22 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



starches, and farinaceous products ; and a valuable series of preserved 

 fruits in alcoliol, among them several varieties of the seedless persim- 

 mon, which is used for making wine and for preserving as a delicacy. 

 A few bottles of sauces and wines were also presented. The most val- 

 uable acquisition, however, is the complete exhibit illustrating the silk 

 industry of the country, as carried on by the natives, which was given 

 without condition, and includes not only the silk of Borribyx mori, but 

 yama-mai and other large silk-producing insects. In addition to about 

 thirty samples of raw and spun silk, cocoons, &c., the collection is 

 accompanied by all the implements, baskets, frames, cases, &c., used in 

 feeding and caring for the worms and in preparing the silk ; colored 

 plates, with descriptions of each process, accompany each article, which 

 make it not only an interesting but an instructive exhibit. The 

 remainder of the fiber-collection of Japan given to the Department is 

 contained in halt a dozen large cases, and consists mainly of cotton and 

 ramie, in various stages of preparation, with a few miscellaneous fibers. 



The donations from Egypt include about two hundred varieties of 

 cereals, seeds, &c., and a full series of Egyptian cotton samples. The 

 Orange Free State also presented samples of its grains, as wheat, corn, 

 millet, &c. 



The Russian collection is very full and complete. The entire grain- 

 exhibit was turned over to the Department, there being in many cases 

 a bushel of a given variety. Wheat, rye, oats, barley, linseed, cotton- 

 seed, grass-seed, beans, pease, &c., are embraced in this collection, 

 besides samples of nuts and other seeds not enumerated. In the dozen 

 or fifteen varieties of vegetable oils presented are poppy, sunflower, and 

 mustard oil. Twelve samples of beet-root sugar were secured from their 

 fine display, and a few preserved fruits and liquors. The fiber-collec- 

 tion consists of samples of flax, raw and prepared, cotton, silk cocoons 

 and spun silk, and twenty samples of wools sent in the fleece. In addi- 

 tion to these specimens, two large ornamental cases of merino wool, 

 probably two hundred samples, were given entire. 



Norway and Sweden presented their complete exhibit of grains and 

 cereals, the latter country also giving about sixty samples of flour and 

 food i^reparations, including the bread used by the peasants. This 

 bread is made once a year, and is a large, round, flat cake some 10 inches 

 across, made of rye or of wheat flour, and is quite palatable. 



The Netherlands presented, without condition, the entire exhibit of the 

 Zeeland Agricultural Society, with a number of miscellaneous exhibits 

 of individual products, as chiccory, liquors, and oils from maize and 

 other grain, medicinal preparations, &c. In addition to these collec- 

 tions, the large exhibit of the Holland Agricultural Society was secured 

 by purchase, the Netherlands Commission oflering to become respon- 

 sible for two- thirds of the amount asked by the society if the Depart- 

 ment would pay in cash the remainder, or $50, The collection includes 

 grains, cereals, seeds, fibers, and other products of the soil, and a series 

 of dairy products, and the implements used in the native manufacture 

 of cheese. 



From Great Britain the Department received a very full classified 

 collection of over three hundred varieties of wool from all parts of tbe 

 world, arranged on a portable stand or table, in eight large glass-cov- 

 ered cases, and exhibited by J. L. Bowes & Brother, I.iverpool. This 

 collection was in reality presented to the Smithsonian Institution, and 

 is deposited in the museum of the Department by it. Another remark- 

 ably fine collection of wool in the fleece was presented by 'Mv. Odeys, on 

 condition that samples be preserved under glass. 



Spain and Portugal each presented several iumdred specimens of 



