972 



The Ministry's Publications in 1921. 



[Feb., 



Bound Volumes of Leaflets. — The most popular volumes ever 

 published by the Ministry have been the three Bound Volumes 

 containing leaflets Nos. 1-300, the first volume of which has run 

 through editions totalling 100,000 copies, while the total number 

 of copies printed of the three volumes together has reached 

 225,500. For some time it had been found very difficult to keep 

 up to date volumes containing 100 assorted leaflets, dealing 

 with many different aspects and subjects of agriculture. From 

 all quarters new information, sometimes of the highest import- 

 ance, is constantly being brought to light, necessitating frequent 

 revision of leaflets. Accordingly the bound volumes are being 

 superseded by a series of small Sectional Volumes on distinct 

 subjects, any one of which can be revised at short notice. This 

 new system has the additional merit that it presents the leaflets 

 in a handier form, particularly to the specialist. Five volumes 

 of the series have already been published and others are in 

 preparation : pending their issue the Bound Volumes are still 

 on sale. The five volumes already isssued are : — 



Xo. 1.— Fungus Pests of Fruit Trees. 8d. (post free). 



„ 2. — Insect Pests of Fruit Trees. lOd. ,, ,, 

 „ 3. — Cultivation and Diseases of 



Potatoes. 8d. ,, 

 „ 4. — Fruit : Its Cultivation, Mar- 

 keting and Preservation. Is. 6d. ,, „ 

 5. — Diseases of Animals. Is. „ ,, 



Leaflets. — The end of the year saw one change which, at first, 

 may meet with the approval of few and the disapproval of 

 many, namely, the decision to make a charge for leaflets con- 

 tributory to the cost of their production. Apart, however, from 

 the fact that the Ministry was compelled to take this step by the 

 need for economy, many who dislike the change will agree that, 

 as the information in the leaflets has a commercial value, those 

 w 7 ho require them should contribute to the cost of their produc- 

 tion. Moreover, if the appreciation of information of any kind 

 does not necessarily increase in proportion to the price paid for 

 it, there is little or no doubt that too easy acquisition breeds not 

 appreciation but waste, and to that extent the fact of payment 

 does add to the value of a leaflet, and is at the same time an 

 economy. The demand for leaflets has been very heavy, and it 

 should be remembered that if the Ministry is able to send a 

 copy of any one of its leaflets free to any applicant, it does not 

 follow that this can apply to the w'hole 385 issued, or even to 

 a dozen of them. 



