al Extension leaders of Wisconsin,
Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota was held early in
August at the Iowa State College, at Ames. The subject of apple and
potato clearing houses was the chief question discussed. The work of
this kind was started by Professor Greene in Kansas when they had the
big apple crop in 1913. Later Iowa and Minnesota undertook similar work.
It is expected that a co-operative plan will be formulated which will be
of greater value than when each state works alone.

The visiting members were very glad to have President Pearson discuss
co-operation as he saw it while visiting a dozen or more countries in
Europe.

One hour was spent in an automobile tour of the grounds and farms.
Considerable land from one to three miles from the main campus is now
used for experimental work. One of the latest additions to the
horticultural equipment is a cold storage plant and range of
greenhouses, costing over sixty thousand dollars.

HORTICULTURAL TOUR IN WESTERN IOWA AND EASTERN NEBRASKA.

The horticultural societies of Iowa and Nebraska joined in an automobile
tour of the orchards, vineyards, nurseries, and truck farms August 2 to
4. The first day was spent in and around Council Bluffs. Interest
centered around the large Co-operative Grape Growers' Association. A
grand picnic dinner was served by the ladies. This association has been
in active operation for fifteen years. Professor Beach emphasized the
value of the work that is being done, and especially the value of having
a contented lot of people in a community mutually interested in one kind
of work. On the return trip a stop was made at the experimental apple
orchard that is conducted by the Horticultural Department of the Iowa
State College. This orchard of 900 trees was leased in 1910 for ten
years to determine if an old orchard that has been unprofitable could be
made profitable. Careful records have been kept of expenses and of the
size and grade of all fruits produced under the several soil treatments.
To date six crops have been harvested from the 475 trees under
experiment. The lowest was 1,700 bushels in 1911 and the largest was
6,000 bushels in 1915. It is estimated that there is about thirty per
cent. of a crop on the trees this year. Demonstrations were given in
spraying, dynamiting trees, treating trees affected with blister canker,
and grading apples with a large grading machine.

The second day was spent in orchards near