BOTANY 



In the Department of Botany, as in all other de- 

 partments of the Museum, every effort is made to 

 present the exhibits in an attractive and comprehen- 

 sible manner, with the idea of popularizing the science 

 as far as possible. The exhibits fill five halls; and it 

 is an interesting point in this connection, that this is 

 the first time in the history of natural history muse- 

 ums, that botany has been given space comparable 

 with that allotted to other departments. In every case, 

 the economic products of the plant are stressed, thus 

 making the exhibits, not only instructive to the student 

 or casual visitor, but of actual value to the business 

 man. 



In the arrangement, the underlying purpose is to 

 present the natural succession of plant life from the 

 lowest orders to the highest. This .succession is illus- 

 trated particularly in Hall 28. When plants are micro- 

 scopic, an enlarged reproduction is used to reveal their 

 character. In flowering plants, a complete or large 

 portion of a characteristic plant of each family is re- 

 produced in natural size. Following this, an enlarged 

 flower in section reveals the more minute floral charac- 

 teristics of the family, and fruits peculiar to the fam- 

 ily are shown. Wherever possible, preference is given 

 to a species generally known to the public. 



The reproductions have all been made in the Mu- 

 seum by a staff of artists working in a series of labor- 

 atories founded and supported by Mr. Stanley Field. 

 They are made up of exact casts of each part of the 

 original living plant ; and in their truth to nature, life- 

 like appearance and freshness, they form a collection 

 unique in the museums of the world. 



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