EXTENSION DIVISION. 223 



tioii which is being promoted by all the agents both by the hill selection 

 method and b}^ the tuber unit method ; this group activity is also leading 

 to a wider adoption of the treatment of seed, a closer study of methods of- 

 planting to increase uniformity and yield, and a more general practice of 

 spraying to control insect and fungous troubles. Fertilizer, seed-selection, 

 seed-treatment, green-sprouting, and spraying demonstrations have been 

 conducted by the agent's and these are well distributed throughout the 

 potato growing localities. Many field meetings have been held to give a 

 general knowledge of the results of demonstration work. 



Barley: Ten counties report work on barley. This consisted of tests 

 of varieties, including Michigan Winter, Oderbrucker and Wisconsin pedi- 

 greed barley. Help was given the Farm Bureaus in securing and distrib- 

 uting seed and an effort was made to increase the acreage; an increase of 

 33% was reported in Dickinson county and 45% in Ontonagon. 



Celery: Six counties report work with the growing and marketing of 

 celery. Demonstrations for the control of blight were conducted in five 

 counties and the results made known to as many growers as possible; in 

 Muskegon county 40 men bought spraj^ers and arranged to buy blue- 

 vitriol cooperatively. 



FRUIT. 



In twenty-two counties work with fruit has been conducted by the 

 agents in cooperation with the Department of Horticulture, through Mr. 

 J. H. Carmody. With the exception of that done in relation to marketing, 

 the work has consisted largely of demonstrations, including those of prun- 

 ing, spraying and grafting, of thinning fruit, making spray mixtures, con- 

 trolling cut worms, and repairing injury done by mice girdling trees. In- 

 spection of orchards has been carried on in seventeen counties. Control of 

 insect and fungous troubles have required more attention than any other 

 problems in fruit growing; warnings of conditions favorable to "the de- 

 velopment of such injury or of the presence of such troubles, were given 

 by the agents through the press and at meetings. Farmers were assisted 

 in orchard planting, in securing spray materials, in preparing the mix- 

 tures, in selecting and starting sprayers, and advised regarding time of 

 spraying. 



(See Exhibits and Marketing, also.) 



CONTROL OP INSECTS. 



In addition to the w^ork for control of insects injurious to fruit, 13 

 counties in cooperation with the Department of Entomology have inves- 

 tigated and identified insects attacking crops and gardens, and advised 

 measures for their control ; these have included the Colorado beetle, the 

 aphis on potatoes, wire worms, cut worms, melon insects, cabbage worms, 

 weevils in stored wheat, and, in a number of instances, attacks of insects 

 less well known. 



CONTROL OF PLANT DISEASES. 



In cooperation with the Department of Botany, this project with its 

 three divisions of control of bean blight, of celery diseases and of grain 

 smuts, has been forwarded as. follows : 18 counties report treatment of 

 Avheat and oats for smut. Efforts will be made to make the practice gen- 

 eral this fall and next spring in the counties growing these grains. 

 County Agent Smith of Kent became interested in the ncAv concentrated 



