C213) 
6. Lasetinc. The permanent labeling of specimens was 
carried on as heretofore. Manuscript for the complete label- 
ing of the economic museum was prepared and many of 
the permanent labels have been printed. Nearly all the man- 
uscript for the systematic museum has been prepared and 
many of the labels have been struck off. The display of algae 
has been completely labeled, and large labels stating the object 
of the collection and the contents of each stand have been 
provided for the local flora. The permanent labeling of the 
table-cases of the fossil plant museum is about completed 
and general labels have been supplied for the wall-cases. 
Many of the labels printed during the early development of 
the museums have been replaced by more complete ones. 
7. CARE OF THE CoLLecTions. The general handling 
of specimens resulting from the moving of material from the 
old cases into the new, gave special opportunity for the ex- 
amination and cleaning of specimens which had been in the 
cases for several years. The collections have suffered very 
little from exposure to the light and not at all from insect 
depredation. 
The practice of poisoning specimens with mercuric chlorid, 
chloroform or carbon bisulphid has been continued and with 
satisfactory results. 
8. Uses oF THE Museums. The several collections com- 
prising the museums have been used to illustrate instruction 
given at the Garden and at Columbia University. 
Instructors, students, and pupils of schools from New York 
City and the contiguous territory have made use of the col- 
lections both to gain general information and to illustrate 
courses of study. As heretofore the local flora and the mi- 
croscope exhibit have maintained special interest, the for- 
mer being used mostly by teachers and students, the latter 
especially attracting the general public. The economic col- 
lections have been a source of information to manufacturers, 
importers and merchants, as well as to the general public. 
