Dnnsiox OF FTBucAnoxs. 317 



EDfTOEIAI. SBCT10?t 



The editing of the mar " ? done with a small force of 



assistant editors under tr ^^ -r supervision of Mr. W. F. 



Harding and under the g direction of the Chief of the Divi- 



gion. The work comprised not only the K^nlar publications, but 

 numerous emergency circulais. leaflets, etc.. designed to stimulate 

 agriculture and increase crop production. The editorial work had 

 for its principal object the presentation of information in the briefest^ 

 most attractive, and most economical form. 



In addition to the S40 new publications issued during the year, a 

 a ntimber of manuscripts ^rere* edited and prepared for the printer, 

 but not published because of insuSacient funtk, while others, upon 

 critical examination, weie found imsuitable for publication. 



The editorial work upon manuscripts is done with a view to adapt- 

 ing them to the series of publications in which they are to be i^ued. 

 The contributing bureaus and authors are freely consulted, with 

 the purpose of insuring accuracy in the statements made and 

 with the object of adopting the most desirable and convinciii^ 

 form of presenting the subject matter of the pubhcation. The aim 

 has been to condense the pubhcations to the briefest possible limits. 

 Many of the bulletins issued during the year have been reduced in 

 number of pages at least 25 per cent, and no bulletin exceeding 100 

 pages was issued. Desirable as this poHcy is from the point 

 of view of effectiveness of the publications, it is practicalh" forced 

 upon the department by the Imiitations of the printing fund and 

 the rising cost of printing. 



Duriiig the year a new series of publications known as Department 

 Circulars was inaugurated to take the place of various unnumbered 

 circulars heretofore issued by the differoit bureaus. Twenty-two 

 of these circulars were issued during the year. 



The new hand-lettered tide pages for the Farmers' Bulletins, 

 commenced in 191S. have been continued duriing the year, and the 

 marked improvement in the appearance of these bulletins has been 

 generally commended. 



Both the printing and editorial work of the division were under 

 the general supervision of Assistant Secretaiy Clarence Ousley, 

 in charge of all pubhcation activities of the department. 



IVDFTTVG SECnOK. 



The work of the Indexing Section consists chiefly in the preparation 

 of detailed card indexes of department pubhcations as issued. This 

 work was advanced and notably improved during the year. Indexes 

 for individual publications are also made to be printed with the 

 publications. 



Under present methods, when Farmers" Bulletins and Department 

 Bulletins are indexed for the card indexes, duphcate cards are written. 

 These dupUcates have proved so satisfactory for use in compiling 

 indexes for bound volumes that the indexes for bound volimies of 

 Farmers' Bulletins have been brought verv nearly up to date, while 

 the indexes for bound volumes of the I)epartnient Bulletins are 

 being advanced. During the greater part of the rear this woik was 

 badly crippled for lack of copyists to make car^ copies of entries 

 for card indexes, but the copying of cards is now moving forward 

 rapidly. 



