293 



Insect pests have become exceedingly troublesome in the destruction 

 of dried specimens since the Herbarium has been moved to the warmer 

 climate of Hope Gardens ; and more time and labour are consequently 

 required than formerly in the preservation of the dried plants. 



Books have been added from time to time to the Library, that are 

 necessary in the determination of plants, or that put forth new truths 

 in the science of agriculture and their application in practice, or sum- 

 marise experimental scientific work that has been carried on invarious 

 parts of the world. Without a properly equipped Library, the De- 

 partment would quickly fall behind in a knowledge of the wonderful 

 advances that are continually being made in the science of plant life. 



The vote is spent partly on books, partly on periodicals for the Li- 

 brary, partly on periodicals (Kew Bulletin and Grardening Papers) for 

 the Superintendents' Offices, and partly on binding. 



The exchange of periodicals effected by sending the Bulletin to 

 foreign correspondents, has enriched the Library shelves with a mass 

 of literature, which deals with current questions about agriculture and 

 botany, and gives details of actual work and experiments in progress 

 elsewhere. 



In this connection I wish especially to call attention to the Bulletins 

 issued by the Experiment Stations of the United States, which are 

 very kindly contributed by the Directors. The value of these Bulle- 

 tins is greatly increased by the publication of an Index. " For some 

 time the office of Experiment Stations has been engaged in the pre- 

 paration of a subject index of the literature of Agricultural experi- 

 ment stations and kindred institutions. The general plan on which 

 the index is constructed may be briefly outlined as follows : — 



''The subjects with which Agricultural Science deals have been 

 grouped under a limited number of general topics. These topics have 

 been divided and sub-divided only so far as seemed necessary to facili- 

 tate references to the individual entries of the index. As the work of 

 the stations reaches out in many directions into the domain of pure as 

 distinguished from applied* science, a section of the index has been set 

 apart for entries relating to the general principles of the various sci- 

 ences which lie at the foundation of experimental investigations in 

 agriculture. This affords a wide opportunity for the extension of the 

 index by individual students for their own special purposes. 



" The index is printed on cards of a standard library size. The di- 

 visions and sub-divisions are arranged on a decimal system and are 

 plainly indicated by the use of division cards of different colours. 



" Each index card contains the title of an article, the name of its 

 author, a reference to the publication in which it appeared, and to the 

 Experiment Station Record, and a condensed statement of its con- 

 tents. At the upper right hand corner of the card is a number indi- 

 cating under what head the card should be placed in the index." 



This index is in the Library. By means of it students, wishing to 

 see the latest information on any particular subject worked out by the 

 Experiment Stations, can without loss of time, turn up the Bulletins 

 referring thereto. 



Industrial School. 

 The Industrial School has been conducted on former lines. I am 

 anxious that some means may be adopted whereby it is possible to ad- 



