222 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



supplies. The savings as a result of home mixing and buying the right ma- 

 terials without nitrogen amounted to many thousands of dollars. 



Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana produces 75% of the world mint. 

 Mint is a muck crop. The application of phosphorus and potash increases 

 the percentage of oil content. This fact has been extended through demon- 

 strations located throughout the mint area. Assistance was given in the 

 formation of the Michigan Muck Farmers' Association. This organization is 

 composed of the better farmers and is an efficient avenue through which 

 information is extended to its members. 



The demonstrations conducted were planned and carried out on carefully 

 laid out plots upon which observations could be made throughout the season 

 and results obtained at the end of the season. The conclusions were pointed 

 out to those who attended meetings held on the plots to observe results. In 

 the celery area the main facts demonstrated were the value of potash and that 

 all new muck will not grow celery without manure or mineral fertilizers, and 

 that manure is not essential if proper commercial fertihzer is used. 



In the Black River Valley demonstrations, the main principles demon- 

 strated were the value of potash as the limiting element ; the first resistant 

 qualities of properly fed crops of sunflowers, sweet clover, sugar-beets, oats 

 and peas; importance of rolling muck land; that sugar-beets can be success- 

 fully grown on muck, and that root crops are easily grown on muck. 



FARM MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATIONS. 



Farm Management extension has for its purpose the securing of better 

 organization and management of the individual farms, and helping to develop 

 the program of the county agricultural agents along sound economic lines. 

 The basis of the work is the financial records which farmers are influenced to 

 keep and helped to analyze. 



During the year the work was carried on in cooperation with county 

 farm bureaus, granges and farmers' clubs. Farm accounting classes were 

 conducted in cooperation with 33 county agents. The State Grange ap- 

 pointed a committee on accounting to cooperate with the College in this 

 work. Through this committee 1,100 account books were distributed to 

 members of local granges. A set of follow-up questionnaires were devised, 

 and sent out to grange cooperators and from their replies cost data was 

 secured on several important crops. 



The account book was revised and 3,000 copies of the new edition have 

 already been distributed. 



INSECT CONTROL. 



The season was largely occupied from May until September with a grass- 

 hopper invasion which covered about half of the State. Army- worms 

 occupied our entire attention for about two weeks in various scattered, 

 localities in the State. The grape leaf -hopper, grape-berry moth and rose- 

 chafer in Van Buren and Berrien counties all received attention and in spite 

 of everything that we could do severe losses were sustained. 



Hessian-fly has been for several years on the increase, and considerable 

 effort was made last fall to aid the farmers in avoiding loss because of this 

 pest. Much time was also spent in searching out suspected invasions of 

 European corn-borer; sod web-worm was usually found in place of this more 

 dreaded pest. Some effort was expended along the line of lessening the loss 

 due to codling-moth. This was done in cooperation with the Experiment 



