38 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



minister the courses oflfered witli a fair degree of satisfaction. The 

 uniformity in the strength of development is well illustrated in the 

 strength of the various animal classes including poultry, sv^^ine, sheep, 

 beef and dairy cattle and heavy draft horses. With a rapidly increasing- 

 student body, however, more and more attention must be given the 

 matter of efficiency in instruction for there is danger of other influences 

 diverting and holding the attention, of attempts to handle too many 

 students in each section and also of requiring the instructor to attempt 

 more than can be accomplished well. 



The extension work of the division has met with marked success. De- 

 tails of this work are to be found in connection with the reports of the 

 various departments directing the work. 



A new line of endeavor was opened up in the form of the forestry ex- 

 tension work during the year. In April the State Board of Agriculture 

 selected and appointed Mr. C. A. Tyler of Coldwater to take up this 

 work. Mr. Tyler has an extensive knowledge of the Michigan farm 

 wood-lot situation and is undertaking to stimulate and develop a state 

 wide interest toward the preservation and improvement of farm timber 

 lands. Thus far he has been getting in touch with the situation largely 

 through the agency of those interested in, and in attendance at, the high 

 schools where Agricultural courses have been introduced. Mr. Tvler is 

 now about to begin the organization of local forestry associations, with 

 the object of stimulating interest and establishing ties tending to a con- 

 tinuance of effort in tree preservation and planting. 



Since Mr. L. M. Geismar was appointed in March to represent the 

 college in the Upper Peninsula in extension work his efforts have met 

 with marked success. The following is a statement of the organizations 

 formed up to date, viz: 



Fourteen Alfalfa Clubs including 18.5 members located at Allenville, 

 Brimley, Cooks, Daggett, Faj'ette, Harwood, Ironwood, Lake Linden, 

 Metropolitan, National Mine, Perkins, Vulcan, Waucedah and Kaleva. 



Ten Potato Clubs including 132 members distributed as follows : Bark 

 River, Baraga, Covington, Daggett, Garden, Ironwood, Ontonagon, Pow- 

 ers, Stephenson and Wetmore. 



Thirteen Corn Clubs including 188 members at the following places: 

 Allenville, Brimley, Cooks, Covington, Eroen, Ironwood, L'Anse, Man- 

 istique. National Mine, Newberry, Stephenson and Wetmore. 



And one Fruit Growers Club at Marquette with a membership of 14. 



In addition to these lines of effort Mr. Geismar has made many demon- 

 strations such as proper methods of pruning, spraying, etc., in fact has 

 been prepared to give advice and assistance on all kinds of farm prob- 

 lems whenever possible. 



The following is a statement of the work of Mr. W. F. Raven, Live 

 Stock Field Agent, who was also employed part of the time in other 

 phases of agricultural extension work. 



''Beginning with July 1, 1911, I assisted with the 'Summer Course 

 in Practical Agriculture.' The first two weeks in August were spent 

 on the 'Wheat train.' 



At this time the field work in live stock was resumed and during the 

 year the following work was accomplished: Visits were made to 54G 

 farms on which 3,850 cows were owned. While some of the farms were 

 visited in the interests of farm management, in all cases better live stock 



