REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I917 73 



The lodge is not only a striking exhibit, but it gives the visitor a 

 visual impression of a typical house of the eastern Indians in aborig- 

 inal times. The erroneous impression that the eastern Indians 

 lived in conical skin tepees, and " roved constantly from place to 

 place " is thus counteracted. 



This exhibit is a part of the Gov. Myron H. Clark Hall of 

 Iroquois Ethnology and, like the groups, is the gift of Mrs Frederick 

 F. Thompson of Canandaigua. 



Iroquois pharmaceutical plants. During the autumn of 19 17 a 

 collection of Iroquois medical herbs was made. These included 

 such plants as were enumerated in our notes on aboriginal pharma- 

 ceutical plants, made during 1900 and 19 13. Many of the herbs 

 have real medical value, but without doubt a considerable proportion 

 have only a fictitious value. 



The herbs were gathered and dried according to the Seneca 

 formulas and have been placed on exhibition in the Hall of Eth- 

 nology, where the exhibit has attracted more than usual interest. 



Among the interesting seeds secured were those of the native 

 Iroquois tobacco. These have been germinated by the State Bot- 

 anist, who will make a study of the variety. 



Native foods. To supplement the collection of native vegetable 

 foods, previously described in the monograph, " Maize and Other 

 Plant Foods of the Iroquois " (Bulletin 144), we collected this year 

 dried specimens of elderberries, blackberries, choke cherries, arti- 

 chokes and oyster mushrooms. 



We desire to call attention to the economic importance of these 

 native foods so generally allowed to go to waste. Mushrooms of 

 the edible variety, if properly dried and kept, provide a highly 

 nutritious food. The same is. true of many of the berries and tubers. 



During the year there have been numerous inquiries concerning 

 wild food plants and their uses. These have not only been directed 

 by individuals but by various official departments. It is to be 

 regretted that the edition of " Maize and Other Food Plants " has 

 become exhausted, for just now it would be a valuable and useful 

 guide in food conservation. 



