Museums.

The revision of the collections in No. 1 Museum has been completed, as well as that of the Graminaceœ in Museum No. 2. A large number of economic objects which had deteriorated by time and exposure to light and air have been withdrawn, and in many cases replaced by fresh specimens, due to the liberality of donors whose names are given below.

Notwithstanding the most careful weeding of the collections, the space for their display is still far too small, and an increase of the accommodation in both Museums No. 1 and 2 is urgently required. In the former case it is hoped, that this may be obtained by the erection of a new staircase, in the latter by an extension at the west end.

As in former years, the duplicates have been distributed to kindred institutions at home and abroad.

In No. 3 Museum a stand with a number of swing-frames has been placed, in which a large collection of views of the Royal Gardens in earlier stages of their history have been placed, and also a series of photographs of various colonial gardens. The latter collection we should be very glad to extend and render more complete.

I defer to my next Report a notice of the magnificent collection of forest produce received from the Government of India, and which is in process of unpacking and arrangement while this Report is in preparation.

The principal objects received during the past year have been:—

Bancroft, Dr. J.; samples of Pi-turi (Anthocercis Hopwoodii), and Goa powder (Andira Araroba).

Barlee, H. E., Governor; fruits and flowers of Pachira aquatica.

Bremner, A. W., & Co.; ten samples of leaf-tobacco of commerce.

Burbidge, F. W.; samples of rubber and stems of rubber-yielding plants of Borneo; leaves of Curculigo latifolia, affording a fibre, and native instruments used in weaving the same; cigarette wrappers, made of leaves of Nipa fruticans; cigarettes wrapped in leaves of Banana; page 51 fruits of Scorodoprasum borneense, and other specimens.

Chantre, C.; numerous specimens of gums, resins, drugs, and other vegetable products.

Christy, T.; a large series of Japanese drugs of vegetable origin, and sample of rubber from Urostigma Vogelii.

Church, Prof. A. H.; fine samples of beet-root sugars and specimens of French leaf tobaccos.

Corbyn, Stacey, & Co.; samples of Chaulmugra oil (Gynocardia odorata).

Cox, Brothers, Messrs., Dundee; series illustrating the uses and manufacture of jute.

Cross, R.; sample of best soft Columbian Cinchona bark from banks of Caqueta river, and specimens of plant producing the same.

Curtiss and Harvey, Messrs.; samples of willow and alder wood, and charcoal made from same used in the manufacture of gunpowder.

Duthie, J. F.; photographic views in Botanic Gardens, Saharunpore, and seeds and fruits of Indian economic plants.

Dyer, W. T. T.; hat made of Juncus effusus in China, and worn in Switzerland; sample of Crin Vegetal made in Algeria from Chamœrops humilis.

Fox, Major-Gen. Lane; drupe of a Pandanus used in Nicobar to brush the feet, and specimens of resinous wood (Dipterocarpus) used as torches.

French Government; collection of woods from French colonies.

Gardner, Messrs. Joseph, and Sons; shuttles as used in cotton spinning, made of Persian boxwood, American cornel (Cornus florida), and Persimmon (Diospyros virgi-niana).

Henderson and Sons, Messrs.; samples of Shea butter (Butyrospermum Parkii), Gutta shea, and soap made from Shea butter.

Howard, J. E.; fine collection of Cinchona barks and samples of Cinchona alkaloids.

Irving, James; spadix of Elais guineensis and portions of spadices of Raphia spp.

Keit, W.; cones of Natal Cycads.

Layard, E. C.; H.M. Consul, New Caledonia; small Kava bowl, dresses made of leaves of Freycinetia and cocoa-nut fibre, spear of palm wood from Kingsmill Islands, and other articles.

Levisohn, L. J.; leaves, stem, and fruits of Yucca baccata from Los Vegas, New Mexico, used as I soap.

Linseed Association (A. G. Kemp, Secretary); numerous samples of linseed, rapeseed, sesamum, &c.

Lockhart, Dr.; water bottles and other [articles made of gourds, ornamented on the surface by growing them in moulds.

Maw, G.; fine specimens of maple sugar from Ontario.

Montserrat Company (per Joseph Sturge); samples of lime juice and lime juice biscuits.

Mueller, Baron Von; fruits of Capparis Mitchelii.

Murton, H. J.; samples of gutta-putih, gutta-taban, gutta-singgarip, &c., and specimens of the stems of the trees yielding them; also "golos" or knives used by the Malays in "ringing" or tapping the trees.

New South Wales, Government of; stems of Dicksonia antarctica, Alsophila australis, and A. leich-hardtiana.

Reichenbach, Dr.; cones of Picea erythrocarpa, P. chlorocarpa, fruits of Trapa uerbanensis, and Sagus amicarum.

Roberts, Macubbin, & Co.,Messrs.; seeds of Adansonia madagascariensis, cloth made of fibre of Raphia Ruffia.

Routledge, Thos.; sections of the stem of Yucca brcuifolia, and paper page 52 made from the same; also samples of paper made from bamboo, &c.

Sargent, C. S.; specimens of cones, wood, and bark of various species of Pinus and Abies.

Siemens, Dr. C. W.; specimens of raw gutta-percha from Borneo, moulded by natives in the forms of animals.

Smith, C. Laver; numerous specimens of dye lichens.

Smith, W. Anderson; meal bag formerly used in the island of Lewis, made of Juncus effusus.

Turnbull & Co., Messrs.; series illustrating distinctive distillation of wood.

Wishart and Lloyd, Messrs.; samples of commercial tobaccos grown in the Fiji Islands.