CORRESPONDENCE, 669 
bas ey are pe a ese ith a recognized organi Scattered over a wide expanse of 
ountry, th fi this disp a his want, no less ET than physically 
reii nem is no authority other than the temporary and shifting, although in 
some = aici one, of public ae by which ne) ibis may be passed 
wv tribun their peers or of those of se own elass to whose experience 
in poirot nt ‘he saber willingly pean representative council, the stamp of 
whose approval wou be acknowledged by the os as we. he ud themselves. From 
the lack of a a centre of ae om of communication, and o bined action, ee 
and with them the cause of truth and knowledge, and ae zie Re veithine, suffer. In 
oa therefore, of compas ms pins objects, we propose to establish a National oe 
s, Art and Sci » Ripon à p pa outlined in a Constitution accompany- 
ing sayarip pot We ask aes sothaamatiens 
After several meetings a Constitution was finally adopted founded on 
that of the French Institute, but adapted to the genius of our country. 


cers of the Academy of Natural Sciences were elected: For President, 
Josera Lery, M. D.; for Vice President, Joun S. Newperry, M. D.; 
for Secretary, Čika A. Joy, Ph. D.; for Treasurer, J. Ca sok 
Brevoort, M. A. For members of the Goalie: JEFFRIES WYMAN, M. D., 
and Sensi F. BAIRD 
If, as it promises to fo the National Institute will bind together and 
thus pacientes ‘guide and control the army of workers in letters, science 
and art, a new era has dawned for the development of knowledge and its 
practical results in America. The National slat certainly embraces 
the best talent and learning in the land; it only n in addition, as has 
been remarked, an endowment of at least a bios ye dollars with which 
to begin its operations. At the outset it should place its officers on sala- 
es that their time may be devoted entirely to its service; should aid 
quirers in making Semone reniy have the means of publishing its 
transactions and proceedings o scale worthy of its liberal organiza- 
tion; and as its local Suet is in the city of New York, to the monied 
men of that great and wealthy city must it look for the moral and pe- 
cuniary support necessary for its life and final success. Such a Na- 
place to place in the summer holidays, and we know of no other organi- 
zation which would so fully meet the wants of the people. 
—1 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
J. F. A., Salem.—Th panoe of plants in sleepi ng rooms, is a thing to be a 
for several reasons. First, oia aves of chon plants, during the hours of daylight 
constantly absorb a large ae unt of carbonic acid from the air; and this, by the action 
of the light, is decomposed; and the carbon cake to feed the plant, while the oxygen is 
ed en light is this ss sore and carbonic acid rem. 
i mposed within th e leaf-tissues is liable to escape n; thus to some extent 
vitiating the atmosphere. Thi s Ís not a great miter crore and ind nts in I 
ot chargeable with much of this ki hief. But plants in flower exhale 
carbonic acid freely at all times; for in all the proc nected with fertilization 
d cone , the starch ye sugar found before in the tissues bei d 
, part going to ish the new products deposited in the seed, and part 
