1304 The Vegetable Industry in New York State 



his entire time to extension work, attending meetings and exten- 

 sion schools, advising with growers and conducting demonstration 

 trials. 



The research side of the department activities, though vitally 

 important, is as yet in an early stage of development. On ac- 

 count of the fact that Ithaca is not in a vegetable producing sec- 

 tion and the near-by soil is not typical of that existing in such 

 districts, much of this work will have to be conducted at a dis- 

 tance from the College. It is expected that a man will shortly be 

 appointed to the staff to give his whole time to such studies. 



The teaching at the College is planned for regular all-year stu- 

 dents, for short winter-course students and for students of the 

 six-weeks' summer school. Most of the courses for reg- 

 ulars are arranged for persons interested in commercial produc- 

 tion. The plan for students who wish to specialize in vegetable 

 gardening represents a radical departure from the conventional 

 scheme of winter instruction and summer vacations. It is shaped 

 rather in conformity to the seasons of crop growing. The sum- 

 mer of the first year is spent on a general or a specialized farm 

 according to whether a student has previously had field experi- 

 ence. The spring and summer of the second year is spent with 

 a commercial grower of vegetables. The spring and summer of 

 the third year is devoted to elementary vegetable courses and the 

 fourth season to advanced courses. Thus, in the laboratory work, 

 crops are carried from seed to maturity under the direct daily 

 attention of the students. The vegetable courses include a brief 

 introduction to the subject, a general commercial course, a course 

 in vegetable forcing (producing crops under glass), and a course 

 in the botany types and varieties of vegetables. Ample time is 

 allowed for courses in fundamental science, in associated sub- 

 jects, such as plant pathology and insect pests, plant breeding, 

 farm management, and others. The student is expected to take 

 such courses in other departments as will give him a broad, gen- 

 eral knowledge of agriculture as a whole rather than a narrowly 

 specialized training in a single branch. 



Briefer courses are also provided for the student who does not 

 contemplate specializing in vegetable gardening, and for those 

 who are interested only from the standpoint of the home garden. 



