408 , EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



I 



I 



tered, dependent on their application, but the attempt many years 

 ago to maintain a section of Bacteriolog}^ proved unworkable. 



Eeference should also be made in any discussion of classification 

 to the fallibilit}^ of the classifier. As was pointed out in these 

 columns when announcing the original topical arrangement, " it 

 will readily be seen that the complex nature of many of the sub- 

 jects treated makes their classification largely a matter of individual 

 judgment." This statement is as true to-day as when written, and 

 unfortunately is a large psychological factor whatever the system 

 of classification. 



From what has been said, it is evident that the Record groups 

 should not be regarded as watertight compartments. They are 

 rather to be looked upon as convenient units for the subdivision of 

 the four hundred-odd abstracts which make up a number, much as 

 an elaborate treatise is, for convenience, broken up into chapters. 

 From this point of view the precise system of classification seems less 

 important than the question of becoming as well acquainted as pos- 

 sible with the contents as a whole. So composite are the methods of 

 attack in modern science that it is quite conceivable that the investi- 

 gator may find his search for knowledge and inspiration abundantly 

 rewarded when apparently far afield. This of course does not imply 

 that classification is not important. On the contrary, its methods 

 and details are worthy of close scrutiny and an unceasing effort to 

 evoh^e the best system possible. Nor has the foregoing been written 

 in any spirit of Bourbonism. The aim has been rather to point out 

 some of the limitations inherent in any scheme of classification, and • 

 to emphasize the advantages to the teacher and investigator of as 

 wide and comprehensive a survey of the current scientific literature 

 as is practicable within the time at his disposal. 



