60 KEPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1885, 



cute original investigatious. An article on the " Study of Vegetable 

 Fibres" was published by the curator in the American .Microscopical 

 Journal,* and a " Method of Analysis of Fibres, Tissues, &c.," translated 

 by my assistant, Mr. Eufus W. Deering, from ''JJtudes sur les Fibres," 

 by M. Vetillart, was published in the same journal.t 



lu addition to the ordinary routine work, it is intended, as soon as 

 possible, to display with each typical fibre a large photomicrograph, 

 showing the peculiarities of structure as revealed by the microscope. 

 A number of specimens have been prepared and mounted for this spe- 

 cial purpose. 



The number of specimens in the collection at the end of June, 1885, 

 can only be approximately estimated. Including a large number sent 

 to the New Orleans Exposition, there were probably not less than 1,520 

 in the exhibition series and 200 in the study series. The number in the 

 reserve series at that time is unknown. 



The last number on the textiles catalogue of 1884 is 6857, and the 

 last entry in June, 1885, is 7440, making a total of 583 additions to the 

 collection. 



* Vol. VI, p. 23. t Vol. VI, p. 47. 



