34 report — 1842. 



never hope to arrive at anything like a correct view of the great annual 

 movement of our atmosphere. 



In the preceding calculations it is to be understood that I have only been 

 dealing with mean results, and not with particular ones, which would of 

 course give velocities far surpassing anything exhibited in the preceding table. 



I have now, in concluding this short notice of the progress and present 

 state of the meteorological observations at Plymouth, merely to suggest to 

 the Physical Committee of the Association, the propriety of either closing 

 these observations after the completion of another year, or otherwise recom- 

 mending the further continuance of the observations at the Dock-yard to the 

 consideration of Her Majesty's government : a system and method of observa- 

 tion having been completely organized there, the inconvenience and expense 

 to the naval department of the government would be too small to merit con- 

 sideration. My own view is, that the ten years' observations which will be 

 speedily complete, are sufficient for deducing the principal laws of tempera- 

 ture and pressure at this place ; but that, inasmuch as similar observations are 

 now being recorded through the instrumentality of the Association in various 

 parts of the world, it would be so far desirable to have simultaneous observa- 

 tions made at Plymouth. I cannot but hope that the Physical Committee 

 will give this matter serious consideration. 



Plymouth, June 10, 1842. 



Second Report of a Committee consisting of Mr. H. E. Strickland, 

 Prof. Daubeny, Prof. Henslow, and Prof. Lixdley, appointed, 

 to make Experiments on the Growth and Vitality of Seeds. 



In order to carry out the objects of this Committee arrangements have been 

 made for the formation at the Botanic Garden, Oxford, of a depot of seeds to 

 be preserved in various ways, and to be submitted, at successive periods, to 

 experiment. The amount of labour required for the preservation of these 

 seeds, the conduct of the experiments, and the tabulating their results, has 

 necessitated the appointment of a curator at a small salary, whose report for 

 the present year is annexed. 



The expenses incident to these experiments have amounted to £9 15s. lid. 

 As a considerable number of jars and other materials for preserving seeds 

 will be required for the further prosecution of the inquiry, the Committee re- 

 spectfully recommend that the sum of £15 be this year granted for the pur- 

 pose. 



The Committee having now established a permanent place of deposit for 

 seeds to be submitted to experiment, they wish particularly to request the 

 contribution of specimens from persons who may be interested in this inquiry. 

 Parcels of seeds of various species, both recent and of old dates, in quantities 

 sufficient for a considerable number of experiments, and accompanied with 

 remarks specifying the yeai's in which they were collected, and the conditions 

 under which they have been preserved, will be highly acceptable, as will also 

 specimens of soils taken from excavations of various depths, and carefully pro- 

 tected from the access of extraneous matter, in order to ascertain the species 

 of plants which may spontaneously vegetate in them. All communications 

 on this subject to be sent to Prof. Daubeny, Botanic Garden, Oxford. 



H. E. Strickland, 

 C. Daubeny. 



Curator's Report. 



In submitting to the British Association a statement of the progress made 



