124 THE NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AT BERLIN. 



{a) The e.ducalional collections contain minerals, rocks, and soils of 

 importance in agri(;ulture ; the collection has been made instructive by 

 the selection of specimens showing the changes produced by exposure. 



(h) The exhibition collections are placed in horizontal and perpendic- 

 ular glass cases, and represent a well organized and described material 

 for the instruction in and contemplation of the composition and variety 

 of the native soil. 



The mineralogical collection is arranged according to the Zirkel sys- 

 tem, and shows the more important minerals in their characteristic forms. 



The petrographic collection is arranged according to Credner's sys- 

 tem, and exhibits characteristic forms of rocks. The exhibition hall 

 also contains several geological charts, of which may be specially men- 

 tioned that of the Harz Mountains and the Thuringian forest, which is 

 composed of eighty-one sheets. 



The geological and pedological collection is exhibited in the adjoining 

 hall. Conuuenciug with the most recent formations, it passes through 

 the various layers of humus, clay, lime, gravel, sand, and ferriferous 

 soils, including the organic inclosures of alluvium, diluvium, and tertiary 

 periods which connect with the mesozoic, paleozoic, and archaic periods. 



Chemical analyses, microscopic preparations, solutions, reliefs, pro- 

 files, and tableaus complete the objects. Illustrations of sceneries be- 

 longing to the various geological periods and illustrating their pecu- 

 liarities are suspended above the exhibition cases. 



The pedological division has found accommodations along the light 

 court of the museum. It contains apparatus for examination of the 

 soil, the mineral fertilizers, fuel, representations of Thuringian brown 

 coal industry, manipulations of asphaltum, flint, and peat, and indus- 

 tries. 



The Agro7iomic- Pedological Institute. — The Institute embraces two 

 divisions, the agronomic-pedological ^nd agricultural-chemical labor- 

 atory, and the division for soil, fertilizer, and irrigation and drainage. 



The agronomic-pedological laboratory purports to promote the scien- 

 tific explorations of the soil in its relation to the structure of plauts and 

 to its cultivation, and to offer facilities for the study and execution of 

 agronomic-pedological and agricultural-chemical experiment. 



The agronomic-pedological laboratory consists of a large room for the 

 accommodation of the assistant and twenty students, and contaius all 

 apparatus for agricultural chemical and physical examination and 

 analysis. 



The Institute of Tef/etahle Physiology. — The Institute was established 

 in 1881, and comprises a laboratory f(n' physiological work, with dark 

 room, microscopic room, chemical division, green-house, and experi- 

 mental garden. It i>ossesses all the necessary apparatus, instruments 

 and collections, and a library. The Institute prepares the physio- 

 logical experiments required in the lectures, and offers opportunity' to 

 the student to i)ractice vegetable physiology and pathology. To the 



I 



