311 



lar accounts circulated in larire numbers at comparatively small 

 expense, thus ofliciontly distributino^ the fruits of station work. Such 

 a division of publications would secure for the stations greater sym- 

 pathy and support from the farmers, and at the same time raise the 

 estimate of the scientific value of their work among those who are 

 qualified to judge of it. This method is, in fact, jiursued by a number 

 of stations and with very satisfactory results. 



But while detailed and systenuitic records of e.\pei-inu'ii(.> in small 

 editions for men of science, and short, plain, straightforward, j)rac- 

 tical accounts for everv-day workers on the farm are needed, it is not 

 as yet practicalile for all the stations to adopt a uniform system of 

 publications. In some cases the detailed accounts are published at 

 State expense, in annual reports to the legislature or otherwise. In 

 addition to these a number of the stations successfully distribute 

 short. poi)ular bulletins at comparatively little cost. This plan in 

 some cases works admirably. In other cases publications of only one 

 class are attempted, either because the station has to pay the whole 

 expense of publication, or because it wishes to avoid all expense except 

 that which is defrayed from sources outside of its own treasury. But 

 might not every station in some Avay i)rovide ])opular statements of 

 the results of its work '. If it fails to do this, does it entirely fulfill 

 itsdutv? 



The ])reparing of the report of an investigation is itself an art. To 

 make it accurate in its scientific details and at the same time clear, 

 short, and practical is extremely difiicnlt. To do this requires the 

 accuracy of the investigator, the learning of the scholar, sympathetic 

 sense of the wants of the practical man, and the highest skill in clear, 

 terse, forcible expression. 



Among the prime requisites for an investigation are a clear dehning 

 of the specific question to be studied and methods to be followed, and 

 the accurate recording of the results. In the report of an experiment, 

 furthermore, it is very desirable that the '.juestion, the main facts, and 

 the conclusion^ l)t' clearly and l:)riefly summarized. 



The printing of the sumiuaries in italics or other type different 

 from the body of the article is I>()th attractive and useful. The reader 

 who has only time for a hurried glance is helped and uratified by hav- 

 ing his attention thus called to the gist of the whole matter, as well as 

 by having it stated so bi-jetly and so clearly that he can readily inider- 

 stand and remember it. 



