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International Agricultural Institute. 



Pathology at Villefranche (Rhone). Generally known as the 

 "Extended Dewey or Universal Decimal Method," it is based 

 on combinations of figures and symbols which indicate the 

 title, or more exactly, the contents of each publication, 

 according to the numerical order given. The system is ex- 

 tremely simple and ingenious, and an indefinite number of 

 combinations can be obtained. The number really indicates 

 a word which is understood in all languages, an essential 

 condition and a fundamental one to every institution of an 

 international character. 



The Bibliographical Bulletin of the Institute which is now 

 on the point of publication will facilitate the rapid collection 

 of an agricultural bibliography in a form which can be easily 

 kept up to date. 



The utility of the Bulletin is obvious : (i) The International 

 Agricultural Institute will enable libraries, agricultural 

 schools, scientific institutions, specialists, economists and 

 agriculturists, to obtain a complete bibliography of publica- 

 tions on agriculture and agricultural statistics, a task which 

 would have been difficult if not impossible to undertake and 

 to keep up to date by other means ; 



(2) The Bibliographical method adopted, the form of 

 publication, and the rapid and regular issue of the Bulletin, 

 will largely contribute to the extension of modern methods of 

 research and practice — methods which are at present scarcely, 

 if at all, known in agricultural circles, e.g., the vertical method 

 of classification or the " card-index " system. The completion 

 of this bibliography by the Institute will be a most useful 

 means of diffusing scientific knowledge. It will be the 

 application of a principle which we constantly uphold, viz., 

 practice with science. 



The Library and its Bibliographical Service will supply the 

 material required by the other Departments. Their activity, 

 development and results are thus intimately connected with, 

 and subject to, the Library in relation to its duties, organisa- 

 tion and extension. As it is not yet in regular working order 

 and its collection of books is still very incomplete, it would be 

 unreasonable to expect, at the present time, practical and 

 tangible results from the Departments which it supplies. 

 Nevertheless, the Staff cannot be too highly praised for their 



