172 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



CATALOGUE. 



The cataloguing of the Library has progressed more rapidly than 

 before on account of the increased number of cataloguers. The ' ' Cata- 

 logue of periodicals and other serial publications in the Library of 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture," which has been completed the 

 past year, is the most important work in special cataloguing which 

 has been done. This catalogue comprises entries for over 4,000 period- 

 icals and serials, and is the beginning of a printed subject catalogue, 

 which will appear in parts in a series of Library bulletins. 



In addition to the regular work on the catalogue two reference lists 

 on special subjects have been in progress; one list comprises refer- 

 ences to publications on irrigation and land drainage, and the other, 

 references to publications on tobacco, both of which will soon be 

 completed and appear as Library bulletins. . 



REFERENCE WORK. 



The enrollment of scientific aids and student assistants in the 

 Department to pursue special lines of work and study has largely 

 increased the amount of reference work in the Library; also certain col- 

 lections in the Library which are more nearly complete than are to be 

 found elsewhere in the country have afforded assistance to scientists at 

 a distance, who have been engaged in special investigations and mono- 

 graphic work. 



Many teachers and pupils of the public schools in Washington have 

 availed themselves of the privilege of consulting works in the Library, 

 especially those on natural history. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



The quarterly bulletins of accessions to the Library have "been regu- 

 larly issued, comprising about 100 printed pages. The "Card index 

 to the Department publications" has been continued, but, on account 

 of the limited funds for printing, the issues have been few in number, 

 a fact to be regretted, inasmuch as this publication has proved to be 

 a valuable key to the Department publications and has led to more 

 careful arrangement and preservation of these documents for pub- 

 lic use. 



BINDING. 



The preparation of books for binding has been kept up to meet the 

 current needs. The number of books bound, 814, included chiefly 

 periodicals, since it has been necessary to make a selection from the 

 large number of volumes awaiting binding. A lack of available funds 

 has prevented the necessary binding of a great number of works, not- 

 withstanding the fact that the preservation of many of these is endan- 

 gered by delay in binding. 



RELATION OF THE LIBRARY TO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES AND 

 EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



There are several ways in which the Department Library could be 

 more closely related to the agricultural colleges and experiment sta- 

 tions than heretofore. This collection of books and pamphlets on 

 agriculture and allied subjects being the largest in the country, and 



