190 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ance of any of our tests thus far. Numerous strains of oats have again 

 been dropped and new ones are being tested in the hope that they may 

 prove to be of value for distribution or as foundation stocks in our 

 breeding work." 



EXTENSION WORK. 



The testing of the improved varieties of wheat and oats developed 

 by the Experiment Station and the testing of the varieties of corn from 

 some of the best corn growei-s in the state have been continued in much 

 the same way as in previous years with the exception that this work 

 has practically been limited to the membership of the Michigan Experi- 

 ment Association with the idea of securing more reliable co-opera- 

 tors and the forming of a closer affiliation between the co-operators 

 and the college. This work has also included in a smaller way the test- 

 ing of improved strains of alfalfa, clover, field beans and soy beans. 

 Many of these experiments have been visited by the field agent or other 

 representative of the department. While the severe M'inter conditions 

 have caused the winter killing of some of the wheat and other unfavor- 

 able conditions have resulted in only a fair development in some of the 

 other crops, it may be said that the tests show a fair comparison between 

 the several varieties and that on the whole the college seeds are proving 

 to be considerably better than the home varieties grown by the co- 

 operators. 



In several instances larger quantities of wheat and oats than formerly 

 sent out, have been distributed, so that several of our co-operators will 

 have seed for sale during the coming season thus making a beginning 

 towards the furnishing of an adequate supply of seed of the improved 

 varieties to meet the demands of the state. 



The extension of alfalfa growing by the organization of alfalfa clubs, 

 as outlined in the Board of Agriculture Keport for 1911, has made satis- 

 factory progress. The total number of clubs organized to date not in- 

 cluding those in the Upper Peninsula, which have been placed under 

 the sui^ervision of the Upper Peninsula Field Agent, is 69. These have 

 all been visited by the Farm Crops Field Agent, most of them for the 

 second time. Of those visited for the second time nearly all the mem- 

 bers, following the directions of the college, have been successful in 

 securing at least, a fair stand and growth of alfalfa. The success with 

 w^hich these seedings have been made and also the reports received from 

 other sources, indicate that this crop is coming to be highly prized 

 among the farmers of the state and that the acreage devoted to it is 

 rapidly on the increase. 



While the above activities, as well as other phases of extension work, 

 which cannot be discussed here, have progressed satisfactorily, another 

 important field of work has been almost entirely neglected for lack of 

 sufficient help to carry it on. I refer to a careful study of the pro- 

 duction of the more important crops of the state in those sections where 

 these crops are most promising and the issuing of popular bulletins 

 on the same. Wliile a limited amount of work is being done in most of 

 these crops at the Experiment Station, it is essential on account of the 

 variable conditions throughout the state that this work be extended to 

 various sections. 



