EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 505 



discussion on climate, that the Upper Peninsula is subject to a very 

 great diversity of climate conditions, which tend to limit or extend crop 

 production, depending on the location within the peninsula. In gen- 

 eral, the climate of this area is favorable to such crops as require or can 

 tolerate an abundance of rainfall, and rather long days with compara- 

 tive cool nights, through a comparative short growing season. 



CROP ADAPTATION TO SOIL TYPES. 



The adaptibility of a given soil to produce crops is limited by its 

 texture, whether it is a heavy clay, clay loam or sandy loam ; its content 

 of available plant food elements, such as potash, nitrogen, phosphorus, 

 and the other elements necessary for plant growth ; the lime content, 

 whether a soil is acid or alkaline.; its organic content, straw, manure 

 and other vegetation incorporated in the soil; its water holding power; 

 its drainage, natural or artificial. The combination of these factors in 

 any given soil determines its type and fertility. 



The previous discussion on soils points out the wide variation in 

 soil types to be found in this area. In order to determine the crops 

 best suited to a particular section of the Upper Peninsula, it is necessary 

 to consider the local climatic conditions together with the type of soil 

 to be cropped. 



The clays and clay loams are primarily adapted to hay, forage crops 

 and small grains. The loams and sandy loams are adapted to potatoes 

 and root crops, as well as the hay, forage and small grains produced 

 on the heavier soils. 



CULTURAL METHODS. 



The practice of fall plowing is one in general use throughout the 

 area, and is to be commended. There are several distinct advantages in 

 fall plowing: 1st, the sioil is in sihape to 'absorb and hold more moisiture 

 for the following crop ; 2nd, you can get on to the land early in the 

 spring and prepare the seed bed well in advance of planting, thereby 

 permitting the killing of several crops of weeds and keeping the soil in 

 good condition; 3rd, it allows of the partial decomposition of the organic 

 matter so that it becomes more readily available for plant food when 

 the plants are ready for it later in the season; and, fourth, the effects 

 of freezing and thawing work the soil particles and organic matter into 

 a more uniform mixture. This prevents the foraiatiou of la strawy layer 

 at the bottom of the furrow slice which is a distinct disadvantage in the 

 production of a maximum crop. 



IMI'ORTANCE OF GOOD SEED OF HIGH GERMINATION. 



The importance of good seed cannot be over emphasized. Today, the 

 best farmers throughout the Upper Peninsula are turning from scrub 

 livestock of unknown production to improved herds. The same farmers 

 are beginning to question the wisdom of sowing scrub seed of unknown 

 production on good soil and are rapidly turning to some dependable 

 variety of known production. It is not so much a question of what 

 variety to grow as it is a question of whether or not it is a dependable 

 one. Then to treat the seed in such a way as to insure a good stand that 

 will be reasonably free from controllable diseases. Such treatment in- 



