Extension Work in Hokticulture. iG3 



^' horticultural expert," in the language of the law, and the present 

 writer was elected to that office, with the expectation that most 

 or all of the work should be completed during the summer vacation. 

 In entering upon his duties, this officer laid out three general lines 

 of work, as specified in the law, — " conducting investigations and 

 experiments," " disseminating horticultural knowledge by means of 

 lectures or otherwise," and "preparing and printing" the results of 

 the work. In other words, the work w^as to be divided between 

 research, teaching, and publication. The enterprise was new and 

 untried ; the territory to be covered is large, the interests varied, 

 and the demands numerous ; and the promotors of the bill had large 

 expectations of the results. The responsibility of inaugurating the 

 enterprise was keenly felt, for a mistake in the beginning might be 

 expected to exert a serious and baneful influence upon future legis- 

 lation designed to improve the conditions of rural life. The officer 

 in charge has been extren^ely fortunate, however, in having the 

 hearty support of his colleagues, the free cooperation of the com- 

 missioner of agriculture, and, above all, the kindly and intelligent 

 interest of scores of horticulturists in his territory. It was con- 

 <?eived 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 depart- 

 ment. Inasmuch as the original grant was obtained through the 

 exertions of the grape-growers of Chautauqua county, it was de- 

 signed to undertake careful studies of the vineyard interests at the 

 outset. The immediate charge of this work was placed in the hands 

 of my assistant, E. G. Lodeman, who, to fit himself more specifically 

 for certain problems which were presenting themselves, went to 

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

 of Italy and Southern France. The entomological inquiries were 

 placed in^the hands of M. Y. Slingerland, assistant entomologist 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 field work, Mr. Harold 

 G. Powell, a senior in agriculture in Cornell University, and one 

 who has had much experience in pomological matters. 



