February, 'U] ENTOMOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS 31 



to read them, unless many of those on the regular list were reading them and talking 

 more or less about them. We have been obliged to reprint bulletin No. 191 (Spraying 

 Apples) at least three times, in editions of 2,000 to 5,000 copies each, and several 

 hundred copies are still wanted each year. Bulletin No. 194 (Shade Tree Insects) 

 has been reprinted once, and I think twice. So far as I can recall. Bulletin No. 

 197 (Catalpa Midge) has not been reprinted. The Spring ]\Ianual of Practice, No. 

 198, has been reprinted three or four times. I think No. 202 (Raspberry Byturus) 

 has not been reprinted. Bulletin No. 216 (Spraying Machinery) has been reprinted 

 at least twice and, perhaps more. The WTieat Jointworm, No. 226, 1 believe has not 

 been reprinted. The Fall Manual, No. 233, has been reprinted at least once, and 

 possibly twice. Several of our ch-culars have been reprinted several times. I am 

 assured by our mailing clerks that the entomological publications are called for about 

 as frequently as those from any other of our station departments. The Seasonal 

 Manuals are said by them to be in constant demand in the horticultural districts 

 and by the public schools of the state. By every clue that I have been able to follow, 

 I am led to believe that, in Ohio, the entomological bulletins are quite generally read 

 and esteemed, and that about half of the copies mailed are not destroj^ed, but, after 

 being read, are filed and kept for reference. I distinctly recall that in practically 

 every case when we have issued an important bulletin, we have received soon there- 

 after, at least a few letters of appreciation and commendation from the rank and file 

 of our readers, thus .showing that they have more than a passing interest in them. 



If anyone seeks an explanation of the general acceptabihty of our publications in 

 any formulated plan of arrangment of the subject matter, he will not find it; for 

 evefy publication has a plan of its own which differs from every other. If there has 

 existed among entomological writers any written or unwritten canons regarding the 

 arrangement of their matter for print, we are obliged to plead having been so ignorant 

 of them that we must have unconsciously violated them in everj-thing, or nearly 

 everything, we have ever written ; and I think many, perhaps most, of present-day 

 entomologists share our ignorance. "We" and "our" in this report refer to the Ohio 

 entomological staff, for whom I am presuming to speak in reference to this subject. 



The position taken at our last meeting by Mr. Webster, of this committee, was 

 correct, and, if I mistake not, has been occupied, in effect, by a considerable number 

 of our members for a long time. In my judgment, the arguments that sustain his 

 position will show equally well the futility of any attempt to make a very definite 

 formulation of rules or recommendations as to the best form for bulletins. If the 

 writer possesses the gift of "editorial gumption, " his bulletins will likely be read and 

 used, while if he has not acquired it, I am very dubious if the most carefully framed 

 rules for construction will help him much. 



To the master-writer, rules, forms, models, examples, precedents, are merely general 

 principles wrought into more or less concrete forms, and his work is guided by the 

 flexible principle, never hampered by the cast-iron rule; while, to the less experienced 

 writer, the model is apt to be regarded as a pattern to be imitated. That each ento- 

 mologist may be enabled to adapt his writings to the hmitations of his constituents, 

 alwaj^s more or less local, he must be practically unlimited. 



In several of the departments at the Ohio Station, lengthy bulletins, containing 

 much teclmical and tabulated matter, are condensed into .short circulars, these 

 going to the complete mailing Hst, while smaller editions of the complete bulletins 

 are issued and sent to specialists and to such constituents as specially request them. 

 We have adopted this plan in the entomological department. 



H. A. GOSSARD. 



