20 



of the United States Department of Agriculture, Division of Entomol- 

 ogy, which have rendered this vast literature accessible to economic 

 workers. It is only a question now of consulting a few indexes, and 

 the average Avorker, if he has an adequate library at his command, can 

 easily learn what has been recorded concerning injurious species under 

 consideration. If one were to criticise these publications at all, it 

 might l)e allowable to suggest that the indexes be made a littk^. more 

 detailed, particularly in the later publications. The addition of refer- 

 ences to specific as well as generic names and to food-habit records 

 would materially increase the value of the volume without greatly 

 extending its limits. 



The general index to that magnificent series of volumes known as 

 "Insect Life" has proven an invaluable publication to almost everj^ 

 economic worker, and our hope is that in the future we will see more 

 such aids to research. 



Indexing is to some extent a thankless task, and yet a very necessary 

 one if we would keep abreast of the times. The value of the index 

 lies not in its length, but in its usefulness, and the speaker has always 

 felt that it was by all means advisable to index all important references, 

 at least, under several names, wherever that could be done with pro- 

 priety. No two men think alike, and an index should be made for the 

 use of all. Some approach a subject from one side, others from 

 another, and unless the index is general enough to include all it is 

 liable to be comparatively useless to a great many. The speaker is of 

 the opinion that the general index should include, as previously stated, 

 references to generic, to specific and common names, to food plants; 

 and every index of a series of volumes should also include illustra- 

 tions, preferably under a general title, such as figures, because it 

 sometimes occurs that a worker is searching for a good illustration, 

 and if b}^ turning to a few general indexes and looking under figures 

 he can find where all such have been published it is an inmiense aid. 



It is impossible to lay dow^i any fixed rule as to what references 

 shall and what shall not be included in an index. This depends some- 

 what upon the character of the work. In general, the speaker 

 believes that every isolated fact not specifically included in the title 

 of the publication should appear in some form in the index, if the 

 object of the index is to make accessible the contents of the volume. 

 The speaker is gratified to observe that some of our more recent bul- 

 letins are being indexed, and while there are undoubtedly publications 

 of this character where an index is superfluous, in a great man}"^ 

 instances it is of decided value and should be incorporated wherever 

 circumstances permit. 



A table of contents is also of nmch value and adds considerably to 

 the completeness of any publication. It need not be an extended one 

 unless the work requires it, because a yevy brief summary may 



