EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 315 



PLANT BREEDING. 



Pure-line selection and hybridization work with practically all crops 

 adapted to Michigan is cari-ied on by the Experiment Station plant breed- 

 ers. The following- varieties as listed and released by Professor F. A. 

 Spragg, Plant Breeder, have been contributed by the plant breeding work 

 of this Station during the past ten vears : Worthy oats, 1911 ; Kosen rye, 

 1912; Bed Rock wheat, 1913; Michigan Winter barley, 1914; Robust 

 beans, 1915 ; College W^onder and College Success oats, 191G ; Wolverine 

 oats, 1917; Mich-Two-Row and Michigan black barley, 1918; and Michigan 

 hardy (Hardigan) alfalfa, 1919. 



CORN IMPROVEMENT. 



The local adaptation of varieties is established by varietal tests. Field 

 selection and intensified selection by the ear-row method is carried on at 

 the Experiment Station and at points over the State with leading varie- 

 ties. In lower Michigan counties the Duncan, Silver King, Folks White 

 Cajp, and Murdock com are standard varieties; in central Micliigan the 

 Golden Glow and Pickett; and in northern Micliigan the Early Golden 

 Glow and Early Pickett. 



Large increase fields on the Station farm make possible rapid and safe 

 distribution. Properly handled increase fields are highly important in 

 securing effective distribution of new varieties. 



EXTENSION DIVISION AIDS IN DISTRIBUTION. 



Extension specialists and county agents aid in securing wide-spread use 

 of varieties of proved worth. Cooperative variety tests, planted by Crops 

 specialists, are visited by numerous farmers led by county agents. The 

 strength of the IMichigan Crop Improvement Association is due largely to 

 the effoi'ts of Extension men and county agents working witli able 

 fanners. 



THE MICHIGAN CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION INCREASES 

 VARIETIES UNDER INSPECTION. 



(Secretary, East Lansing, Mich.) 



This is an organization of Michigan fanners and seed growers who are 

 interested in crop improvement through growing better varieties and the 

 use of better cultural methods. A number are interested in the com- 

 mercial production of high-grade seed. The association functions as 

 follows : 



(1) Seed of improved varieties is distributed to mennbers from the 

 Farm Crops Department increase plats or other accepted sources. 



(2) Records of distribution and transfer of varieties are kept by the 

 Secretary. 



(3) Field inspection and threshed grain ins])ection is supported by 

 the Assoiciation under the leadership of the Farm Crops Depart- 

 ment. 



(4) Certification of the seed which attains the required high stand- 

 ards is made by the Certification Committee. Certification is 

 baised on reports submitted by inspectors. 



With the organization of the Michigan Farm Burean Seed Department 



