tions. A tension at G keeps the pen-point, J, constantly in contact with the surface of the recording drum. At II a single friction pin retains the wire which suspends the forceps, I, in any position desired, so that when it is desirable to run a continuous test upon the same branch by shortening the distance between H and I, the pen-point at J can be adjusted to the desired height on the recording drum. To obviate the annoyance of removing the cylinder, to wind the clock, a key with a shank long enough to reach through the cylinder has been provided, and by dropping it between the spokes of the cylin der the clock can be wound at any time without the least interference with the progress of the test.

The hours of the day are easily determined, and we have at a glance the variation in the rate of growth or in the periodicity of the growth of the plant. The accuracy with which these machines can be adjusted, and the reliability of the clocks used, render them the best suited to experimental purposes of any machine of the kind that it has been my privilege to note the workings of, or to use. In future construction a slight modifi cation will be made, which, however, in no way alters the plan or workings of the machine. The clock, instead of being placed upon the bed, will have provisions made to allow it to drop into a box, the surface of which shall be flush with the top of the base plate. This cannot be said to be a modification, only in that it allows of a more compact arrangement.

All records of tracings are made in ink, and can be filed the same as any other document, thus overcoming the objectionable features of smoked rods or paper. Smoked paper can be used by substituting a tracer for the pen point at J. Such records can readily be fixed by a solution of rosin in alcohol. The carbon is set upon the papers, and as soon as the alcohol evaporates, the sheet can be filed in a manner similar to any inktraced record sheet. The only advantage in an ink tracing is to abridge the process by doing away with smoking the cylinders and fixing after the record has been traced.

Another objection to the use of the smoked papers is the ease with which it is erased or blotted before being fixed.

Briefly stated, the advantages which may be claimed for the machine are--a record in ink in the form of a platted curve; a rigid base; ease and accuracy of adjustment and weight sufficient to hold it firmly upon its foundation.

L. C. CORBETT.

NOTE FILING.

A uniform system of note filing, simple yet complete, for Station use is each year becoming more and more of a necessity. As the work takes new divisions and becomes more continuous in its character, a very different problem is presented. than that of the annual experiment. In extended work, covering a series of years, the exact or even approximate requirements of any division of the work cannot be foretold; hence, the necessity of a flexible or expansible note file. The first thing to suggest itself along this line is the card system, or something of a like nature, in which the cards are replaced by slips of convenient size. This is certainly a decided advance over the common ruled note book and ledger system, in which several entries must be made in various parts of the same book, if it be of any considerable size. Then, these large ledg ers or journals are unwieldy-they cannot be carried into the field, and are therefore merely interpretations from the actual field notes In this work of transcribing, error is almost a certainty. for no matter how careful or accurate the workman, the change of an adjective, or the omission of a punctuation mark, may be sufficient to alter, or even absolutely reverse the meaning of a sentence.

One of the prime objects then to avoid, is the necessity of copying from one book to another. If there were no other advantages to be gained, the lessened cost of record keeping would in itself be sufficient to claim careful attention.

Another aim in view is a system of note filing which shall be without limit, and which shall not have that objectionable feature of the slip system-the loss or misplacement of slips.

In order to overcome the necessity of re-writing notes, the books or pads used must be made of a size convenient for the pocket, and therefore for use as a field note book. This requires the use of a some what smaller sheet than would otherwise have been adopted. The slip used, which is 44 x 74, is convenient for holding in the hand in making entries, and for carrying in the ordinary size coat pocket, and it is yet large enough to contain all the necessary data relating to the behavior and yield of a farm or garden plant during a single season, and as a new book is used for each year's work the size of the book never becomes unwieldy. Each experiment, if it be one of considerable extent, is given a separate book, or if there be a number of co-ordinate lines of work under one general head, these are all brought together in a single book.

This is in reality a combination of the loose slip and book form of note filing. The advantages of this scheme are almost without limit, as compared with any other plan now in use. It possesses all the best points of a slip system in that special ruling may be had for any line of work in band. The number required will determine whether they are to be printed on the ordinary job press, or whether a mimeograph copy is to be made. The use of the mimeograph I have found to be a most convenient and labor-saving aid in ruling slips for special experiments. For general variety tests, either with farm, garden or fruit crops, a set of printed blanks can easily be devised, which, used in combination with blank slips as inter-leaves, makes one of the most convenient forms conceivable.

Another point possessed by this form is its flexibility. By that I mean not only its power of expansion, but that of contraction as well.

To illustrate: If in the course of an experiment a page becomes torn or soiled, and it is desirable to replace it, the clips can be loosened and a reproduction of the first be placed in its stead; second, if the book was not made with sufficient space for the work in hand, new blank pages can as easily be added or transferred from one book to another.

As a pad for field use it is convenient for writing upon, as it

is of a width easily grasped by one hand, while writing with the other. The back cover is made of heavy board to give a firm writing support, and the flexible cloth stub allows of almost unlimited freedom for folding back leaves not in use, as well as overcoming the annoyance of wearing and tearing-out experienced in the use of heavy manilla detail paper without cloth stubs.

The front cover is made of a lighter piece of cardboard and provided, like the back cover, with a flexible cloth stub.

For binding thin books the staple used in binding pamphlets of all descriptions is found to be most convenient, but for thick books the brass-binding staples or tacks are found to work best.

If it were known at the time of making a book that no changes would be made, it might be sewed together, but the use of the clips and staples allows of loosening the covers and bringing together in a single book the observations upon any variety or subject during any series of years, so that the work of collating data for reproduction in bulletin or tabular form is a simple matter.

To illustrate: Suppose we have an orchard of 40 varieties of pears. This year I have a single book with one or two leaves devoted to each variety, and so, in succeeding years, for 15 or 20 years. Then I desire to bring all the notes upon each variety together; the books have all been uniform in size and in style of blank used; I have only to loosen the clips of my 15 or 20 books and bring together in separate books, or in a ship file, the loosened leaves, and I have the 30 pages relating to Nos. 1, 2, 3, etc., either arranged in series by years in a slip file, or rebound in books, using a book for each variety, and, by way of suggestion, I should say that at the end of each period of years, be it 2,5 or 10, as the case may be, books should be made containing all the slips bearing data upon any particular subject or variety.

All books of whatever character should be carefully and plainly indexed upon the outside cover, so that when filed. those bearing upon related subjects can be placed together.

I would further suggest the use of this or a like form for cou