EXTENSION DIVISION. 243 



Considerable time was given during the fall months to fairs and fruit 

 shoAvs. Work of this nature is valuable in that it enables the Extension 

 Specialist to keep in touch with the growers and thereby acquaint him- 

 self more closely with their many problems. 



PuhUcations and Correspondowe: Correspondence in connection 

 with the work has gradually increased as a result of wider acquaintance 

 with the growers. Several timely articles relating to fruit growing have 

 been published in local and state papers. A spray calendar was widely 

 circulated, and a circular calling attention to the proper methods of pre- 

 paring fruit and vegetable exhibits is ready for publication. 



SUMMARY OF WORK PERFORMED. 



Farm visits 202 



Number of demonstration meetings 79 



Attendance at demonstration meetings 1,008 



Number of lecture meetings 96 



Attendance at lectures 6,637 



East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1917. 



REPORT OF EXTENSION WORK WITH POTATOES AND 



VEGETABLES. 



BY C. W. WAID. 



The Potato Project: The extension work with potatoes is being con- 

 ducted in the form of a definite project, the objects of which are as fol- 

 lows : 



Section I — To demonstrate the advantage of : 



(1) The tuber unit method of improving the seed. 



(2) Hill selection of tubers for seed. 



(3) Greening or green sprouting of the seed. 



(4) Seed treatment to prevent scab and black scurf (rhizoctonia). 



(5) Testing different growers' seed. 



(6) The use of commercial fertilizers. 



(7) Close planting on productive soils to increase yield and to 



reduce the percentage of oversized tubers. 



(8) Spraying with Bordeaux to prevent blight. 



Section II — To acquaint the growers with the important potato dis- 

 eases and methods of control. Also, with the approved 

 methods of field selection of high grade seed potatoes. 



Cooperation with County Agents: In each county in which a regular 

 County Agent is employed this work is carried on in cooperation with the 

 agent. He determines the particular sections in which the work is to be 

 done and selects the individual growers who carry on the demonstration 

 work and on whose farms inspection work is done and field meetings held. 



Field Meetings: When the work is first started in a community one or 

 more field meetings are held during the growing period at which the grow- 



