268 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



reacli of any clKMiiical so far tried. ITot water treatments, effective for 

 wheat loose smut, fail to be practical in the case of the bean diseases, 

 not only because of swelling of the seed coats when wet, but ])ecause 

 the threads of the fungus and the l)light germs are more resistant to 

 wet heat than (he bean itself, — the temperature which disinfects kills 

 the beans. 



It is needless to say tliat such on outcome of several years' work is 

 discouraging, j-^et in the face of these results we are able to point out 

 the value of the other lines of control undertaken. 



Very early our attention was called to the high yielding quality and 

 the general cleanness of the Early Wonder Beau, developed from the 

 progeny of one plant by Mr. Mansfield of Remus. The character of this 

 bean and its behavior were outlined by Mr. Muncie in the report for 

 last year. This strain was found to be exceptionally pure and true to 

 the original type. Unlike the general run of field beans in the State 

 it was not, as yet, badly mixed. This bean has been found to be a 

 heavy yielder and while not disease resistant, it is disease escaping due 

 to its extremel}^ short ripening season. The Early Wonder beans ripen 

 from 10 days to 2 weeks earlier, and produce 8 to 10 bushels more per 

 acre than field-run seed. When it is remembered that with an ordi- 

 nary season much of the staining and discoloration takes place the 

 last few days of the season, the significance of even, early ripening is 

 apparent. 



As a result of the efforts of the department this bean has been in- 

 troduced in many bean-growing sections. In a two-year field test it 

 has borne out its recommendation. While not perfect, it is safe to 

 say that a replacement of Michigan seed stock by Early Wonder beans 

 would cut the losis from bean diseases in two. There will be planted in 

 Michigan next year about 1,000 bushels of Early Wonder beans. Each 

 year the number of bushels of this seed available for planting will in- 

 crease and the acreage likewise. The directional help given this phase 

 of the bean work is going to give results. 



In 1914 a small quantity of Early Wonder beans were sent to a grower 

 in western Washington. He reported an excellent crop practically free 

 from disease. He saved seed and planted again in 1916. The yield 

 from the beans the second year was estimated at 30 bushels per acre. 

 The beans grown were free from anthracnose and almost free from 

 blight. Field-run western beans of this test were cleaner than any 

 table picked Michigan beans. 



The importance of dry summer conditions in cleaning up seed stock 

 being demonstrated, we have advocated the utilization of this fact to 

 clean up the seed stock for Michigan planting. It is necessary to send 

 Michigan beans there for renovating, since native western seed when 

 tried in our fields failed to ripen. Test quantities of Michigan beans 

 have been sent to Idaho this year for groAvth under irrigation. This 

 seed w^hen brought back to Michigan should give fields cleaner than 

 those from ordinary handpicked seed. This extensive experiment is 

 now under way in co-operation with the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture. We see great possibilities in the method. When beans can be 

 grown so that without any handpicking they are better than our best 

 handpicked seed, it would seem that we must utilize this great renovat- 



