EXTENSION DIVISION. 175 



• 

 worker, on the most profitable and advisable systems of muck farm 

 management in various parts of the State. The importance of first hand 

 information on a subject which has a scanty literature, availability of 

 experiences and observations of successful men which otherwise would 

 be lost, the contact with ideas and traditions of the men engaged in the 

 work, in which the interests of the extension worker live, ail have been 

 made possible by the Michigan Muck Farmers' Association. 



The influence of an organized group of ^len with kindred interest 

 makes possible a valuable coordinated influence for worthy agricultural 

 legislation. Lastly, it is important to note, that all the experimental 

 and demonstration work carried out on muck was very easily and simply 

 arranged with members of the Association whose confidence had been 

 secured. Thus in each community they became representatives of the 

 extension office and of their organization. 



The results of the demonstrations last year were unsatisfactory due to 

 the continued hot dry spell which was general in this State, but a number 

 of interesting facts were noted affirming the previous year's experience. 



These are briefly given. The value of field peas as frost resistant 

 legumes, the sunflowers as a frost resistant plant for silage, the soy 

 bean as a rapid growing hay crop, the value of rye as a grain where muck 

 is properly handled, the importance of thorough rolling, as an import- 

 ant practice on muck lands; the importance of hay and sugar beets as 

 cash crops for muck soil, the value of vetch as a spring or fall planted 

 legume; the factors governing drainage of difl'erent types of muck. 



A very small part of the muck lands of Michigan, less than one per 

 cent, is being utilized. A very small percentage of these areas is being in- 

 tensively cultivated. While a large part of the extension work is among 

 the intensive celery, onion and mint growers, the future development of 

 Michigan muck lands lies in the handling of these soils from an ex- 

 tensive point of view. The problem is largely to ascertain the plan for 

 farming muck lands profitably, in growing staple standard crops and 

 not special risky vegetable crops which are easily overproduced. Thus, 

 special attention has been given to the question of farm management and 

 acquainting muck farmers with the profitable practices of other muck 

 farmers. A safe system of farm management for muck land has been 

 evolved. An outline is given in the published article mentioned above, 

 beef or dairy cattle, oats and peas, corn, or sunflowers for silage, beets and 

 hay as cash crops. The most important and most valuable crop for 

 v>'hich the- muck lands of Michigan can be adapted is the sugar beet. 

 Careful observations and information of value have been extended to 

 muck farmers relative to the fertilization, the handling of the muck 

 for sugar beet production of high sugar content. At the time of this 

 writing a visit to the field of L. C. Robart at Eaton Rapids revealed 

 numerous plants with beets weighing a pound or more. This crop repre- 

 sents a flemonstration in the sense that the writer v/as responsible for 

 the direction for planting and the fertilization of this crop. 



Demonstrations are now being carried on to point out the fertilizer 

 needs and suggested crops to fit into a plan for extensive muck farm 

 management on different types of muck : Croswell, Brown City, Traverse 

 City, Bitely, Kiies, Eaton Rapids, The crops are selected varieties, of 

 course adapted to muck: Sunflowers, soy beans, beets, Japanese millet, 

 selected varieties of corn, field peas. 



