224 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



foriiiaklehvde nielhod originated by Mr. H. J. Haskell of Cornell Uuiver- 

 sity, and included it in a circular on wheat smut to the farmers of his 

 county. It has been used successfully in Kent and other counties and 

 on account of its sinii)licily is liked by the farmers. The method has 

 been tested for both Avheat and oats in the Botany Laboratory and has 

 been recommended by the department for treatment of these grains. 

 Kine counties re])ort work in control of bean diseases. In five of the six 

 counties growing celery, demonstrations for the control of blight have 

 been conducted. The results circulated, and the practices recommended 

 have l)een adopted quite extensively. Assistance has been given in con- 

 ti'olling diseases of onions, tomatoes and cabbage. 

 (See Farm Crox)s, also.) 



livp: stock. 



Much has been done toward the improvement of live stock in coopera- 

 tion with the live stock Extension Specialists, Mr. W. F. Raven and Mr. 

 J. A. Waldron. Twenty-three community breeders' associations were 

 formed in thirteen counties; seven cow testing associations have been 

 organized and one reorganized. Feeding demonstrations were conducted 

 in six counties. Balanced rations have been computed for many farmers. 

 In work with cattle, 216 pure bred sires were purchased and about 

 twelve were exchanged. Some of the purchases were made' by individ- 

 nals who had been interested by the agent, the latter usually making 

 the selection of the animal; some purchases were made cooperatively 

 through a breeders' association; others were made through credit asso- 

 ciations in cooperation with the local banks. 



In cooperation with the County School Commissioner and a local bank 

 the agent in Cheboygan county outlined a project for live stock work 

 among boys and girls. Through this cooperation the bank shipped in 

 one carload of pure bred and grade Holstein heifers and distributed them 

 among the boys and girls of the northern end of the county. 



In Dickinson countj', through the associations and by means of the 

 agent interesting individual farmers through visits relating to live stock 

 work, 15 pure bred sires were placed in the county; in Gogebic county 

 ten were brought in in the same manner. 



In Houghton county a survey of one section of the county taken in 

 March, 1917, shoAved that the number of dairy cows had been doubled in 

 three years. Estimates based on this survey and on those of two other 

 localities would indicate that there had been an increase of more than 

 80% in the number of dairy cattle in the county in the last three years. 



A live stock directory for Iron county issued in October, 191G, con- 

 tains these significant results for three years' work : nine breeders' asso- 

 ciations organized; 40 pure bred sires and 42 jmre bred cows added to 

 the live stock of the county; Guernseys, Holsteins, Jerseys and Ayr- 

 shires are the breeds adopted. Four pure bred sires and three i)ure bred 

 cows were added this year, and three sires were exchanged. About 70% of 

 the farmers are now interested in pure bred sires; three years ago, only 

 2% were interested. 



In Marquette county a live stock census was taken. In continuation 

 of the plans for live stock improvement inaugurated last year, seven 

 pure bred sires and two pure bred cows were pltu:-ed b}^ the agent. 



In Mason countj^ the Ludington vState Bank takes a note from the in- 

 dividual or group, at 4%, with practically no time limit; since January 



