DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 97 



tension Specialists was confined to one field in each important potato 

 growing community in a county. The county agents, however, extended 

 this inspection work as far as their time would permit. Nearby growers 

 were invited to be present when the Specialists inspected the potatoes. 

 In this way a large number of growers were informed as to this method 

 of seed improvement, and also as to the general plans for the betterment 

 of the potato crop. Emphasis has been placed at these meetings on 

 identification of diseases and methods of control together with hill se- 

 lection of potatoes for seed purposes. 



Publications: The following extension bulletins have been prepared 

 and published during the year: 



Bulletin No. 3 Some Seed Potato Questions Answered. 

 Bulletin No. 4: The Home Vegetable Garden. 

 Bulletin No. 5: Standardization and Group Classification of Po- 

 tato Varieties for Michigan. 



Other publications have been prepared but not printed. 



The Market Growers' Journal has continued as the official organ of 

 the National and State Potato Associations. All members of the State 

 Association receive each issue of the journal, and the members of the 

 affiliated local associations receive the six special potato numbers. This 

 has proven a cheap and efficient way of reaching the association mem- 

 bers with information relative to the work. 



Meetings: The Michigan State Potato Association held a joint meet- 

 ing and show with the National Potato Association at Grand Kapids, 

 December 1, 2, .3, 1915. The show and program were excellent. The at- 

 tendance from outside the State was very good, but Michigan growers 

 did not attend in large numbers. Many more local meetings have been 

 held during the past than the previous year. 



Demonstrations: The following demonstrations have been made in 

 some of the counties and in the future this phase of the work will be em- 

 phasized : 



(1) Hill selection of tubers for seed. 



(2) The tuber unit method of seed selection. 



(3) Greening or green sprouting of the tubers. 



(4) Seed treatment for scab and black scurf (rhizactonia). 



(5) Close planting on productive soil to increase yield and reduce 



the percentage of oversized potatoes. 



(6) Spraying with Bordeaux to prevent blight. 



Vegetables : A State Vegetable Growers' Association was organized 

 at Grand Rapids, December 4, 1915. The Extension Specialist has at- 

 tended several meetings of vegetable growers but the work has of neces- 

 sity, because of limited time, been largely of personal visitation to green- 

 houses and gardens. Communities in which several greenhouses or gar- 

 dens, or both, are located, are given most frequent visits. Many men 

 have been helped out of difficulties and the work apparently has been 

 appreciated. 



Correspondence: The correspondence in connection with this work 

 13 



