The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-10-31

TnE MUsErs OF AokfcutruRr At
WASHINGTON. The rootns--twb modest
ba'etnent apartments in the patent Office
building--are exc,eeitely crowded and
scant, and the collection is only the nu-
cleus Of what IL mu-t be ore Of these days.
But the cases of stuffed birds, the speci-
mems OF fruit, dwindling from the enor.
nous far-fnmed pear Of Oregon down to
Strawberries and plums, the gay insects,
and the staples Of wool, cotton, aax and
silk, make it very pretty exhibition.
And one gets interested IN the plan VI IL;
and hnds great entertainment and instruc-
tion from talking with its exhibitor and
founder. This is Townsend Glover, the
entomologist of the department Of agricuiz
tdre, an enthusiast, and unrecogniEed
and unrewarded genius, such as one finds
bv rare luck in the nooks of public office,
such as the public understands and la
mens when once gone. The collection is
mostly his private property. 1t was pur-
chased by Congress, few years ago,
with an appropriation Of ten thousand dol
lars, barely covering the cost of prcpars-
ton; but that sum was pocketed, smoug
other spols Of office, by Jacob Thonp-
son; and new appropriation, to make
1t good, was thrown over by the last Cofis
gress, while commission for ten thou
sand could be spared TO reward Miss Vim
ME Reems for her sorry plaster model OF
LincOln's bust But time will have its
revenges Mr.. Glover threatens TO carry
his unique and inestimable museum to Eu-
rope (unlcss some ofthe states should pur-
chase 1t meanwhlel end some inferior
hack will have to he hired to do his work
(for il must be done), with half the skill
and at twice the cost.
The plan of the museum is quite orig
inal with him, and is entirely unique.
1t Is meant for Il complete "Ohiect Lii
brary' Of reference for the agriculture of
the country. 10 carry it thoroughly
out will require a space as large as the
hail of inventions itself, and would be-
even more interesting, at least to the
common eye. Each product of the sol
Is to be made the center of group, ex-
its diseases, and its uses in the arts, all
with full reference to standard books.
Each bird is exhibited with nest, eggs,
&c, and the nature Of its food is written
ON the card containing references to the
| standard ornithologists, those manfestly
beneficial TO the farmer being signalized
by little golden badge. Each insect is
represented, not only in little glazed pre-
serves, but in copper plates of marvellous
accuracy, carefully colored, giving tho
creature in its stages Of growth, its food,
&C., alsr with full card of reference.
These engrayings are the handiwork of
Mr.. Glover himself, who llycs lonely
half. Bohemian life, devoting his spare
means and hours TO his tasks of engraving
and coloring, having learned the art for
the purpose, and having hardly taken
three holidays IN as many years.
Each fruit is represented in all its
varieties by fact simles in plaster, cast
and colored in oils, 70 that. to tho eye,
it Is actual fruit; and one might gather
up long chapter in natural history bv
inlerrogating Mr.. G. on bis extensive
collection OF silk producing insects. As
to the terocious silk-spiders Of SoutI,
Carolina, he holds that one might as vel,
hope TO make heard Of tigers into tame
cattle; but the gorgeous creature he ex.
hit'ts, with samples of their cocoons and
woven webs, might well console one for
the loss Of that semi. reconstructor
monster.