76 Report of the President 



accompany the trunk sections of North American trees and to 



cooperate with the Sargent drawings, which also have been 



increased in number during the year, in giving full detailed 



facts regarding structure. 



The order for the mural decoration planned for the east end 



of the hall has not been given to the artist and there has been 



__ . made no beginning on the proposed models for 



_ M . the alcoves to show the effects of forest fires, of 



Decorations . fc 



denudation of watersheds and other questions 



on which the Museum is in a position to do such large educa- 

 tional work — in both instances because of lack of a necessary 

 fund. 



Work on the study collection of woods has made consider- 

 able progress, and as usual much information regarding woods 

 _ and trees has been given to lumber dealers, 



_ „ . architects and owners of" estates. There are 



Collections , , , P . a . ■ 



probably few departments in the Museum to 



which more inquiries are addressed by the public and to the 

 offices of which more people come than to the Department of 

 Woods and Forestry. This is doubtless due to the fact that 

 more people come into intimate and frequent contact with 

 woods and with trees than with other objects of natural his- 

 tory, and also because there is no source in New York City 

 outside the American Museum for such practical information, 

 especially for the identification of the different species of 

 wood. The equipment has been somewhat increased to add 

 to the efficiency along this line of work, which has been in the 

 hands of Herman de Fremery, Assistant. Some books have 

 been ordered, and three hundred microscopic wood sections 

 purchased, as well as a dissecting microscope and other neces- 

 sary apparatus. 



The study collection adequately labeled and catalogued 

 consists at present of these three hundred microscope slides, 

 of three hundred and fifty-four Hough's wood sections and 

 two hundred and seventy-six hand wood specimens. In con- 

 nection with the study collection and to add to the Museum's 

 usefulness to its patrons, there has been made a reference cata- 

 logue of consulting foresters, forest nurseries and forest schools. 

 Much information has been given throughout the year t® 



