(20) 



including foods, drugs, fibers, gums, resins, sugars, and 

 others as indicated by the accompanying floor plan. 



The arrangement of the larger groups is as follows : Foods 

 and fibers occupy the west hall, the former in cases on the 

 north side, the latter on the south. The west wing is mainly 

 given over to exhibits other than foods, fibers, drugs and 

 woods. The east hall contains the drugs, while the east 

 wing is set aside for the woods and wood products, and for 

 a collection illustrating North American dendrology. 



Fibers. Cases i to 18. — In the first case of the series 

 devoted to fibers will be found cotton, the most important of 

 the vegetable fibers. It is derived from the fruit of the cotton 

 plant (Gossypium), being the hairs that cover the surface of 

 the seeds. There are several different kinds of the cotton 

 plant from which fiber is derived. The fruits of some of 

 these may be seen with the cotton bursting from the capsule, 

 while some of the many different products are also shown. 



The fiber of many other plants, derived from the leaves, 

 stem, bark, roots, and other organs, is of great economic 

 importance and is used, either in practically its natural condi- 

 tion as may be seen by the specimens of fans, hats, boxes, 

 bags, baskets, mats, matting, crude ropes, brooms, ornaments 

 and toys, or it is manufactured into articles of commerce after 

 processes which remove it considerably from its natural aspect 

 or condition ; for example, linen, which is made from the flax 

 plant; cloth, twine and rope, from jute, hemp and abutilon 

 fiber; and paper made from wood and other fibers. 



India Rubber and Allied Products. Cases 19 and 20. — 

 The first case in the west wing contains india rubber and 

 allied products. Here are the implements and utensils used 

 in collecting the rubber " milk " from the trees which grow in 

 the tropical forests. Rubber is derived mostly from trees 

 belonging to the mulberry family, spurge family and dog- 

 bane family. 



Several varieties of rubber may be seen in the different 

 stages of refinement, together with some articles as manu- 

 factured for the market. Here too is an allied product, 



