The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09

matter OF fact practically all arrive at
the museum perfect as when they
left the Blaschks studio The greatest
care, of course, is taken to pack them
securely for the voyage Each speci-
men, with its illustrative details. is
wired TO a piece of heavy white card
board properly labeled. This piece Of
cardboard is glued to the bottom OF
heavy patseboard box. which is packed
closely with the finest tissue paper.
This box. with others. Is packed in
straw in a wooden case. which in turn
is bundled in more straw and sewed
finally in a covering of buriap. The
models have until recently been left on
the cardboard to which they were orgi-
nally fastened but the cardboard it has
been found. is liable to warp. bring ing
strain on the glass which sometimes
cause it to break. Accordingly II is
proposed to transfer the whole collec-
ton to tablets of white plaster of Paris.
and the change has already been begun.
With this improvement the models
should be in a position to last for ceniu-
ries. Even as it is the breakage is Won
derfnlly little. The stems are built up on
wire. for one thing; and, for another, the
glass. as has been said. is not nearly so
fragile as il looks. At the close of the
Worlds Fair in Chicago. the glass flow
ers which had been sent there a part
of the Harvard exhibit were found in
heap at one end of the case in which they
were shown. The case was not quite
level and the plush on which the speci-
mems rested, constantly stirred as il: was
with the heavy vibrations Of nearby ma
chinery. had carried them gradually down
the slight Incline. But hardly any were
seriously damaged; only here and there
had one been broken. and a little cement
as good as new.
The Harvard collection-the main part
of it. that isis intended TO represent. as
fully as shall be possible in the lifetime
of Rudolph Blaschka. the affinities of the
principal towering plants Of North Amer
lea. in the territory. particularly, of the
United States. Beginning that is, with
the lower forms like the pine. the collec-
ton passes in order upward through the
orchid. the cactus, the rhododendron. the
rose Ito name only an example here and
there. to the most highly developed
plants like the dandelion. the daisy. the
burdock. The thistle. and the aster. In
attractiveness the cases vary as the How
ers are more or less brilliant; but though
ii is desired that the collection shall be
as beautiful and striking may be. the
scientific progression from the lower to
the higher forms. embracing the plainest
object aimed at.
The models are of course all iife-size.
ranging from the humblest and smallest
field flower to such superb specimens as
a great branch OF the eucalyptus. two
and a half feet long. Each tablet. or
card. includes the Towering branch snd
magnifed studies of any details CT the
flower which possess special interest fer
botanists Usually there are three or
fntt nf has dofa
regularly the stamen and transverse and
longitudinal sections Of the ovary-and
often as many as seven or eight. where
sor,e popularity in the structure OF other
parts, as the stigma. the style. the plant
hairs or the pollen grains, Is to be
brought out.
Besides the main collection just de-
scrihed two supplementary ones have been
formed. One is In connection with the
department OF economic botany. and shows
the natural state of the plants producing
Indian corn. cotton. coffee. tea, tobacco.
chocolate. and the like, each model being
surrounded by specimens OF the CONNER
cial product. \ second collection illus
trates the relation between insects and
plants, and is divided into two psr's-one
to explain the phenomena Of cross-pollen-
alton by insects; and the other displaying
the habits OF plants which. like the Venus
flyirap and the pitcher plant. ensnare in
sects and devour them as food. The exam
Piles shown in this last section are per-
haps the most striking models in the mu-
scum.
Remarkable as the Ware collection now
is. 1t is to be considered as only the be-
ginning of the great and systematic exhi-
bition which Harvard will have to show
in coming years If Rudolph Blaschks'S
life is prolonged. He is now. forty three
years old. artist possessing a unique
and uneQualed process of copying the
most delicate and perishable of natural
things and botanist of the keenest OBJ
servation and the greatest love for his
subject. He has twice visited this coun-
try to collect and study such native plants
as could not be transported or grown In
Europe from seed bulbs. going as far
south as the Island of Jamaica and west
to Arizona and California. His enthusi
asm for the collection which he has built
up is as keen as DR.. Goodales: and.
though he cannot Representations
would be insufficient for the task-to
make models of all even of the better
known North American genera 1t is GER
tain that. il his life is only spared a rea-
sonable number Of years, the museum will
possess a collection as representative and
useful for all purposes Of exhibition as il
is unique and beautiful.