DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 77 



of Early Wonder, Idaho-Grown Michigan and Michigan hand picked 

 seed. 



HORTICULTURE. 



In horticulture the demand for the assistance of the county agent 

 and the specialist has constantly increased. As in preceding years 

 demonstrations in pruning, spraying, thinning, grading and packing 

 have been conducted. More requests have been made for help in over- 

 coming fruit diseases and insect enemies than for any other phase of 

 fruit-growing. 



Spraying, while a long established custom in some localities, has been 

 found to be almost entirely absent in others. The county agents have 

 shown the desirability of jtreserving the farm orchard and the possibility 

 of profits from clean, well cared for fruits. 



In one county an orchard survey was made as a basis for future or- 

 chard work. In another a fruit tree campaign interested farmers in 

 planting 10,000 fruit trees, chiefly apples. 



In one county where marked improvement has been shown in the 

 methods of production of fruit, the agent attributes much of the change 

 to the interest that has been taken in community exhibits of fruit and to 

 the stimulus given by winning premiums at the state exhibits. 



In six counties demonstrations in spraying for control of blight in 

 celery have been started. In one county twelve sprayers are reported 

 to have been purchased for controlling late blight in celery as a result of 

 the demonstrations given this season ; nine of these were purchased co- 

 operatively. Also, these demonstrations so won the confidence of the 

 truck growers in that vicinity that they are planning for extensive 

 spraying another year. Special attention has been given to the grow- 

 ing of onions and to truck crops in general wherever these croi)s occupy 

 the attention of large numbers of people. 



LIVE STOCK. 



Much attention has been given to the difl'erent live stock projects this 

 year and excellent results have been achieved. The reports show that 

 ten cow-testing associations have been formed and one reorganized. In 

 addition to the testing that is being done through associations, several 

 of the men have given considerable time to making tests themselves 

 and to conducting testing demonstrations. There have been ten commun- 

 ity breeding associations formed since JaiL 1, 191G. A live stock census 

 was taken in two counties. The dairy picnic was used in one county 

 to good advantage. About forty dairy cattle were brought from differ- 

 ent sections of the county and a judging demonstration given. This was 

 followed by a judging contest in which a number of farmers took part. 

 The attendance was large, the interest keen and the demonstration and 

 contest have proved to be strong incentives to better dairying. 



Control of Live Stock Diseases: In no other phase of the whole move- 

 ment is a thoroughly organized community so essential or concerted ac- 

 tion so imperative as in the control of transmissible animal diseases. 

 Repeatedly it has been demonstrated that the control of hog cholera is a 

 community interest and can be checked or eliminated only when the 

 community acts as a whole and acts quickly. That this is possible only 



