(256 ) 
Messrs. Fritzsche Bros., of Garfield, N. J., have promised 
an exhibit of the volatile oil industry. 
With regard to the specimens already in our possession, 
little could be done except to keep them properly stored and 
labelled in anticipation of the preparation of our museum- 
building to receive them. 
Arrangements have been made for the compilation of a 
complete check-list of useful plants and plant products, to 
serve as the basis for our plan of accumulation. The articles 
to be included have been classified according to their nature or 
uses, and the plants pertaining to each class will be arranged in 
botanical sequence. The preparation of so elaborate a list 
will prove a long and tedious task, but it is deemed wise to 
undertake it at the outset, rather than to waste time upon pro-- 
visional lists which must after a time be abandoned, necessi- 
tating the rearrangement and renumbering of our exhibits. 
In view of the fact that we must rely upon exchange 
methods for securing by far the larger portion of our ex- 
hibits, and as this is by far the simplest, most certain and most 
economical method which can be followed, it is hereby rec- 
ommended that a permanent collector be employed. 
Accounts of all expenditures for this department have been 
rendered to the Director-in-Chief, and copies of all corre-- 
spondence have been filed. 
Respectfully submitted, 
H. H. Russy, 
flonorary Curator. 
