Help from the CT Agricultural Experiment Station

Gardeners of Stratford -- are you frustrated by your efforts to raise vegetables, flowers and fruit this year? Has a fungus attacked your fuchsias? Have bugs wiped out your broccoli? Don't know where to turn?

Well, we're sure you know that the library has a lot of great books on gardening and pest control. But you may not know that a state agency called the CT Agricultural Experiment Station is also available to help you solve your garden woes, for free. They will identify a mystery insect, diagnose a baffling plant disease, and test your soil to tell you why your plants aren't thriving. You can mail your samples in or just call and ask them for advice. And there's no fee for these services.

The CAES has been serving science in the public interest in New Haven since 1877. As part of their mission, "any consumer wanting to know the composition of his soil, fertilizer, cattle food, seeds, or whether an insect or plant carries a disease has only to fill out a form and agree that all results will be made available for public use."

You can read more about these specific programs at their website: Insect Information and Problems Soil Testing Plant Information and Problems