188 STATE BOARD OF 'AGRICULTURE. 



REPORT OF THE FARM MANAGEMENT SECTION. 



Director R. S. Shaw, 

 Dear Director Shaw: 



During the year the Farm Management section was organized and it 

 was arranged to carry on certain work in the Experiment Station. 



Mr. F. T. Riddell, who has been working in the Dairy department on the 

 cost of milk production was transferred to the new department. Also ap- 

 propriations where made by the State Board of Agriculture to support five 

 route men. These route men visit each of twenty-five farmers once each 

 month and weigh feed and milk and assist the farmer in taking an inventory 

 and keeping his accounts. From this data accurate material on farm manage- 

 ment is being secured. Work is being carried out on one hundred farms. 

 One route is located in Lenawee county and is made up of farmers who are 

 engaged in the feeding of steers and lambs; another route is located in Wayne 

 and Lenawee counties and is made up of farmers who are selling whole milk 

 in the Detroit market; still another is made up of farmers in Jackson and 

 Shiawassee counties and the fourth route is made up of farmers in the potato 

 growing section of the State, and contains only farms on which at least five 

 acres of potatoes are being grown. These farms are about equally divided 

 between Montcalm, Antrim and Emmet counties. 



Very truly yours, 



H. M. ELIOT, 



Professor of Farmi Management. 

 East Lansing, Michigan, June 30, 192L 



REPORT OF THE FORESTRY SECTION. 



R. S. Shaw, Director, 



Dear Director Shaw: 



I herewith submit a brief report of the work of the Section of Forestry for 

 the year ending June 30, 192L 



The study of the rate of growth in diameter, height and volume of forest 

 plantations which we have been carrying on for the last two years was finished 

 and the report was completed during the year. 



The experimental work on sap flow in the College sugar bush was continued 

 and careful records were kept of the costs and of the amount of fuel used per 

 gallon of syrup. The results of this work have ])een published from time to 

 time in the Experiment Station Quarterly. 



We now have five years' data on the experimental basket willow plantation 

 at Spring Lake. Last year the profit from this plantation was excellent but 

 this year owing to the stagnation of the furniture market, they were unable 

 to sell the rods. It is possible, however, that the rods may be stored and sold 

 next year. The plantation has shown a steadj^ increase in net profit since 

 the second year and with ordinarily good market for the rods it should prove a 

 success. 



