Ixxiv Department of Plant-Breeding 



Educational activities 



The Department has increased materially the amount of work done 

 along purely educational lines. Considerable material has been added to 

 the exhibit, illustrating methods and results of plant-breeding. So far 

 as possible, the exhibit is being put into permanent form. This exhibit 

 was installed at three different places during the year : During Farmers' 

 Week it was set up at the College, where a representative of the Depart- 

 ment was continually in attendance to make explanations and answer 

 questions. During the month of January it was installed at the Lincoln- 

 dale Agricultural School, where it was inspected not only by the boys of 

 the school but also by farmers from the surrounding community; 

 members of the Department installed the exhibit, and a representative was 

 there on the day of their institute, January 29, to demonstrate and ex- 

 plain the different features. It was also installed at the State Fair 

 Grounds during the week of the Fair, when three representatives were in 

 attendance. 



During the past year this Department has endeavored to assist as much 

 as possible in the work of the Extension Ofifice. In this effort, members 

 of the Department have given 53 lectures and have held 5 field meetings. 

 In connection with the Extension School instruction, three days work has 

 been given at each of five different schools. 



Recommendations 



The results of the extension activities for the year have been gratifying. 

 The coming year's work should be and will be better organized. In the 

 cooperative and demonstrative work, as well as in the seed distribution, 

 the best results have been obtained under the personal supervision of a 

 representative of the Department. This, however, requires much time. 

 The work has already grown beyond the personal reach of one man ; 

 indeed, the seed distribution alone will soon demand the time of one 

 person. It is recommended that another member be added to the Depart- 

 ment, so that these two lines of work may be increased to the extent that 

 their importance justifies. 



Much good and interest has resulted from the exhibit work. It has 

 proved one of the best means of arousing first interest in crop improve- 

 ment by breeding. It is impossible, under the present arrangement, to 

 install a large exhibit more than three times during the year. There- 

 fore it is recommended that means be supplied to increase this line of 

 work. In addition to the large exhibit, smaller ones of special crops 

 should be prepared to send to special localities. This work could profit- 

 ably consume the time of one man. It is hoped that additional funds to 

 undertake this project may soon be available. 



