296 iSTAlTE BOARD OF AG-RICULTTJRiE 



the pedigreed seed requirements of the Michigan Crop Improvement 

 Assu. and thereby made available 12,000 bushels of Rosen Rye, 5,000 bush- 

 els of wheat, 25,000 bushels of oats, 2,500 bushels of barley, 7,000 bushels 

 of beans, 1,000 bushels of soybeans, and 2,500 bushels of corn, grown 

 from improved varieties developed or approved hy the Michigan Agri- 

 cultural College. Practically all of the wheat and rye thus produced 

 was sold for seed purposes either by these growers individually or from 

 a pool which they consigned to the Seed Department of the Michigan 

 State Farm Bureau. Similar arrangements are now under w^ay for 

 the disposal of the spring certified seeds insuring the widest dissemina- 

 tion of such quality seed throughout the entire state. In addition thou- 

 sands of bushels of seed, of these varieties but a generation or so removed 

 from certified stock, were planted and are exerting a potent influence 

 for more profitable crop production. 



A mailing list of 700 including farmers, county agricultural agents, 

 elevators and seed houses, received from this department during the 

 year, seven newsletters, ten printed circulars along with other matter 

 relative to seed improvement. The circulars have a wide dissemination 

 other than the regular mailing list and 5,000 copies of each were sent out. 



A comprehensive exhibit on alfalfa was made at the Michigan State 

 fair at Detroit and the Western Michigan Fair at Grand Rapids, and 

 in addition detailed information on preparation of seed 'samples for 

 grain shows and for the market was furnished to 500 growers, over 100 

 of whom made entries at the Michigan State Fair. 



An exhibit extending over 58 feet of wall space and showing the work 

 under way in Michigan for the purpose of lowering costs of crop pro- 

 duction was prepared and shown at the International Grain and Hay 

 Show at Chicago, December 2nd to 9th. Emphasis in this exhibit was 

 Ijlaced on the use of legumes, particularly alfalfa, and the use of more 

 productive seed as a means of cheapening production of crops and live- 

 stock. 



Largely through publicity and work from this office, over 200 entries 

 at the International were winning the majority of the prizes in their 

 classes. The quality of Michigan seeds thus received international rec- 

 ognition with the resultant widening of the market for Michigan seed 

 growers. 

 Introduction of Varieties by G. W. Putnam. 



The proper release of new varieties developed at the Michigan Experi- 

 ment Station is an important step in the program for varietal improve- 

 ment. There has been distributed seven hundred pounds of Elite stock 

 seed of Improved Robust (beans to twenty-nine growers for increase and 

 trial. Twenty-one bushels of Elite stock seed of Duncan corn has 

 been released to twenty-one growers ; eleven bushels of M. A. C. Yellow 

 Dent to twelve growers ; eleven bushels of Golden Glow to twelve growers ; 

 and in addition several bushels of these three varieties of corn were 

 released through the Michigan State Farm Bureau Seed Department. 

 Twent}^ pounds of the new Hardigan alfalfa was distributed to twenty- 

 six growers. Fortj'-seven bushels of the new Berkley Rock wheat Avas 

 released to twenty growers for increase and trial. Six bushels of the 

 new Michigan No. 1 wheat "was released to two growers for increase. 



