218 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



seed corn near enough at hand to meet the local climatic conditions. So the 

 work of improvement is being carried to the community itself by improving 

 the best corn to be found there by this method of selection. Thirteen of 

 these ear-to-row demonstrations were planted this spring, ranging from Man- 

 istee county on the north to the southern boundary of the State. One 

 demonstration on the time of seeding rye is being conducted in Emmet 

 county. 



To demonstrate the merit of pedigreed varieties of grain, tests have been 

 conducted on farms located in various parts of the State. In these demon- 

 strations locally grown varieties are always included with pedigreed strains 

 and careful comparisons are made. Results have show^i that in nearly every 

 crop except corn one or more pedigreed varieties have out-yielded the 

 local varieties. A continuation of these demonstrations will make it pos- 

 sible to safely recommend varieties adaptable to local conditions. 



The first demonstrations of this kind were conducted in 1918, when five 

 wheat tests were planted. This has since increased to include oats, barley, 

 corn, field beans, soy-beans, alfalfa and millet. 



Regional tests are particularly necessary for corn. It is planned to continue 

 corn demonstrations until safe recommendations can be made for each belt 

 of counties in the State. 



Barley is grown largely from mixed seed. The barley demonstrations 

 being conducted give a comparison of Michigan-2-row, Michigan Black 

 Barbless, and Wisconsin Pedigreed with each other and with local seed. 



Regional demonstrations are also conducted for wheat, alfalfa, soy-beans 

 and short season hay crops. All demonstrations are used as centers for 

 summer meetings and the results are used as material for winter schools. 



cow TESTING ASSOCIATIONS. 



The work of the Extension Specialist in Dairying during the past year has 

 consisted chiefly of aiding in organizing and supervising cow testing associa- 

 tions, teaching in extension schools and attending general community and 

 farm bureau meetings at which dairy problems and organizations were 

 discussed. The work during the past year has been of a more comprehensive 

 nature than in the past, not being confined to the so-called project work al- 

 though interest in these phases of the work has been very good. Michigan 

 farmers are successfully solving many of their problems through organization, 

 and an attempt has been made to make the dairy extension work an aid to 

 their program. The Boys' and Girls' Live Stock Club work has maintained 

 a healthy growth and has served to make the dairy extension work of a 

 broader nature and more effective in teaching the principles of dairying. 



July 1, 1920, there were fourteen cooperative cow testing associations 

 in Michigan with a membership of 367 farmers owning 4,093 cows. 



Eleven cooperative cow testing associations were active in Michigan, 

 July 1, 1920, and were as follows: 



Kent County Cooperative Cow Testing Association. 



West Allegan County Cooperative Cow Testing Association. 



Emmet County Cooperative Cow Testing Association. 



Van Buren, No. 1 Cooperative Cow Testing Association. 



Wayne County, No. 1 Cooperative Cow Testing Association. 



Van Buren, No. 2 Cooperative Cow Testing Association. 



Wayne County, No. 2 Cooperative Cow Testing Association. 



Lapeer County Cooperative Cow Testing Association. 



