Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-08
THE AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM
An Interesting Collection Of Exhibits Not
Generally Known
Many Curiosities Received From the
worlds Fair-stuffed Animals and
Wax Fruft-Life Destroyers.

Located on the southeastern corner of the
agricultural grounds is a barn-like frame
structure which is familiar to all Washing
tonians. Formerly a huge sign of gilt let
tiers announced TO the passerby that inside
the building was an Industrial Exhibit :"
but during the past few years the museum
of the Department of Agriculture has been
located there. This collection is compara-
lively unknown, although being the only
one of Its kind in the country, it is deserv-
ing of more than ordinary attention.
Since the opening of the worlds fair. how
ever. the museum has been TO a great ex-
tent depleted, and thereby rendered more
unattractive than attractive to the visitor.
But gradually of late immense boxes have
been arriving from Chicago, and at the pres-
ent time nearly all Of the articles sent TO
the fair are once more in Washington and
with them are an immense number of the
Columbian exhibits. which have been do
mated to the museum by foreign countries
With the return of the loaned exhibits ana
the additions thereto, an extensive recon-
struction has taken place within the wood
en- walls of the building. and at the end of
week the public will have an opportuniry
to visit the only agricultural museum i'm the
United States which Is as complete as il
can possibly be made. The reconstruction
has taken place mainly TO show more clear
ly than heretofore the ability and work of
the various divisions of the department In
making the change all worthless material
and that which would he dangerous m case
OF fire have been eliminated.
Interesting Exhibits.
Major James NJ. Watt. the curator, and
his assistant Mr. w. F. Tomlinson. are
very proud of the exhibition under their
care, and both gentlemen derive much
pleasure in showing visitors about and
explaining the various exhibits. Under
hot
his way through the hall. Just inside
the entrance is the agricultural exhibit
showing specimens of corn. wheat, barley
grain and rice from the different states.
An interesting feature is a piece of mosaic
work made OF different coiored grains OF
corn, which represents an Indian maiden
who bears the name "Minnehaha." Sew
eral vines loaded with peanuts just as they
grow under ground are a novelty to many
people who have been under the impress
sion that the popular nut grows on trees.
Then there is a case containing about
two hundred specimens of wool and pho
out number. An extensive exhibit OF
American and foreign tobacco leaf at
tracts considerable attention
Machines for showing the contrast be-
tween the American and the crude
Chinese methods OF silk manufacture, as
wen as cocoons fibers, ropes cloth and
thread, make up the silk display. Next in
line are the hoers. Ramie. fax, hemp
yule anu yucca are tnere, maze INTO rope,
hammocks, hats, carpet, mating and pa
per. All the leading brands of cotton
from every state In the Union may be seen,
as wen as specimens from Europe and
exhibit in this line is an improvement
over that at the worlds fair.
Wax Models.
Under the head of pomology is a case OF
wax models of fruits. the work of Wizard
John W. Hendley. This collection attracts
great attention, especially a half orange
and half lemon, which cannot be distin-
guished from the natural article unless
examined closely. The wizard at presen,
is at work on an imitation of half a dozen
raw oysters on the half shell and he states
that when they are finished II will be ne
cessary to attempt TO eat them before the
deception can be detected. Hundreds OF
varieties of models of fruits, recently made,
have been shipped to the midwinter Califor-
MIA fair. and will not be returned until
June. but sufficient number remain to be
alone worth trip to the museum.
Life DestrOyers.
The department OF ORTHODOXY and mani
malogy is next I'm order. Here are seen
object lessons on the harm done the farm
er by certain animals. A wolf Is shown de.
stroying a lamb. A jack-rabb it is gnaw-
ing an apple tree; SIX inks and weasels are
killing chickens; a 'possum is sucking the
eggs in a hens nest: several members OF
the squirrel family are busily engaged pull
ing up SDrouung corn and grain: a spar
row is eating peach and apple bloom and
a number of crows are hard at work
spreading ruin over a field of corn and
wheat. A display gotten up at great eX-
pense is that in the department of entO-
mology, which deals particularly with the
methods of destroying injurious insects
Models OF perfect corn and cotton stalks
with bugs preying upon them are there. as
we'll as the hop plant and enlarged models
OF the hop plant louise. strawberry, clover,
tomatoes and potatoes with their accom-
panyinS bugs as in nature. A wonderful
imitation of the golden rod with insects
distributed upon it is interesting, as is a
collection embracing models of the silk
moth and worm and the honey bee operat-
ing on honey, apparatus for rearing in
sects in order TO study them, end insect
collecting nets and preparations for pre-
serving and also eNtermnating them.
Studying Disease.
One of the most important bureaus OF the
department is that dealing with animal in
dustry and in the museum are specimens
showing the diseased parts Of all animals.
There is a life-sized gray horse affected
with the CHAMBERS, and hoofs without num-
Der, together with the means for treat
ing every description Of bad feet The in
terror as well as the exterior of many
OF the beasts are shown, with various dis
eaSed parts preserved in alcohol In the
forestry division may be seen about two
hundred specimens of North American for
est tree seeds and hundreds of specimens of
foreign woods. timber tests railroad Ties;
hardwoo3s for commercial use, mounted
specimens of pines, a grapevine eighteen
inches in diameter, and the yellow pine
from which tar. pitch and turpentine are
obtained with the tools for extracting the
sap.
botanical Specimens.
The botany department comprises a col
lection of medicinal plants and particu-
larry a bunch of Russian thistle, Of which
SO much has been said in Congress of
late. This bunch is six feet in diameter
and from two and one half to three feet
high and was grown from one seed. The
thistle is the most destructive plant to
wheat in the west. All sizes of natural
stumps with mushroom and fungus growth
upon them makes up the microscopy eN-
hibit while the chemistry department deals
principally in food a5uiterants. All rarie-
ties of food, how and by what adultera ted
are shown, and in addition are models of
sugar cane. beets and sorghum in differ
ent stages of manufacture into sugar and
strip. Under this department is also dis
played specimens of guttapercha, vegcta BILE
wax and parafiine, the latter being largely
Used in the manufacture of chocolate candy
and chewing gum. The vegetable patholo-
gy exhibit embraces models of plants dis
eased from other causes than the proving
of insects and what remedies should be
used and in what manner
College Specimens.