REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 11 
been declared, by those competent to judge, the most complete and ex- 
haustive effort ever made in this direction. It will be a valuable aid to 
practical entomology, and a desideratum for State entomologists and 
the naturalists of agricultural colleges, upon whose investigations and 
suggestions depends the possibility of reducing in some degree the 
losses from insect ravages, which are annually computed by tens and 
even hundreds of millions. 
An appropriation having been made at the last session of Congress 
for the purpose of obtaining models of the fruits best adapted to certain 
localities, the work has been commenced with a large collection of apples 
particularly adapted to the Southern and Middle States, and will be 
continued with new varieties from other sections of the country. 
THE AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM. 
During the year many valuable additions have been made to the 
museum, under the charge of the entomologist, by voluntary contri- 
butions or exchange, without the aid of any appropriation whatever for 
the purchase of new or rare specimens. The collection of ‘fibers from 
abroad has been increased by a series of articles of lace-work and 
embroidery equaling in beauty the finest point-lace, manufactured by the 
peasant women of Fayal, Azores, from the bitter aloe. From Basle, 
Switzerland, a fine collection of articles of silk manufacture has been 
received, together with samples of the aniline dyes used in coloring 
them. Samples of manufactured California silk have also been received. 
A series of cotton samples from countries other than the United States, 
in use in England during the late war, illustrates the effort then made 
for a supply during the cotton famine. Among other contributions may 
be mentioned samples of fruits, grains, and other farm products from 
agricultural fairs in the West and South, and from individuals in 
various parts of the country, birds, insects, and other specimens of 
natural history. 
BOTANICAL COLLECTIONS. 
The Departinent herbarium continues to receive large accessions to 
its material for systematic study and illustration of the vegetable king- 
dom. The additions for the present year already exceed four thousand 
species; these include a nearly complete set of Cuban plants procured 
from Mr. Charles Wright, an excellent botanical collector. Large and 
valuable collections have been received through the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution from several of the learned societies ef Europe, which give ex- 
pression to an earnest desire to procure American plants and seeds in 
return. The various Government explorations now in progress, and 
local collections from Army officers stationed at different frontier mili- 
tary posts, are constantly affording a large amount of material for the 
purpose of exchange and distribution. Dr. E. Palmer, who has been 
making special collections for this Department in the Western Terri- 
