214 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



expensive and its use does not seem to be warranted in the protection 

 of siome of these crops Tinless, of 'course, the price of the product can be 

 raised to meet the extra expense. 



During the late winter the Section of Entomology entered into co- 

 operation with the Section of Farm Management for the purpose of de- 

 termining the actual cost of production and of other details in the businesis 

 management of apiaries. The work is progressing finely and is greatly 

 appreciated by the beekeepers of the State as well as by leaders in the 

 business of beekeeping in other states. 



Respectfully submitted, 



R. H. PETTIT, 



Entomologist. 

 East Lansing, Micliigan, June 30, 1922. 



REPORT OF THE SECTION OF FARM CROPS 



Director R. S. Shaw, 



Michigan Agricultural College. 

 Dear Director Shaw : 



I herewith present the annual report of the Farm Crops Section for 

 the fiscal year ending June 30, 1922. Considerable increase has been 

 made in the number of projects handled, and in the duties and respon- 

 sibilities of the Section in the period covered. 



The importance of I'rofessor Spragg's work is demonstrated by the 

 widespread use throughout this State of the Rosen Rye, Red Rock wheat, 

 Wolverine oats, Robust beans, Mich-2-Row and Black Barbless barley. 

 The Rosen rye, Wolverine oats, Red Rock wheat and Robust beans have 

 spread to other states and are proving of great value over a wide terri- 

 tory of climatic and soil conditions similar to those of Michigan. 



The ELardigan alfalfa, recently released by Professor Spragg, shows 

 great promises as a seed and forage yielding variety in Michigan. With the 

 increase of this variety under suitable conditions, it may be possible to es- 

 tablish an alfalfa seed production industry in Michigan, which should aid 

 greatly in placing this crop on a more stable basis. Mr. Olaf Nelson of 

 Aloha, Micliigan, who is working in co-operation with the Farm Crops De- 

 partment, secured six and one-lialf busliels of cleaned seed from one acre 

 Of Hardigan. He has greatly extended his plantings and in addition many 

 members of the Michigan Crop Improvement Association are growing 

 Hardigan under inspection for seed. Approximately one hundred and 

 forty acres are now planted to Hardigan for seed increase under inspec- 

 tion. 



Potato breeding work has been instituted and new and improved va- 

 rieties can be expected within a few years. The breeding work with 

 Rosen rye is apparenth^ bringing out an imjirovement over the original 

 release. The wheat breeding work has been brought to the point of the 

 increaise of several strains of great promise from the standpoint of winter- 

 hardiness and milling quality, although it is doubtful whether any of 



