AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 409 



[From the Ninth Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1854.] 



METEOROLOGY. 

 H. Meigs^ Extracts. 



" Air brought down from the tops of the highest mountains and 

 from the greatest elevation reached by seronants, is nearly the 

 same in composition as at the surface of the earth. This fact was 

 rather perplexing because the different gases of the atmosphere 

 have not the same specific gravity. A cubic foot of oxygen weighs 

 more than one of nitrogen, while one of carbonic acid was fifty 

 per cent heavier than either. 



Common Air, 1,0000 



Carbonic Acid 1 ,5240 



Nitrogen, 0,9760 



Oxygen, 1 ,1026 



Steam 212c» 0,6235 



The carbonic acid being the heaviest gas, it should chiefly occupy 

 the lower stratum of the atmosphere ; and the nitrogen the top. 

 The diffusive velocity of the various gases ascertained by actual 

 measui-ement. This velocity is inversely as the density of the 

 gases ; in other words, the lighter the gas the greater its rapidity 

 of diffusion. The vapor of water, or steam is subject to the same 

 law ; and this is the solution of the difficulty." 



Among the visitors to the club to-day w^as Lieut. Gov. Brown, 

 of Massachusetts, who made a short but very interesting address 

 on the subject of " Swamp Muck and Salt Marsh.'' 



T. W. Field, of Brooklyn introduced the subject, and gave some 

 items of his own experience in the value of muck as a deodorizer 

 and fertilizer. 



Gov. Brown said he found great encouragement in thus meet- 

 ing a Farmers' Club in a large city, since throughout the country 

 the farmer's interest is more neglected than any other. He 

 thought it a matter worthy of especial notice, that in a city like 

 this, amid all the busy pursuits of life, a club of men can be 

 found devoted to the purpose of discussing and bringing before 

 the world such useful matters as emanate from this society; for 

 however little these matters may be studied in the city, they are 

 widely read in the country, and commented on and acted upon 

 by those most deeply interested. He had often republished the 

 matters discussed in this room to the advantage and satisfaction 

 of New-England farmers. [Mr. Brown is editor of The JYew- 

 England Farmer^ Boston, and owns a farm at Concord.] He 

 thought the subject that had been just called up, upon Avhich Mr. 



