78 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of beets tluit may be profitably sold for sujiar iiiaiiufacture. The results 

 of last year's work with sugar beets are recorded in bulletin No. 171). 



CLOVER. 



An experiment intended to continue for several years, to determine 

 the best time of year to sow clover seed, has been in progress for 

 thirteen months. The. plan is to sow clover seed on soil of uniform 

 character and condition, continuing the experiment until there is a 

 sufficient number of results that averages may be drawn. For the past 

 season's work the results give a preference to a i)eriod between Febi-u- 

 ary 1 and July as the more desirable for seeding to clovei*. The ground 

 was plowed and the clover sown alone without a nurse crop, the mowing 

 machine being used two or three times during the first year to cut the 

 weeds. Further reports in regard to this will follow in succeeding 

 publications. 



CURIOSITY STRIP. 



This interesting plot of ground is being kept as a part of the Experi- 

 ment Station fields, and is used to introduce new^ plants and to have at a 

 convenient place many of the ordinary crops which are sown in various 

 portions of the College farm. Last year the Australian Salt Bush made 

 a xei'x promising growth on this strip of land, and this year is being 

 tried in larger areas on the College farm. Secaline, a perennial which 

 has occux)ied the curiosity strip for several years, seems to be dying out, 

 it having received its death blow during the cold weather of the winter 

 of 1898 and '99. Peanuts were successfullv grown last vear on the 

 sandy part of the curiosity strip and yielded in quantity sufficient to 

 encourage us in further attempts to grow this crop here. Three varie- 

 ties of tobacco were successfully grown on the curiosity strip in 1899, 

 indicating the possibilities of growing This crop in Michigan. 



A small portion of the time of the agriculturist has been given to 

 planning experiments for the upper peninsula station and the purchase 

 and shipment of tools and seeds for that place. 



During the past winter eight weeks of the time of the agriculturist 

 was consumed in attending Farmers' Institutes. 



Respectfully submitted, 



J. D. TOWAR, 



Agriculturist. 



AORICUI/rURAL COLLECiE. MiCH., 



June 30, 1900. 



