328 : _ REPORT—1845. 
of the pericarp in dehiscent fruits, and these form the largest number ; the in- 
dehiscent fruits should be noted when they have evidently arrived at ma- | 
turity. Lastly, the defoliation should be noted when the greater part of the 
leaves of the year have fallen off, it being fully understood that what relates 
to leaves can only apply to the woody plants, excluding moreover the ever- 
greens, the defoliation of which is successive. 
To the preceding indications, the observers would do well to append those 
of all such phenomena as they might consider of interest; such are the mo- 
difications which occur in the odours and colours of flowers or leaves, &c.*; 
it would be especially desirable that they should annex the daily indications 
of the mean temperatures, or what is still better, the maximum and mini- 
mum temperature of each day. 
2. Observations for the diurnal period —Independently of the annotations 
of each day, which form the calendar of Flora, it is of much interest to re- 
gister in each locality the hour at which certain plants expand and shut up 
which are endowed with the faculty of performing these functions at a de- 
terminate hour. But with regard to this, it may be thought too tedious to 
require the results for every day ; it is proposed therefore to limit them to the 
equinoxes and the summer solstice. 
In the formation of the table which relates to these plants, we need take 
no notice of the views that have guided us in constructing the table for the 
observation of the annual phenomena. It will be conceived, that it is in- 
different whether the plant submitted to horary observation be annual or not, 
whether in the open earth or the orangery, &c.; all that is requisite is that 
the plant be healthy and exposed to the open air. 
We recommend especially the dandelion, Leontodon taraxacum, which, 
flowering throughout the year, will furnish a subject for curious observations. 
(See below the tables of plants to be observed.) 
From the commencement of 1840, observations on the flowering of plants 
have been combined with the meteorological observations at the observatory 
of Prague+; these observations, made by M. Fritsch, relate to the flowering, 
considered under five phases: the commencement of the flowering, the semi- 
flowering, full flowering, the semi-defloration, and the defloration, We have 
not thought it necessary to enter into these details in what concerns the ge- 
neral system of observations. 
To keep account of the exposure of the plants as far as possible, it is indi- 
cated at Prague by the letters N, E, S, O, whether this exposure is more 
particularly to the north, east, south or west. The signs — and + indicate, 
moreover, whether the plants grow in the shade, or in the full sun. We 
might adopt a similar notation; the absence of any sign would express an in- 
termediate state. 
Anima Kincpom.—The department of science to which our attention is 
directed, rests upon the physiological principle that every organic being, 
whether an animal or plant, is essentially dependent on atmospheric air, as 
well for its development as for the preservation of its existence; and that 
both its development and the exercise of its functions and habits are checked 
or modified by the modifications of this same atmospheric air. Thus we 
observe that epidemic and endemic maladies predominate in certain sea- 
* For the detail of the observations, see the instructions given by M. Spring in the ninth 
yol. of the ‘ Bulletins de Académie,’ p. 124, &c 
+ The magnetic and meteorological observations of Prague are made upon a very large scale, 
under the direction of M. Kreil, and deserve, in several respects, to serve as a model for in- 
vestigations of this kind —Magnetische und Meteorologische Beobachtungen zu Prag. Three 
quarto volumes have at present appeared. 
