164 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



Acc. 23589: One hundred small label maps (6 by 6 inches) showing 

 geographical distribution of the more important trees. 



During the year five exhibits were installed. To the panel exhibit- 

 ing the forestry interests of the United States, two maps from the Census 

 work were added, showing the distribution of forest, prairie, and plain, 

 and of the different forest types as described by Prof. C. S. Sargent. 

 The large map (No. 23796) which is displayed, gives, at one glance, an 

 idea of the forest conditions over the United States. 



A collection of Japanese woods, 88 species, a catalogue of which, as 

 determined by Prof. L. F. Ward, will be found in the Proceedings of 

 the National Museum for 1881, is displayed in a new shape, being 

 mounted in glass cases attached to the new type of large movable 

 panels, which were originally designed by the writer. This collection 

 is mainly interesting on accouut of the ingenious and artistic manner 

 in which the botanical features are connected, by paintings, with an 

 exhibit of the woods. 



The collection of woods of the United States from the Centennial 

 Exposition, transferred from the collections of the Department of 

 Agriculture, is arranged in four cases, with label maps, showing dis- 

 tribution of more important species. This collection is quite incom- 

 plete, and the display only a temporary one, until the material for a 

 fuller exhibit can be gathered and mounted. 



The colored plates of Michaux's Sylva (No. 23588), were mounted 

 in twenty swinging frames. 



It will appear from this report that the forestry collections are still 

 in an embryonic condition, as is the whole subject of forestry in the 

 United States. Whatever material was found on hand — although if 

 space and assistance were plentiful, interesting exhibits might be made 

 of it — lacks in completeness or instructive value for one reason or 

 another, and needs considerable additions and work before being fit 

 for installation. To overhaul and complete this material, it has so far 

 not been possible, for want of sufficient time from other duties on the 

 part of the curator. 



It will be desirable to devote, as soon as possible, some time and 

 space to secure a full botanical exhibit of the arborescent flora of the 

 United States, similar to the one exhibited at the Paris Exposition, and 

 a more comprehensive exhibit of the most important timber trees which 

 constitute the resource from which the lumber market is supplied. To 

 do this properly, an assistant, conversant with botany and skillful in 

 mounting specimens for the purpose, will be necessary. 



Perhaps one of the most valuable collections on hand is that of the 

 test pieces which served in the determination of the properties of our 

 timbers for the Tenth Census. These should be suitably mounted in 

 such a manner as to facilitate the study of these timbers, and I suggest 

 that an expenditure of money for this purpose will be well directed in 

 preserving a historical collection of valuable test pieces. 



