7,*S KKFOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



the Natioual Museum, which he now hohls by courtesy of the Department of Agri- 

 culture and bycomm'ssion from the Secretary of tlie Smithsonian Institution. This 

 is very aiceiitable, as is also your proposition that certain other employees of the 

 Department of Agriculture shall continue to work ui»on the herbarium under his 

 direction. While the Institution is prepared to iirovide a safe place for the herbarium 

 and preserve it from deterioration, it can not at present assume any expense i'or 

 maintaining and enlarging it. I speak of this for the purpose of emphasizing the 

 fact that if the herbarium is to fulfill its function of continued usefulness to the 

 Department of Agriculture, it will be necessary that the Department shall contribute 

 to its maintenance as in the past. In order to render this possible, the work-rooms 

 already referred to will be available to accommodate the persons engaged in this 

 work under the dii-ection of the botanist. 



Every facility will be aftorded to the Department for the use not only of the Her- 

 barium to be transferred, but of all the other botanical material and collections la 

 the Museum, together with the extensive botanical library belonging to the Institu- 

 tion. Portions of the collection of plants may be withdrawn for study upon the 

 request of the botanist of the Department of Agriculture, so far as is consistent with 

 their safe-keeping and proper use. 



I note what you say in regard to the collections in the divisions of vegetable pathol- 

 ogy and forestry, aud have no comment to offer. Tiie situntiou is, however, differ- 

 ent in regard to the gxasses, for, since they constitute part of the herbarium proper, 

 and a considerable portion of them have been deposited with the Department of 

 Agriculture by the Smithsonian, it seems to me that this fact should be recognized, 

 and that the custody of the grasses should be transferred to the Institution with the 

 rest of the herbarium, although, in accordance with the terms of the agreement just 

 stated, it is proper that as much of this collection should be retained at the Depart- 

 ment as is needed for the work in progress. I would suggest, however, that a full 

 series of the grasses be sent to our fireproof building as soon as practicable, so that 

 in case of fire a portion of this valuabh^ collection may be saved. 



If, when you are ready to make the transfer, you will, as you suggest, request 

 Mr. Coville to confer with me, I will do all in my power to have the new space 

 arranged so as to provide in the best way for the interests of the work. 

 Yours very respectfully, 



G. Brown Gooue, Acting Si'<relarij. 



Hon. CiiAKLKs W. Dabney, Jr., 



Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, ICashington City. 



from the secretary of agriculture. 



August 16, 1894. 

 Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, in compliance with the arrangements 

 made through corresjionilence with the Honorable Assistant Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture, I have this day directed the botanist and curator of this Department to pro- 

 ceed to remove the National Herbarium, its furniture, and persons engaged in 

 working thereon, or so much thereof as you may be able to accommodate, to the 

 S2)ace which you have kindly provided for it in the National Museum. 

 Kespectfully yours, 



J. Sterling Morton, Secretary. 

 The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Ill his report for the year eiidinj;' June 30, 1895, the curator, speak- 

 ing of the more important accessions of the year, mentions G Avhich 

 were received through the Smitlisonian Institution and 45 which came 

 direct to the Department of Agriculture and are now deposited in the 

 herbarium. References to tliese and all other accessions to the Herba- 

 rium will be found in the Accession List (Appendix ii). The total 



