Misc. PvhUcation 5, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



science are considered more suitable for other publications than for 

 a journal devoted to a<^ricultural research. 



The liublication of mon()<rrai)hs-, cyclopedic articles, extensive 

 reviews, liistorical or otlierwise, and of controversial articles is con- 

 trary to the editorial policy of the Journal. Accounts of conven- 

 tional tests and experiments which do not involve originality in plan 

 or method or provide for the control or accurate measurement of the 

 experimental conditions, or which fail definitely to throw light upon 

 the relationship to principles or limiting factors, are not considered 

 suitable for publication in the Joitknal. The same is true of descrip- 

 tions of local variety tests, fertilizer and feeding experiments, and 

 routine analyses which merely contribute to the mass of similar data. 



If a preliminar}' report of research has been released for publica- 

 tion in an outside journal, a copy of the preliminary paper should 

 accompany the article submitted for the Journal of AcRictrLTURAL 

 Research. Extensive preliminary publication will preclude publica- 

 tion in the Journal. 



As the Journal is a technical publication, designed for technical 

 readers, general familiarity with the subjects under discussion may 

 be assumed. This will guard against lengthy introductions and un- 

 necessary discussion of matters which are to a considerable extent 

 academic or of common scientiiic knowledge. 



An account of a scientific investigation ought to make clear at the 

 outset the primary object and purpose of the undertaking and present 

 the successive steps in the process of attaining the objective. In the 

 end the basis for a sound scientific conclusion or statement of the 

 advance accomplished should be set forth. While negative results 

 may not be without value, contributions which mark advances in the 

 knowledge and further study of a subject will as a rule be considered 

 as of primary importance. Reports of progress or articles which 

 fail to e.stablish a result that can be stated fairly definitely will be 

 regarded as questionable for publication in the Journal. 



Tabulations should not be excessive in number or unnecessarily 

 detailed in character. It is, of course, impracticable to present all 

 the data accumulated in the course of an investigation. Selection of 

 representative data and condensation of tabular matter into carefully 

 considered .summaries should therefore receive adequate attention. 

 Furthermore, the data presented and what they are intended to show 

 should be sulliciently interpreted so that the reader is not left in 

 doubt as to the intended significance of the material. 



The JoLTRNAL is an organ for recording research, not for discussion, 

 speculation, or monographic reviews. Lengthy argument, discussion, 

 and speculation are therefore considered out of place in accounts of 

 investigations except as showing their bearings. 



Detailed consideration of the practical a]jplications of the findings 

 are not deemed necessary for the reason that such applications will 

 be readily apparent to specialists, for whom the Journal is primarily 

 designed. 



A discussion which merely outlines the things done and is rei^eated 

 in the summary is .superfluous. '' Discussion '" is the place for com- 

 ments, explanations, and suggestions not embodied in the descriptive 

 part of the article. 



