Agricultural Extension Law. 327 



The enterprise was new and untried ; the territory to oe covered 

 was large, the interests varied, and the demands numerous ; and 

 the promoters of the bill had large expectations of the results. 

 The responsibility of inaugurating the enterprise was keenly felt, 

 or a mistake in the beginning might be expected to exert a serious 

 and baneful influence upon future legislation designed to improve 

 the conditions of rural life. The officer in charge was extremely 

 fortunate, however, in having the hearty support of his collea- 

 gues, the free cooperation of the commissioner of agriculture, and, 

 above all, the kindly and intelligent interest of scores of horticul- 

 turists in his territory. It was conceived that, in the beginning, 

 a comparatively small and well digested enterprise prosecuted by 

 a few carefully chosen men would be productive of better results 

 than any bold attempt, with a large force, to carry the work into 

 every part of the fifth judicial department. Inasmuch as the 

 original grant was obtained through the exertions of the grape- 

 growers of Chautauqua County, it was designed to undertake 

 <iareful studies of the vineyard interests at the outset. The imme- 

 diate charge of this work was placed in the hands of the late E. G. 

 Xodeman, assistant in horticulture, who, to fit himself more specifi- 

 cally for certain problems which were presenting themselves, went 

 to Europe (at his own expense) and visited the vineyards of the 

 Hhine, of Italy and Southern France. The entomological inquiries 

 were placed in the hands of M. V. Slingerland, assistant entomolo- 

 gist of the Experiment Station. Certain lines of investigation 

 made at Ithaca were placed in immediate charge of Michael 

 Barker, who was secured from the Botanic Gardens of Harvard 

 University. We also associated with us for a time in certain 

 £eld work, Harold G. Powell, a senior in agriculture in Cor- 

 nell University, and one who had had much experience in pomo- 

 logical matters. 



In 1895 the work was placed under the supervision of Professor I. 

 p. Roberts, the director of the station (who was absent the previous 

 year) and Professor Bailey, but immediate charge of it was given, 

 as the year before, to the latter officer. Some additional help was 

 secured because of the larger work which was demanded by the 

 larger appropriation ; but in general the enterprise went forward 

 iipon the same lines as in 1894. 



