58 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



The following accessions are of especial importance and have mate- 

 rially added to the value of the collection : 



Nearly 900 South American plants from Dr. A. Engler, Berlin, Germany (exchange) ; 

 1,369 specimens from Mr. F. V. Coville (gift); 981 plants from the Sandwich Islands 

 (purchase) ; 1,057 plants from Oregon (purchased by the Department of Agriculture) ; 

 1,000 specimens from Dr. W. H. Forwood, Washington, D. C. (gift); 625 Mexican 

 lilants purchased hy the Department of Agriculture and about 1,500 Mexican plants 

 purchased by the Museum; 424 specimens from Mississippi, collected by Mr. C. L. 

 Pollard; 600 specimens from Connecticut, obtained bj- exchange with Dr. E. H. 

 Fames, Bridgeport; 500 rare specimens from Xorth and South Carolina, received in 

 exchange from Biltmore Herbarium, Biltmore, North Carolina ; 525 plants from Mis- " 

 souri (purchase) ; 600 California specimens (purchase); 735 specimens irom India, 

 sent in exchange by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta ; 535 plants from Idaho 

 (purchase) ; 1,267 specimens from Montana (purchase) ; 500 West Indian plants (pur- 

 chase) ; 600 tropicaJ plants from Dr. E. Warming, Copenhagen, Denmark (exchange) ; 

 300 South African plants from Dr. K. Schumann, Berlin, Germany (purchase) ; 382 

 Wyoming plants from Mr. A. Nelson, Laramie, Wyoming (exchange); 250 plants 

 from Florida (purchase) ; 298 hepatic£e (purchase); 80 i)lants from the islands of 

 California (purchase) ; 176 Australian plants from Mr. R. T. Baker, Sydney, Australia 

 (exchange); 696 specimens from the Botanical Gardens of St. Petersburg, Russia 

 (exchange); 226 African plants from Dr. Hans Schinz, Zurich, Germany (exchange). 



There were also obtained by xmrchase 208 plants from Yucatan, 218 specimens from 

 the Azores, 150 algte, 50 specimens of Salix, and 209 Californiau plants. 



Additional material of special value was presented as follows : From Mrs. O. F. 

 Cook, W^ashington, D. C, 335 foreign jdants; from Mr. J. M. Macoun, Ottawa, Canada, 

 154 Arctic and Canadian specimens; from Mr. E. S. Steele, Washington, D. C, 110 

 grasses from the District of Columbia; from Mr. C. H. T. Townsend, 109 Texan 

 plants, and from Prof. B. W. Evermann, 139 specimens from Idaho. 



The collection is in excellent condition, although considerably crowded. 

 Additional case-room is regarded as necessary if the present satisfac- 

 tory development of the Herbarium is to continue. The species are so 

 arranged as to be easily consulted, and many of the genera have been 

 revised in the light of recent monographs. The old and worn-out genus 

 covers have, in a large number of instances, been replaced by new ones. 

 The progress made in other directions in caring for the collection is set 

 forth in the following paragraphs : 



The storage cases in the tower rooms have been thoroughly overhauled and all old 

 collections, with few exceptions, have been mounted and prei)ared for distribution. 



The Herbarium has been stamped almost up to the Leguminosie, making a total 

 number of about 18,000. The desirability of completing this count can not be too 

 strongly emjihasized, but it would require the exclusive services of a botanical 

 assistant for the space of nearly a year. A similar statement might be made with 

 reference to the transfer to the Herbarium of the old Museum collection now stored 

 on the south balcony and the seiiaration from it of the District herbarium. 



The selection and labeling of type siiecimens has progressed in a very gratifying 

 manner. There are now 1,344 types properly labeled and indexed, a large proportion 

 of them consisting of species described within the last three years. In this connec- 

 tion the growth of the collection is evidenced by the fact that a total of 32,607 

 mounted sheets have been added to the Herbarium during the year. This work has 

 been performed by two preparators, under the personal supervision of Mr. Pollard, 

 the labeling of the types having been directed by Mr. Rose. 



The development of the cryptogamic collection under Mr. Cook's charge has also 

 been remarkable, but as Mr. Cook was here for the space of three months only, it is 



