EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 281 



siderable importance, in recent years, and there is a demand for informa- 

 tion regarding best varieties and methods of handling this corn. Mr. 

 J. R. Duncan is cooperating in handling the corn work. 



2. Forage Crops Experiments. Comj)arative plantings of millets, 

 Sudan grass, annual white sweet clover, soybeans, corn, peas and oats, 

 oats and vetch, etc., was continued. A report of the first .year's results 

 of this work is included in this record. Professor C. R. Megee is co- 

 operating in this work and other forage crop projects. 



3. 8iceet Clover Experiments. Three acres were planted to sweet 

 clover for the purpose of forming a basis for experiments with time and 

 rate of seeding, height of cutting, and handling sweet clover for hay and 

 seed. A good catch has been secured. This experiment was begun under 

 excellent conditions. 



4. Soi/hean Variety Test. Variety tests with numerous soj^beans, 

 handled by Michigan seed firms and others, were conducted for the 

 second season on the Experiment Station plats and over the State in 

 varietv tests. 



5. Comparative Tests of Foreign and Native Alfalfa wnd Clover. 

 With the appearance on the Michigan market of European clover and 

 alfalfa seed, it was necessary to compare these varieties with native 

 American and Michigan grown seed at the earliest opportunity. An ex- 

 periment, including Italian, French, and Swedish clover seed and Italian, 

 and Turkeystan alfalfa seed and other varieties, as compared with 

 American and Michigan grown clover and alfalfa seed, was planted in 

 the spring. 



G. Over-State Experiments. The formation of the Farm Bureaus in 

 many Michigan counties has increased the demand for over-State coopera- 

 tive experiments. In the past year twelve complete variety tests of oats, IG 

 of corn, 8 of soybeans and 4 of beans, were widely distributed over Mich- 

 igan. This w^ork is particularly valuable, in that it makes possible the 

 distribution of varieties in accordance with adaptation. 



7. The Manitou Island Rosen Rye Project. In order to insure the 

 production of a supply of Rosen Rye of high purity, by increasing select- 

 ed strains, where common rye can be eradicated and its introduction 

 prevented, arrangements were made in the spring and summer of 1919 

 to introduce, on the South Manitou Island, selected strains of Rosen. 

 The South Manitou was selected, after an investigation of Michiga)i 

 shore islands by the writer, as being best suited. On September 12th, Mr. 

 J. W. Nicolson was delegated to visit the island for the purpose of inter- 

 esting the island farmers in adopting Rosen Rye as the standard rye 

 of the island. Eleven farmers on the island took up the Rosen and, 

 owing to the lateness of the arrival of the seed, the remainder made 

 plantings of the island strain or Rosen secured from Traverse City. At 

 the present time, the Rosen is showing up splendidly and those on the 

 island have announced their intention of adopting it as the standard 

 variety. The Michigan Crop Improvement Association has authorized 

 the organization of an "Island order" to develop the highest type of 

 Rosen possible. The work will be continued this year, based on selec- 

 tions made from isolated fields on the island, and next year pure strains 

 will be introduced from the Experiment Station plats. The South Mani- 

 tou Island should serve as a safe source of increase for the best type of 



