21G STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



latter straiu.s gave much lesvS yield due to lack of liaixlihood aii<l to great 

 injury from anthrocuose. 



Arrangements have been consummated to co-operate with the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, in extensive 

 investigations of red, alsike and sweet clover, covering the next three 

 years, involving seed and forage production and adaptation investiga- 

 tions. A co-operator from the Bureau of Plant Industry will be associated 

 with the department en-residence, during the period of investigation. 

 Professor C. K. Megee of the Crops Department has had direct charge of 

 the clover investigational work. 



The first large increases of improved corn from the ear-row breeding 

 work of the past two jearn were made during the spring. Twenty bushels 

 of imp-roved Duncan, thirty 6t Grolden Glow and eighteen of M. A, 0. 

 Yellow Dent were placed with the growers of the Michigan Crop Improve- 

 ment Association for increase under inspection. Much is expected of 

 these high yielding varieties when siiificiently increased for widespread 

 distribution. The ear-row work has been conducted on an extensive 

 scale and occupies about fourteen acres. 



Corn varietal test work is being carried on in its fourth year. Last 

 fall's results showed conclusively that northern grown varieties, grown 

 for two or more seasons in Kansas, lost their hardiness and hence the 

 practice of growing varieties adapted to Michigan for seed purposes in 

 states to the south of us is unsound. 



The increases of selected ears of sweet corn, resulting from plantings of 

 1920 and 1921, in co-operation wdth a large Michigan canning company, 

 were planted in the spring of 1922. 



The frost resistant selection work shows promise of bringing out 

 hardier varieties which can be planted much earlier in the spring. The 

 first considerable increase is being made this year. Ear-row selection 

 work with Australian huUess popcorn has been initiated. Mr. J. R. 

 Duncan has been in charge of these experiments. In addition to the 

 ear-roW' work. Professor Spragg and Mr. Duncan are conducting selfing 

 work in the increase fields of improved varieties. 



With the assignment of the potato crop to the Farm Crops Section, 

 the experimental work with potatoes was greatly extended. The plant 

 breeding work with potatoes occupies approximately four acres of ground. 

 It is now in its second year. Professor F. A. Spragg and Assistant Pro- 

 fessor C. E. Cormany are handling this work. Time of planting experi- 

 ments with both late and early varieties and rate of planting experiments 

 have been started under the direction of Mr. Cormany. 



The extensive experimental work at Chatham with potatoes is now in 

 its fourth year. Varietal testing, selection work and cultural experi- 

 ments are being continued. With the transfer of Mr. G. W. Putnam from 

 the Upper Peninsula Sub-station to the position of Assistant Professor 

 and Extension Specialist in this department, Mr. H. R. Pettigrove was 

 appointed as Farm Crops Experimenter, delegated to the Upper Peninsula 

 Sub-station. 



Mr. J. W. Weston and Mr. H. C. Moore, Extension Potato Specialists, 

 are actively aiding in carrying on co-operative potato experiments at 

 the Graham Sub-station, Grand Rapid.s, at the new Mancelona Experi- 

 ment Farui and other points in the State. I'articular effort will be made 

 to develop improved varieties of potatoes and to perfect cultural methods. 



