46 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1920. 



volume 21 of Contributions from the National Herbarium, Bulletins 

 Nos. 106 (text), 107, and 108, a very small edition of Bulletin No. 103, 

 and 42 separate papers.* The total distribution of Museum publica- 

 tions aggregated 81,936 copies. 



The number of visitors to the Natural History Building aggregated 

 321,568 for week days and 101,416 for Sundays. At the Arts and In- 

 dustries Building, which is open only during the week, the total at- 

 tendance was 250,982. The Smithsonian Building is ordinarily only 

 open to visitors on week days, but an exception was made for a few 

 Sundays in March and April, 1920, when there was on exhibition a 

 series of exquisite water color paintings by Mrs. C. D. Walcott of 

 wild flowers, the attendance being 84,223 on week days and 1,790 on 

 the five Sundays. 



The most pressing needs of the Museum are those for additional 

 space for the ever-increasing collections and additional funds for 

 their classification and maintenance. Another year has only made 

 more acute these needs. Preliminary steps are being taken look- 

 ing to securing the erection of another building to liouse the 

 great historical collections of the Museum and the collections of the 

 National Gallery of Art. It will nevertheless be some years before 

 relief can be hoped for in this direction, even under the most fa- 

 vorable circumstances. The appropriations for the maintenance of 

 the Museum for 1921 remain practically the same as those for 

 1920. Never were there so many openings for advancement in in- 

 dustrial as well as scientific lines, but under existing conditions the 

 Museum is helpless. It is not only prevented from developing col- 

 lections in the various directions now offering exceptional opportu- 

 nities, but it carries forward existing work only by exercising the 

 strictest economy. 



Respectfully submitted. 



W. deC. Ravenel, 

 Administrative Assistant to the Secretary^ 

 In charge United States National Museum, 



Dr. Charles D. Walcott, 



Secretary^ /Smithsonian Institution. 



