306 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



malin, vs. no treatment. Green sprouted, vs. unsprouted seed was tried 

 on two different dates of planting. In addition to this work 250 tubers 

 were planted as tuber units representing six varieties, the intention 

 being to make selections of these units to establish certitied seed of the 

 varieties important to the Upper Peninsula. 



The following experimental plots have been planted in 1920 to form 

 the basis of this year's work. The same varieties of oats tested in 1919 

 are again in the test in addition. Five new varieties obtained from Upper 

 Peninsula farms are included also a rate of seeding test of from two to 

 five bushels per acre: 



The Marquis Spring Wheat seems to be the variety best suited to the 

 area so the general testing of varieties has been discontinued and only 

 new promising sorts will be tried in comparison with the Marquis as a 

 standard. Eight different dates of seeding were tried for Marquis Spring 

 Wheat ranging one week apart from April 20th to June 7th. 



Fourteen different dates of planting winter wheat is being tried rang- 

 ing from August 13th to October 24th, the object being to determine 

 what effect date of seeding has on winter killing. 



The barley test of 1919 is being repeated for 1920. In addition a rate 

 of seeding test is planted ranging from one and one-half to three and 

 one-half bushels per acre. 



Seven varieties of field peas are being tested for yield of forage and 

 threshed peas. Also a rate of seeding test to determine the best rate to 

 seed for forage and threshed grain ranging from two to four bushels per 

 acre. 



Work with sunflowers was confined to time of planting, distance apart 

 of spacing rows and rate of seeding for best silage production. 



Ten different kinds of annual forage crops are being tested as to their 

 suitability for annual hay in the Upper Peninsula. 



The potato work of 1919 is being continued for 1920 with elaboration 

 on the tuber unit work; the desire being to isolate superior strains free 

 from certain classes of potato diseases. Mr. Weston and Mr, Kotila 

 continue to cooperate. 



In addition to the station work, cooperative tests are being conducted 

 in the various counties of the Upper Peninsula with oats, barley and al- 

 falfa; also quite extensive work in cooperation with Professor J. A. 

 Jeffery on muck soil in the Seney swamp area. 



Yours very truly, 

 G. W. PUTNAM, 

 Research Assistant in Farm Crops. 



POTATO DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS. 



As a result of the demands of the Upper Peninsula farmers, the in- 

 vestigation of potato diseases was commenced in 1919 at the Upper 

 Peninsula Experiment Station, under tlie supervision of Dr. G. H. 

 Coons, Plant Pathologist of the Micliigan Agricultural Experiment 

 Station at East Lansing. 



The work during the 1919 season consisted of seed treatment experi- 

 ments for the control of seed-borne diseases siu-li as Scab and Black 

 Scurf (llhizoctonia) and experiments on tlie Blackleg, Mosaic, Leaf Roll 



