MARCH 28, ‘1884. | 
The timber-lands of the region form immense un- 
broken forests, exceptionally fine both as to density 
of growth and the character of the timber. Among 
the varieties of wood are maple, poplar, linden, 
balsam, cedar, hickory, ash, beech, birch, cherry, 
black walnut, and many varieties of oak. Some of 
the trees grow to an enormous size; and many men 
in this section, who a few years ago considered them- 
selves poor because they possessed only a wilder- 
ness of forest, are beginning to realize that they are 
comparatively rich, the sale of a few individual trees 
frequently sufficing to give them an income for a 
considerable time. These trees are bought by specu- 
lators, who, in turn, sell them to other speculators, 
who may dispose of them to third parties, until finally 
a portable saw-mill is brought into the region, and the 
timber is prepared for market. A view from one of 
the cleared summits impresses one with the extent 
of the forests, which are, of course, broken here 
and there by many dots of cultivated land, both in the 
valleys and on the mountain sides. The country, 
however, is comparatively undeveloped. The soil is 
good, but farming is carried on in a primitive way 
and on a contracted scale. There is plenty of good 
grazing-land, and cattle are raised to a considerable 
extent. They are allowed to run wild among the 
mountain ridges; and the cost of keeping them is 
small, as they are allowed to find subsistence for 
themselves, — 
The mineral wealth of the region is well known. 
In fact, it has been said that almost every mineral or 
ore found within the limits of the United States can 
be found in North Carolina. The gold-mines east of 
the Blue Ridge have produced millions of dollars, 
notwithstanding the hinderances of swindlers and 
speculators. Mica-mining is one of the profitable in- 
dustries of the region mapped by Mr. Yeates, and is 
carried on in nearly all of the counties west of the 
Blue Ridge. Kaoline and corundum mines are also 
worked, and a large deposit of talc is attracting con- 
siderable attention, while tin is the latest discovery. 
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS. 
Peabody academy of science, Salem, Mass, 
The director’s trip to Japan. — Professor Morse left 
Salem early in the spring of 1882 for the purpose of 
visiting Japan and China, and reached Japan in May. 
On his arrival in that country he had several inter- 
views with Mr. Kato, the director of the Imperial 
university, and told him that his time was to be 
divided between collecting ethnological material for 
the museum of the academy, and the study of ethnol- 
ogy and archeology, and specially the ceramic art. A 
Suite of rooms in a little house near the astronomical 
observatory was fitted up for him by the university, 
and given to him free of cost during his entire stay. 
Rooms and closets in other college-buildings, were 
given to him for storage purposes; and, indeed, every 
thing was done by the Japanese authorities to facili- 
tate his work, without which assistance little progress 
could have been made in the task he had planned. 
In return for the collections of corals sent out by 
the academy for the educational museum, the edu- 
SCIENCE. 
393 
cational museum presented to the academy a large 
collection of tools illustrating the trades of Japan. 
Great credit is due Mr. Tejima, the director of the 
educational museum, for the thorough way in which 
this collection was brought together. Not only were 
the various implements collected; but in many cases 
partially completed specimens of the work, as well as 
colored sketches, accompanied the tools. 
Through the influence of Dr. W. S. Bigelow, the 
academy is indebted for the remarkable collection of 
weapons which were presented by a famous sword- 
merchant, Mr. Machida Heikichi. Having explained 
to Mr. Machida the objects of the academy, and the 
nature of its museum, Mr. Machida, with great pains, 
and at his own expense, brought together the invalu- 
able collection of swords, spears, bows and arrows, 
and other weapons which now enrich the academy’s 
museum, and presented them outright, properly la- 
belled and prepared for shipment. 
Mr. Takanaka Hachitaro supplied the Japanese 
names for all the objects collected. He also presented 
many objects of household use, and clothing. Pro- 
fessor Mitsukuri, at great trouble, sought out the 
proper person to whom was intrusted the making of 
the large figures which now adorn the museum, and 
personally superintended their dressing and arrange- 
ment. 
Korean collections. — Through Capt. Hammond 
Professor Morse was made acquainted with Count 
von Mollendorff, then on his way to Korea as spe- 
cial commissioner for China. He authorized him to 
spend a limited sum for purchases of ethnological 
materials in that country, and gave him a brief list 
of desirable objects. The results of his work, filling 
four cases, have already been received and unpacked. 
They arrived in fair condition; and. as far as he 
knows, this is the first collection of Korean objects 
ever sent from that country. In this connection it 
is proper to mention, that members of the Korean 
embassy who visited this country last year present- 
ed a number of objects to the academy; and one of 
their suite, Mr. Yu Kil Chun, who remained in this 
country, and who is now living in Salem, presented 
his entire suit of clothing, and other objects, to the 
museum. 
Accessions to the museum. — These have been more 
numerous and more valuable than during any year, 
perhaps, since the foundation of the East India 
marine collection in 1799. The principal ones are as 
follows: — 
Morse collection, Japan, 680 numbers; Morse col- 
lection, elsewhere, 141; William Dolan, China, 50 
specimens. Additions to county collections: plants, 
54; mammals, 50; and archeology (85 lots), 322 speci- 
mens (this last includes about 15 lots, 50 specimens 
outside); botanical, 200; other accessions, 300; models 
of boats, 12. 
Visitors to the museum. — Thirty-six thousand and 
fifty-six persons have visited the museum during the 
year. The greatest numbers on single days were: 
Feb. 22, 440; July 4, 182; April 5 (Fast), 346; Sept. 
25 (first day of cattle-show), 384; Sept. 26 (second 
day of cattle-show), 9386; Nov. 29 (Thanksgiving), 
