No. 151] 347 



The American Institute having seriously conj-iderc^l the importance 

 of the experiment Avhich Doctor Perrine was anxious to make, on 

 the naturalization of tropical plants, adopted the folloAving resolution, 

 in 1838. 



Resolved, That the American Institute of ihe city of New-York, 

 have noticed with great interest and pleasure, the zealous, unprece- 

 dented persevering efforts of their countryman, Dr. Henry Perrine, 

 late United States consul at Campeachy, to engage the attention of 

 our goverrmient, to encourage the acclimation and culture of tropical 

 plants in this country, and feeling strongly impressed with the 'great 

 importance of his enterprise, would respectfully, but earnestly recom- 

 meni the same to the special consideration and patronage of Congress, 

 and to the favorable notice of their fellow citizens engaged in agri- 

 cultural pursuits, particularly in the southern portions of our country. 



Dr. Underbill, in relation to gases from brick yards, said, that it 

 was not satifactorily determined whether the injury to vegetation was 

 produced by sulphuretted hydrogen and the other gases from coal, or 

 sulphurous acid gas. The gas which does the injury was evidently 

 light, from the distance its effects are observed. With a moderate 

 breeze the gas will travel for miles from the kilns in the course of a 

 few hours. All along the river, from New-York to Albany, its effects 

 are discernable. He had carefully observed the action for six years, 

 desiring to learn some remedy for the evil, and what he said of the 

 extent and appearance of the injury he founded upon actual obser- 

 vation. Some remedy must soon be applied, or many of our best or- 

 chards and ornamental trees will be destroyed. Wherever the evil 

 lies, in the coal or the clay, or in both, we desire only to get at the 

 truth, and then we hope to find the much desired remedy. 



Col. Clarke stated,that sulphurous acid gas, when disengaged, com- 

 bined with about 700 times its volume of water. He did not know 

 hov/ far the wind might carry it. It was evident, in cities, that the 

 carbonic acid gas, and carbonic oxide, disengaged by thousands of 

 coal fires, is not injurious to vegetation. Sulphurous acid gas is ve- 

 ry insidious and injurious. Sulphate of alumina exists in all clay; in 

 some near Baltimore to such an extent that alum is made from it by 

 the simple addition of potash. 



Mr. Wakeman thought this discussion out of order, inasmuch as the 

 subject was in the hands of a committee, from whom no report had 

 yet been received. 



