Miscellanies. 177 



toes, and perhaps other useful vegetable food? The experiment 

 seems to be worth trying. 



I will further remark, that this aquatic potatoe patch had no hoe- 

 ing or other labor bestowed on it ; a matter of some importance in 

 our country, where labor is so dear. Again, the labor of transport- 

 ing the heaps of gravel may, or must be done in the winter, when 

 the time of the farmer is less valuable. 



14. Annual Report of the Regents of the University to the Legis- 

 luture of New York. — In Vol. XXV, No. 2, we gave, rather at large, 

 an exposition of the relation of the Regents to the various literary- 

 institutions of the State, the supervision they exercised over them, 

 and the several subjects upon which, constantly, scientific observa- 

 tions were required to be made. The results of these latter were 

 severally noticed, and it is only necessary to record the progress and 

 results of the last year. 



The reports from the several colleges include 750 students and 

 101 graduates; from the medical schools, 375 members and 55 

 graduates ; sixty seven academies, (making the required reports, in 

 whole or in part, and receiving the usual appropriation of ^10,000,) 

 reported 5,506 students, of whom 3,390 pursued classical studies, or 

 the higher branches of English education, for four months or more of 

 the year; and showing an increase over the whole number of last year 

 of 650. 



In the studies pursued, in addition to those of last year, we observe 

 anatomy and mineralogy; and from the academy where mineralogy is 

 taught comes a report of the mineral localities in its vicinity. Were 

 mineralogy taught at all the academies, there would be observers at 

 all ; and then more numerous and extended reports. We think it 

 would be a valuable accession to the means of instruction, if each 

 academy were furnished with a sufficient cabinet of characteristic 

 specimens. 



The meteorological returns are more ample and complete than 

 usual. The annual mean temperature, from the average of the re- 

 turns from thirty five academies, 44.1°. Highest degree during the 

 year, (99°,) was observed at Dutchess County and Montgomery 

 academies, and the lowest, ( — 32°,) at Governeur. Greatest an- 

 nual range, (122°,) at Governeur andLowville; greatest monthly 

 range, (96°,) at Governeur. 



Vol. XXVII.— No. 1. 23 



