REPORT OF NATIONAL, MUSEUM, 1924 107 



and animal fibres, calfskin leather, shoemaking, imitation leather, 

 tapestries, dress fabrics, and a braiding machine. 



The 21 installations of the present fiscal year set up in the wood 

 court included: Bowling and billiard equipment and specimens 

 illustrating indoor and outdoor sports'; specimens of woods, tool 

 handles, wood heels, doors, paper pulp products, wood distillation, 

 and wood preservatives; specimens showing destruction of wood 

 by ants and termites ; photographs of lumbering methods ; also cases 

 and bulletin boards arranged to point out the damage resulting to 

 forests and game from carelessness with fire in the woods. 



BESEAKCH AND STUDIES CAKKIED ON AT THE MUSEUM 



For the benefit of the Museum. — As much time as could be spared 

 from routine work has 1 been given by the curator and one assistant 

 to the preparation of comprehensive technical definitions of textile 

 fabrics based upon authentic specimens in the Museum's collections. 

 This has meant the careful examination of all available current tex- 

 tile literature, as the technical mill and trade terms used in older 

 works of reference are often not in accord with those in current use 

 in the United States. A little progress has been made toward the 

 completion of a fabrics glossary based on actual specimens, as the 

 Museum's collection of named textiles has been steadily increased. 



The use of the Museum's collections and facilities by visitors and 

 correspondents. — Numerous visitors made inquiry at the curator's 

 office in search of special information suggested by the exhibits, and 

 made particular use of the technical books on textiles, woods, and 

 drugs in the sectional libraries.' The curator and assistant curators 

 furnished special information on industrial raw materials and the 

 identification of specimens, from time to time during the year, to the 

 Bureaus of Chemistry and Plant Industry, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. The identification of specimens of fibers and 

 fabrics, gums, resins, seeds, and woods for numerous individuals, 

 both in and out of the Government service, has been a regular part 

 of the work of this division. The curator furnished the identifica- 

 tion of cottons and cotton seeds introduced by the office of foreign 

 seed and plant introduction and distribution, United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture, and to him has been referred all letters 

 requesting information on silk and artificial silk received by the 

 Department of Agriculture and other Federal departments. 



Names of special cooperators. — A number of persons deserve spe- 

 cial mention for their splendid cooperation in arranging for the 

 contribution of specimens to the Museum and for making use of 

 every opportunity of presenting the' needs of the Museum to persons 

 and professional bodies in a position to render assistance. In this 



