The rapid growth of the Economic Department has 

 been the principal feature in the increase of our col- 

 lections during the past year. The woods referred to 

 in our last report as being in the course of collection 

 by a corps of experienced botanists under the direc- 

 tion of Prof. Charles S. Sargent, have been nearly all 

 received. Our new building being already filled to 

 overflowing", the Department has given us the upper 

 story of the Arsenal for a temporary place where these 

 specimens may be exhibited at once on account of 

 their importance to architects and builders, and the 

 artizan and laboring classes of our citizens The work 

 of preparing them for exhibition is begun and they 

 will be displayed to the public during the coming 

 autumn. 



The specimens of Building and Ornamental Stones 

 forming the other portion of this Economic Depart- 

 ment are now gathered at Washington and will be 

 ready for exhibition at the same time. Nothing but 

 the stern necessity of want of space would warrant us 

 in placing such costly collections where they may be 

 destroyed by fire in a few hours, and this illustrates the 

 imperative need that measures be immediately taken 

 for securing the erection by the City of another sec- 

 tion of our fire-proof edifice. 



The improvements upon the collections began last 

 year have been vigorously carried on during the past 

 twelve months. The Mammals which were purchased 

 in various places, and were mounted on many differ- 

 ent kinds of stands, have all been transferred to 

 pedestals of polished cherry and now present a uniform 

 and elegant appearance. 



The Birds have been mostly transferred from the 



