(314) 



The difficult problem of labeling the Merck collection 

 of plant principles and the Beauregaard collection of varnish 

 resins has been worked out, and both collections will now 

 be found properly labeled. 



I have several times referred in these reports to the 

 experiment of supplying explanatory reading matter on 

 the labels of our economic specimens, in addition to the 

 bare outlines of identity and source. Quite a number of 

 such explanatory labels were introduced last year, and some 

 care has been taken to ascertain the reception accorded 

 them by visitors. The result has been most satisfactory. 

 Visitors read and frequently discuss the text of these labels, 

 and turn again to the specimens with renewed interest. 

 I no longer doubt that with the very general distribution 

 of such labels among the collection, the interest in, and 

 the educational value of, our museum will be greatly 

 increased. Such an extension of this method of display 

 has already been taken up and will be vigorously pursued 

 during the coming year. 



Conditions at the present time look unusually favorable 

 for large additions of specimens during the coming year, 

 many of them without expense to the Garden, although 

 I take this occasion to reiterate previous statements that 

 the time is at hand when the proper maintenance of this 

 department can be effected only through more liberal 

 appropriations for the purchase of specimens than has here- 

 tofore been found necessary. 



Inasmuch as I shall probably have another opportunity 

 during the coming year to visit Mexico, without expense 

 to the Garden, I trust that it may be found possible to 

 appropriate the necessary funds to cover the actual cost of 

 making economic collections while there. 



Respectfully submitted, 



H. H. Rusby, 

 Honorary Curator of the Economic Collections. 



