(416) 
incorporated into the several series of exhibits, and a 
considerable number remain for further incorporation. 
1. Economic Museum 
The very extensive and valuable collection of crude and 
refined products of plants, illustrating the fundamental 
relationship of the vegetable kingdom to the arts, sciences 
and industries, has taken on additional importance under 
present conditions of world-wide consideration of new uses 
for plant substances. This museum of plant economics 
occupies 218 cases, each 7 feet high by 5 feet wide, on the 
main floor of the museum building. We are continually 
answering inquiries relative to one product or another, and 
the carefully identified and labeled collection impresses all 
who view it with the dependence of the human race upon 
the plant world. 
The collection has been brought together from a great 
variety of sources. Our numerous exploring expeditions 
in little-known regions obtained many specimens of excep- 
tional value; many have been obtained by exchanges with 
other institutions, and many have been contributed by 
commercial firms. The material is classified in the museum 
primarily under the various categories of products, such 
as foods, drugs, fibers, oils, sugars, starches, etc., with 
suitable subdivisions. Hitherto we have depended on this 
classification and the knowledge of our curators to enable 
us to promptly find any individual specimen required, but 
the collection has now become so large as to make a com- 
plete catalogue of it almost a necessity. 
Dr. Rusby, who has acted throughout the accumulation 
of the material as its Honorary Curator, and to whose in- 
terest in it this vastly important collection is mainly due, 
has recently advised the preparation of such a catalogue 
and has expressed his willingness to superintend the work, 
and to commence it immediately; his annual report, here- 
with submitted, contains further information and sugges- 
tion upon this proposition. I recommend that you au- 
