106 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1923, 



In keeping with the policy adopted some years ago ol' obtaining 

 where possible, series of specimens illustrating official grades and 

 standards of commercial products, there was transferred to the 

 Museum from the Office of Fiber Investigations of the Department 

 of Agriculture, a set of specimens of abaca or Manila hemp, repre- 

 senting the standard Philippine Islands Government official grades, 

 from Grade A, " Extra Prime," to Grade M, " Coarse Brown," and 

 ihe three S Grades, denoting " Streaked " fiber. 



An addition to the Museum's collection of bedspreads was made 

 by Dr. Charles D. Walcott, Smithsonian Institution, who contributed 

 a patchwork quilt, made about 1850 by his mother, Mrs. Mary L. 

 Walcott, and two elaborate, double-woven, blue and white coverlets 

 made on a hand loom at an earlier period. 



Specimens of guarana paste used by native Brazilians for making 

 a stimulating beverage because of its high caffeine content, and also 

 in the treatment of bowel disorders, were added to the section of 

 food by the gift of Dr. Walter Hough, of the Museum staff. These 

 specimens included the paste in the usual form of a cylindrical roll 

 and also pieces molded in the form of animals, such as an alligator, 

 armadillo, and bird. For reducing the hard mass to a powder in the 

 preparation of the beverage, a file made of the bony palate of the 

 Pirarucu fish is used and such a file is included in Doctor Hough's 

 gift. 



Through the interest of Miss Barbara Van Heulen. Assistant 

 State Club Leader, of Michigan, in the Museum's exhibit of food 

 products canned by members of Boys' and Girls' Clubs, there were 

 received from the Michigan Agi'icultural College, Office of Coop- 

 erative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, East 

 Lansing, Mich., ten prize jars of canned fruits, vegetables, and 

 meat put up by Michigan children. 



Dr. F. V. Coville, Botanist, V. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington. D. C, when studying the food plants of the Klamath 

 Indians at Klamath Marsh. Oregon, some years ago, collected speci- 

 mens of '' Wokas," a food prepared from the seeds of a pondlily, 

 Nywifhaen. polysepala^ and much prized by the Indians of that 

 locality. Four specimens prepared by different methods were pre- 

 sented by Doctor Coville. 



The collection of milk products was increased by a series of speci- 

 mens illustrating various milk products and in particular the steps in 

 the process of making milk sugar. These were prepared and con- 

 tributed by the California Central Creameries, of San Francisco, 

 Calif. 



From a historical viewpoint, one of the most important accessions 

 of the year was a set of Bidwell Thomas bicycle tires contributed 

 by Albert S. Noonan, of Philadelphia, Pa. These tires were pur- 



