THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 157 



subjects requiring attention and thought to understand them. We think 

 it better that they should be above rather than below the average in- 

 telligence ol the country ; that they should start from a given epoch, 

 and, in most cases, should be preceded by a brief exposition of the 

 previous state of each subject. 



Arrangements have been made for commencing some of these pre- 

 liminary reports, as well as reports on the state of our knowledge of 

 special subjects ; among these are : 



1. A report on the present state of chemistry as applied to agriculture. 



2. A report on the forest trees of North America, giving their eco- 

 nomical uses, their mode of propagation, and their history. 



3. A report on the present state of our knowledge of lightning and 

 the best means of guarding against accidents from its effects. 



4. A report on the late discoveries in astronomy. 



5. A report on meteorological instruments, with practical observa- 

 tions and directions with reference to the use of them. 



In connexion with this last report, I may mention that a proposition 

 has been made to the Institution by Professor Guyot, of the University 

 of Neufchatel, relative to the importance of commencing at this epoch, 

 and at the beginning of the labors of the Smithsonian Institution, the 

 adoption of the centigrade scale of the thermometer. This is a sub- 

 ject, indeed, worthy of the attention of the Regents. It should, how- 

 ever, be discussed with caution, and be decided only after due delib- 

 eration. 



The first idea of reports on the progress of knowledge, with which 

 we are acquainted, is due to the Emperor Napoleon, who called upon 

 the French Academy of Sciences to present him with accounts of the 

 progress of the different branches of knowledge within a given period. 

 Until within the last few years the only regular reports of the kind 

 were those presented to the Swedish Academy. Since that time, how- 

 ever, a series of annual reports on chemistry have been commenced by 

 an association of gentlemen in France, and also a series on the differ- 

 ent branches of material science, by the Physical Society of Berlin. 

 The several numbers of the latter are now in progress of translation, 

 in order to furnish in part the materials for the reports to be prepared 

 for the Smithsonian Institution during the coming year. 



Although comparatively little has been done in our country in the 

 way of original research, yet it might be important that the Institution 

 should call for the preparation of a report on the history oi the progress 

 of original science in America down to the end of the present half cen- 

 tury. This report would exhibit a constant increase in the number 

 and importance of the researches made in our country, and might be 

 found of much service in giving due credit to the labors of those who 

 have been really engaged in the advance of knowledge among us. A 

 report of this kind, however, would require the association of a number 

 of persons combining literary with scientific attainments. 



Occasional publication of separate treatises on subjects of general interest. 



This part of the plan of organization requires to be carried into ope- 

 ration with much caution. It is liable to much abuse, unless the pub- 



