88 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 7 



voluminous, it often bids fair to consume the major portion of the 

 entomologist's time. Answering inquiries is legitimate work for the 

 entomologist, but from his standpoint is not "productive labor," 

 for the mere dissemination of entomological knowledge adds nothing 

 new to the science. The entomologist who does nothing more than 

 answer letters and compile popular bulletins does not increase the sum 

 of our available knowledge of insects; research and experiment should 

 constitute by far his most important work. The problem of handling 

 office routine with sufficient speed to leave time for experimental work 

 is constantly faced by nearly all entomologists, particularly by those 

 connected with state institutions, and much of this routine is associated 

 with the answering of the daily letters. 



Heretofore but little attention seems to have been given to the 

 methods of filing entomological correspondence, the entomologist using 

 whatever plan or fixtures were available. Several years of experience 

 with various commonly used filing systems convinced the writer that 

 they were not adapted to the requirements of the entomologist. 



For example, the vertical letter filing system requires that a folder 

 be numbered and labeled for each correspondent, together with an 

 index card similarly prepared. Both folder and card must be put in 

 their proper places in the files, and the letters themselves must also 

 be numbered and filed. The folders, index cards, transfer cases and 

 filing cabinets for this system require expenditures which often seri- 

 ously deplete the entomologist's available funds. Aside from the 

 time and expense required to maintain this system, it is not adapted 

 to the purpose, for many correspondents write but once in several 

 years and for them the folders and cards must be indefinitely main- 

 tained in the files. 



The alphabetical system of filing, wherein the alphabet is divided 

 into many minor sub-divisions, such as " Aa to Ae" and "Aba to Abo," 

 etc., is but little better. While it dispenses with the card index and 

 its attendant work, the system still requires expensive furniture and 

 is a system in which the chances for errors in filing are increased to a 

 maximum because of the similarity of the many sub-divisions of the 

 alphabet. 



Four years ago the writer devised a system of letter-filing which 

 appears to combine all the important advantages of other systems but 

 which reduces clerical work to a minimum and the cost to a mere 

 bagatelle. In fact, the cost of materials is less than the cost of the 

 transfer cases for the vertical or alphabetical systems. 



The filing is primarily by subject and for containing the letters 

 we use the common pasteboard letter file containing sheets labeled 

 A to Z. Neatly printed labels bearing the following titles are pasted 

 to the backs of the files, one subject or title to each file. 



