80 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



Far greater diflBculty has been found in classifying textile fabrics, 

 owing to the technical knowledge of the methods of manufacture re- 

 quired to do this work in a satisfactory manner. No system has yet 

 been perfected, although a general plan has been under consideration 

 for some time, and it will doubtless be possible to outline a satisfactory 

 scheme in the course of another year. Meanwhile specimens are being 

 mounted, described, and arranged in the cases according to a provisional 

 classification, based primarily upon theirComposition(whether of cotton, 

 flax, wool, silk, &c.), and secondly upon the method of weaving. 



Accessions of the year. — The following are the most important among 

 the additions to the collections for the year 1884 : 



Twenty-t?wo specimens of jute, grown in Mississippi from seed ob- 

 tained in India, showing various qualities of the fiber in different stages 

 of preparation. From Hon. W. W. Stone, Stoueville, Miss., president 

 Delta Jute and Fiber Company. 



Six specimens, showing the process of manufacturing gunny cloth 

 from Calcutta jute butts. From Mr. Appleton Sturgis, New York. 



A large collection of cordage made of jute, and a fine specimen of 

 jute fiber, from the Schlichter Jute Cordage Company, Philadelphia, Pa. 



Forty specimens of textile fibers and fabrics of various kinds from 

 different countries, all well named and identified. From the Royal 

 Botanical Gardens, Kew, England. 



A collection of machine-made laces of various kinds, fece mits, nubias, 

 &c. From A. G. Jennings & Sons, New York. 



A large number of textile fibers and fabrics, from Guatemala and San 

 Salvador, received from the Boston Foreign Exposition, of 1883. 



Thirteen specimens of textile fibers from Jamaica, collected by Mr. V. 

 P. Parkhiirst, who was engaged as collector on the occasion of a visit to 

 the West Indies. 



Twenty-nine specimens of English laces, made in Nottingham and 

 Devonshire, England, a list of which will be found in No. 24 of the 

 " Proceedings" of the Museum. From Mr. A. Robertson, with Messrs. 

 Hitchcock, Williams & Co., London. 



Twenty-two small samples of English silk fabrics, manufactured in 

 Manehester and Bradford, and one hundred similar samples of cotton 

 and worsted fabrics, etc. Also from Mr. A. Robertson. 



A fine specimen of Jacquard weaving in silk. From Prof. T. 0. 

 Archer, director of the Edinburgh Museum. 



Nine specimens illustrating the manufacture of handmade ingrain 

 and rag carpets. From Mr. O. Herring, Maryland Mills, Baltimore, 

 Md. 



Thirty-seven specimens of rope and twine made of American, Russian, 

 and Italian hemp and sisal. From J. T. Bailey & Co., Philadelphia. 



A series of fifteen specimens of flax and flax twines manufactured at 

 Schagticoke, N. Y., from flax grown in New York State, From Mr. E, 

 W. Hartshorn, presideut Cable Flax Mills. 



