74 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



department, there has been afforded very little opportuuity for the 

 preparation of papers for jmblication during the year, on acconut of the 

 large amount of preliminary work necessary in the way of arrangement 

 and classification. Mr. Knowlton has, however, published five ])apers 

 relating to paleobotany, and in them one new genus and seven new 

 species are described. 



The number of specimens received during the year, so far as they can 

 be counted, is upward of G,642, not including the Lacoe collection of 44 

 boxes, and the collection of bones of Zeuglodon. 



The last entries in the several catalogues of the department for the 

 fiscal years 1893-94 and 1894-95 are as follows: 



1893-94. I 1894-95. 



Number 

 of entries. 



Paleozoic fossils 



Mesozoio fossils 



Cenozoic fossils 



Fossil plants 



Total i 1,510 



DEPARTMENT OF PLANTS (NATIONAL, HERBARIUM). 



The most important matter affecting this department was the formal 

 transfer of the Herbarium from the Department of Agriculture to the 

 National Museum building. This was the result of correspondence 

 between the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and the Acting Secre- 

 tary of the Smithsonian Institution. Copies of the letters are here 

 presented. The history of the growth of the Herbarium will interest 

 many, and a brief statement relative to the same is here given. 



At the time when definite lines of policy were adopted in order to 

 secure the expenditure of the income of the Smithsonian Institution in 

 such a manner as most effectually to carry out the intention of tlie 

 founder in his purpose of promoting the ''increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men," it was determined to make no appropriation of 

 the* funds to further or support any object which could be e(iually well 

 accomplished by some other agencj-. In pursuance of this policy an 

 arrangement was effected with the Commissioner of Agriculture to 

 transfer the iSTational Herbarium of the Institntion to the care of the 

 Department of Agriculture. The Herbarium then contained 15,000 to 

 20,000 specimens from all parts of the world, properly classified and 

 labeled. These specimens were the result of various exi)editions of the 

 Government and of special explorations carried on under the auspices 

 of the Institution. The collection had from the first been under the 

 care of Dr. Gray and Dr. Torrey, who served without compensation. 

 Upon their retirement the desirability of ein])loying a competent bota- 

 nist became obvious. On account of lack of money, however, it was not 

 possible to make the position a salaried one, and therefore it became 



