EXTENSION DIVISION. 185 



As was mentioned before the Muck Farmers' Association was formed 

 this year, and went on record as requesting the Agricultural College to 

 give more attention to the muck areas of the State. A request was made 

 for a short course along muck lines, which would deal with the handling 

 of soils and management of muck land. 



This office continued to handle Camp Custer manure for the farmers 

 of the State, and this work which was outside of our regular work, was 

 the result of utilizing almost fifteen hundred cars of manure at a loading 

 charge of about ten dollars less than the loading charge of manure at 

 Chicago. Not only did it save this large amount of money for the farmers 

 of Michigan, but it also made available this manure at a time when fer- 

 tilizers were short and no manure was available at Chicago. 



Attempts are being made to renew this contract with the Camp au- 

 thorities so that the farmers may continue to receive this fertilizer. 



Considerable work has been carried on, showing the value of the use 

 of muck as a fertilizer. This work, which was begun the previous year, has 

 led to many interesting results. It should be noted that two companies in 

 Berrien county have been formed to sell muck as humus, and the results 

 obtained seem to indicate that these companies are giving full value for 

 money received. Berrien county has been particularly active in the 

 utilization of muck as a fertilizer. Wherever applied under the direction 

 of this office, results have been satisfactory. The possibilities for work 

 along this line are unlimited. It is hoped that this next winter this office 

 can become acquainted with the various counties containing large muck 

 areas, which have not been reached, and work outlined^for the following 

 summer. 



This work has really been in the formative stage. It must be kept in 

 mind that there is very little literature and very little information avail- 

 able on these muck problems. However, with the experience and active 

 contact with the work in the field and with the big muck farmers, these 

 matters have become crystallized, and I feel that we are now at a point 

 where definite comprehensive activity in the reclamation and utilization 

 of our muck areas should no longer be delayed. 



ANNUAL REPORT FARM MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATIONS. 



BY CHAS. GRAVES. 



The program of the past year's work covered four principal parts. The 

 first part, The Business Viewpoint, was of general educational nature 

 handled largely through the extension schools and farmers' meetings. The 

 work has been very simple and fundamental. The talks and discussions 

 were illustrated by charts and blackboard work. This phase of the work 

 is considered of vital importance by the demonstrator and especially in 

 view of the fact that very few of the extension workers of the State have 

 had previous training in farm management as a subject. 



FARM RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS. 



More time has been devoted to Farm Records and Accounts than any 

 other single subject. Two types of account books have been published by 

 the department during the past year. The two account books were of 

 different grades of work. The No. 1 being as simple and elemental as 



