7G STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



keling in (lint v.irielios arc slaiidardi/xMl and a lii<;li class piddnot is 

 ]M'odnrod in car lots. Since January 1, 11)1(1 llic (orniation of l-'l pedi- 

 greed seed associalions has been reported. 



Through the local potato associalions the nnndier of varieties is being 

 reduced to two or three of a standard commercial type. The demon- 

 strations in the trealment of seed are liel]iing to make this practice much 

 more common and through insjjection of seed plots diseases are being 

 eliminated and the'liiglier yielding hills selected. The association work 

 is preparing the way for reducing waste and for much more successful 

 marketing. 



In addition to the standardization of the varieties of potatoes, which 

 is proceeding quite satisfactorily, mention should also be made of the 

 standardization that is taking place in the wheat and oat crops. The 

 superiority of TJed Rock Wheat has now been fully demonstrated in sev- 

 eral counties and ])lans have l)een formed by a number of communities 

 for adopting it as their leading variety. Community action in this re- 

 spect will help to keep the wheat pure and at the same time furnish to 

 the millers, in quantities, a wheat which has met their approval. Also 

 through community action the growing of Worthy and Alexander f)ats 

 is becoming much more general. 



Through the marked results shown in the oat-smut control demon- 

 strations last year, there is a much more extensive use of the formalin 

 treatment this year and in some counties the agents report that the 

 practice has become quite general. In one county where a very active 

 campaign was conducted it was estimated from the amount of formalin 

 used that about three-fourths of all the seed was treated, or an amount 

 suflScient to sow 20,000 acres. 



Because of the extraordinary amount of poor and unripened corn in 

 the crop of 1915, there was difficulty in getting good seed this spring 

 and this caused unusual activity in seed-testing. Campaigns were car- 

 ried on extensively through the schools and in the various communities. 

 Through the press and by means of circulars and posters information re- 

 garding sources of good seed was. given; the necessity of testing all seed 

 was emphasized and the method explained. 



The increased use of lime and marl has been largely a foundation 

 for the growing of legumes. This has resulted in a greater acreage and 

 higher yields. The successful methods of growing alfalfa are gradually 

 becoming general. Much more care is being taken to comply with all 

 the conditions that have been demonstrated to be necessary for success. 

 The reports of the agents indicate that there has been an increase in the 

 acreage of alfalfa of about thirty per cent. 



The use of sweet clover has been gaining in favor, particularly for the 

 lighter soils and as a preliminary step in the growing of alfalfa. It is 

 also being grown for seed. As the more successful methods of growing 

 it become established through demonstrations, it promises to occupy an 

 important place among the legumes. 



Soy bean demonstrations have been increased and more widely dis- 

 tributed, with a resultant increase in the acreage grown by the farmers. 

 The agents report about 300 acres planted at their suggestion in 1915. 



The efforts to secure seed beans more resistant to blight and freer 

 from anthracnose have been continued. Comparisons are being made 



