Extension Work in Plant Pathology, 1923 5 



machinery and materials resulting from the interest of manufac- 

 turers, and still others as a result of practical experience of farmers 

 and extension plant pathologists. 



The fact that disease-control methods are not static makes it de- 

 sirable for extension workers in this field to have the best of funda- 

 mental training in the life history of the fungi as well as in applied 

 pathology, and such training is practically a necessity if new methods 

 recommended by State, Federal, and industrial research workers are 

 to be put into practice intelligently and advantage taken of every 

 opportunity for progress. 



Fig. 4. — Rhizopus jot of beans. Some organisms, although causing little, or no 

 trouble in the field, may be responsible for extensive losses during marketing. 

 (From series prepared by Link and Gardner.) 



LEADERSHIP OF EXTENSION SPECIALISTS 



Although some extension work in plant pathology was carried on 

 in practically all the States during 1923, 18 maintained approved 

 Smith-Lever projects dealing with the subject (fig. 5). Twenty- 

 seven pathologists, some of them working on part time, carried on 

 the work in these States and this report deals largely with their ac- 

 tivities. These men, cooperating with the State and Federal en- 

 tomologists, horticulturists, and agronomists, help to form the group 

 of specialists which serves as an auxiliary and directing force to the 

 county agent system (fig. 6). By studying, with the aid of county 

 agents, needs of farmers for plant-disease-control work, and by as- 

 sisting in the development of county programs based on these needs. 

 the extension pathologist multiplies his influence many times. 



