EEPORT OF THE SOCIETY • 29 



diseases on this continent run into millions of dollars annually. This loss is an 

 economic waste that does no one any good. The results of this loss mean the 

 cultivation of more acres of land by the individual farmer to get the necessary 

 returns. The consumer pays for many more potatoes, or shirts than he wants. 

 The small amount of money that the middle man filches is paltry compared with 

 what fungus diseases take out of the crops of the country. One great reason 

 why plant pathology has come to be recognized is because of the tremendous 

 losses which occur and the reduction in those losses which the development of 

 plant pathology has been able to show. Plant pathology is one of the most 

 important phases of agriculture, and it, with entomology, can probably give 

 larger returns on money invested in it than any other line of agriculture. 



What then is to be the future development of plant pathology ? Its study 

 should not be confined to agriculture colleges. The tendency in larger univers- 

 ities is to put it in with some other department, such as botany. Even the 

 Rockefeller Institute has considered the development of a division of plant 

 pathology. The importance of the science has come to be recognized and we 

 are going to be flattered in the future. I am not thinking of the development 

 in colleges and universities. 



New York farmers are also paying this year $20,000 for the extension work 

 of the plant pathologist and entomologist. It works out in this way. When, 

 for instance, a group of apple growers want a special spray service, they go to 

 the Farm Bureau Agent and tell him they want an expert to give them advice 

 and look after the work for them during the growing season. The College has 

 a standing offer to supply these men. These men are seniors or first year grad- 

 uate students. Their salaries run about $150 per month, of which the college 

 pays $50. They are picked men of the institution and are sent into the county 

 as representatives of the departments of plant pathology and entomology. The 

 farmers prefer to go to Cornell for their plant pathologists and that institution 

 had twelve operating in the state last season. The farmers provide, in addition 

 to $100 for salary each month, a Ford and pay for its maintenance. It is gener- 

 ally a six months' proposition, for they live among the farmers while giving 

 their services. To help in this work the Weather Bureau makes special fore- 

 casts of the weather for us in certain sections. 



It is interesting to note that these men who go to the farmers are not exper- 

 ienced men, but they are picked men of ability. After a special training of 

 two weeks they go into the field. They have to make good with the farmers and 

 they have to make good with us, and if they fail they cannot stay for graduate 

 work. We sometimes have failures, but not many. Farmers are willing to pay 

 as high as $200 a month to a good man who has had a year in the field. 



