(126) 
including foods, drugs, fibers, gums, resins, sugars, and 
others as indicated by the accompanying floor plan. 
The arrangement of the larger groups is as follows: Foods 
and fibers occupy the west hall, the former in cases on the 
north side, the latter on the south. The west wing is mainly 
given over to exhibits other than foods, fibers, drugs and 
woods. The east hall contains the drugs, while the east 
wing is set aside for the woods and wood products, and for 
a collection illustrating North American dendrology. 
Fibers. Cases 1 to 18.—JIn the first case of the series 
devoted to fibers will be found cotton, the most important of 
the vegetable fibers. Itis derived from the fruit of the cotton 
plant (Gossyp7um), being the hairs that cover the surface of 
the seeds. There are several different kinds of the cotton 
plant from which fiber is derived. The fruits of some of 
these may be seen with the cotton bursting from the capsule, 
while some of the many different products are also shown. 
The fiber of many other plants, derived from the leaves, 
stem, bark, roots, and other organs, is of great economic 
importance and is used, either in practically its natural condi- 
tion as may be seen by the specimens of fans, hats, boxes, 
bags, baskets, mats, matting, crude ropes, brooms, ornaments 
and toys, or it is manufactured into articles of commerce after 
processes which remove it considerably from its natural aspect 
or condition ; for example, linen, which is made from the flax 
plant; cloth, twine and rope, from jute, hemp and abutilon 
fiber; and paper made from wood and other fibers. 
India Rubber and Allied Products. Cases 19 and 20. — 
The first case in the west wing contains india rubber and 
allied products. Here are the implements and utensils used 
in collecting the rubber ‘‘ milk” from the trees which grow in 
the tropical forests. Rubber is derived mostly from trees 
belonging to the mulberry family, spurge family and dog- 
bane family. 
Several varieties of rubber may be seen in the different 
stages of refinement, together with some articles as manu- 
factured for the market. Here too is an allied product, 
