196 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



SECTIONS OF FOODS AND TEXTILE INDUSTRIES, DEPARTMENT OF ARTS 



AND INDUSTRIES. 



Eomyn Hitchcock, Curator. 



Owing to the short time I have been connected with the Museum, it 

 is not possible to know precisely what donations have been received 

 during the year, since they are recorded in different catalogues, the 

 special catalogues of the section having been opened in November. So 

 far as I am able to learn however there have been no donations to the 

 textile collection of special importance during the year, unless some 

 valuable specimens promised by certain parties in London have been 

 received by Mr. Earll, and are on the way with the other collections. 



In the collection of foods, I am likewise at a loss to know just what 

 has been received during the year. Since November however I have 

 a perfect record of all that has come in, and among other donations one 

 fine set of specimens in duplicate, illustrative of the manufacture of co- 

 coa and chocolate, is worthy of especial mention. This set was received 

 from Messrs. Cadbury Brothers, of Brown ville, near Birmingham, Eng- 

 land. There are 18 different specimens, embracing cocoa pods, cocoai 

 beans from seven different localities, and specimens showing the va- 

 rious stages of the manufacture of cocoas and chocolates. Labels for 

 this collection have been written, and are ready to be printed. 



Messrs. Burgoyne, Burbidges & Co., wholesale druggists of London, 

 have also presented G specimens of pure vegetable colors used in con- 

 fectionery. 



Mr. Charles B. Orcutt has presented 3 specimens of Indian foods 

 from California, among which is a fine cake of "mesquite" meal. 



A number of specimens of articles of food used in England have been 

 added to the collection by purchase. 



The work of arranging the food collections has been done mainly by 

 Mr. Towne, who has been almost steadily engaged upon the collection 

 of Indian foods for some time past. This part of the work should be 

 completed in a short time, when it will be possible to label and classify 

 the specimens. 



My own work in installation has been mostly confined to the textiles, 

 and particularly directed to exhibiting the different varieties of fibers. 



It is proposed to separate all the textile material, as the work of ar- 

 rangement progresses, into three parts : (1) For exhibition, (2) for study 

 series, and (3) for exchanges. This plan has been carried out thus far ; 

 but no attempt has yet been made at a systematic classification of the 



