Extrusion Work in Plant Pathology, 1923 19 



>rter stated, in concluding a report of extension work in 

 plant pathology in Iowa: "All investigations and demonstration- 

 show that it pays to test each individual ear of corn and to discard 

 all ears showing mold." 



K. A. Jehle. extension plant pathologist of Maryland, said : t; Cer- 

 tainly the demonstration work of 192-2 and of the present year (1923) 

 has demonstrated that it is well worth while for any farmer to give 

 careful attention to this (the germination test) in the selection of his 

 seed corn and not use for seed any ears which show marked signs of 

 the disease." • 



RESULTS 



The foregoing brief account, touching as it does on but a few of 

 the many instances of good work reported throughout the year, may 

 serve to give some idea of the national program for control of plant 

 diseases. It is evident that in some localities certain crops and de- 

 pendent industries could not have been profitably continued without 

 this assistance. The annual reports of county agents gave some 

 idea of the extent of the control operations that were brought about 

 as a result of the influence of extension work during 1923. This 

 information is summarized in the table on page 20. 



CONCLUSION 



After studying accomplishments in the several States during 1923. 

 one is impressed with the fact that real progress was made not only 

 in proving the value of certain practices, but in developing extension 

 methods for calling these practices to the attention of farmers in 

 such a way as to bring about their adoption. 



Successful use of copper-carbonate dust for controlling covered 

 smut of wheat : increased yields obtained as a result of teaching 

 farmers the value of disease-free potato seed: confirmation of the 

 fact that potato spraying pays in many sections even in the absence 

 of late-blight : successful commercial use by farmers of disease- 

 resistant varieties of asparagus, cabbage, tomato, and other plants: 

 all of these brought additions to knowledge from the subject-matter 

 point of view. 



Noteworthy efforts were made in the field of extension methods: 

 such as the building up of systems for spray information services: 

 the development of means for obtaining wholesale treatment of seed 

 by dealers: arrangements for maintaining disease-resistant stocks of 

 certain seeds, either by cooperation with seedsmen or by means of 

 seed-increase plots at the college: and the perfecting of plans for 

 training farmers in the fundamentals of plant-disease control. 

 Throughout all this work there was a growing realization of the 

 necessity for cooperation with extension specialists in other lines and 

 maintenance of close contact with research workers. 



The opportunities for work in this field were never so great as at 

 present. Increased cost of labor and other items connected with 

 production, the practice of selling many plant products according 

 to grades which are based in part on degree of freedom from disease, 

 and the prevailing high freight rates make desirable the efficient 

 production of high-grade products that can be transported without 

 excessive wastage. More general application of disease-control meas- 

 ures is one of the necessary steps by which this result can be ob- 

 tained. 



