

 meteorology of Canada will be serviceable to agricultural and other 

 pursuits, and be of value to scientific inquirers ; be it therefore en- 

 acted, that it shall be part of the duty of every county grammar 

 school to make the requisite observations for keeping," and to keep a 

 meteorological journal, embracing such observations, and kept accord- 

 ing to such form as shall from time to time be directed by the council 

 of public instruction ; and all such journals, or abstracts of them, 

 shall be presented annually by the chief superintendent of schools to 

 the governor-general, with his annual report. 



" Every county grammar school shall be provided, at the expense 

 of the county, with the following instruments : One barometer, one 

 thermometer for the temperature of the air, one thermometer for 

 evaporation, one rain-gage, one wind-vane." 



The Library, — More has been accomplished in the library during 



