142 TWENTY-FIRST REPORT. 



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proved the variety to be well adapted to localities where wheat can be profit- 

 ably produced. 



In 1913 a peck sample was sent to Allegan county and in 1917, 300 acres 

 were produced which would pass inspection and could be sold as pedigreed 

 seed, tl is estimated that 4,000 acres were grown in the state in 1917, and in 

 the fall of 1918, 17,000 acres of pedigreed seed were planted. In addition to 

 this acreage seeded ^^'ith pedigreed seed, there was a considerable acreage 

 seeded with Red Rock, which was .slightly mixed with other varieties. This 

 would probably aggregate 107,000 acres. The total wheat acreage of the sjtate 

 is approximately 800,000 acres. 



The conservatism of the average farmer has been a great hindrance to 

 the development of a community interest in crop improvement. In many 

 sections every farmer grows a different variety. Where such a community 

 condition exists it is almost impossible to keep a variety pure. The threshing 

 outfit, going from one farm to another, is a common cause of the mixtures. 

 It will appear, therefore, that eternal vigilance is necessary in order to main- 

 tain pure varieties of grain. 



Community cooperation in standardizing varieties is very essential. Con- 

 siderable progress has been along this line in the state of Michigan by local 

 communities cooperating, through their farm bureau, with the Michigan Crop 

 Improvement Association. 



In crop improvement the field of greatest interest to the scientist is the 

 study and development of new varieties by hybridization. Compared with the 

 results of introductions and selections, very little improvement of cereals has 

 been accomplished by this method, both in Canada and the United States. 

 No doubt the students of the present and the future will give considerable 

 attention to this line of research. The possibilities of improvement in this 

 way, accompanied hy discriminating selection in the hands of the skillful 

 breeder, seems to be practically imlimited. 



One of the most prominent varieties of cereals produced by crossing or 

 hybridization is Marquis wheat. This variety was produced by crossing Cal- 

 cutta Hard Red, an early ripening Indian wheat, and Fife. The cro.ss was 

 made by Dr. A. P. Saunders at the Agassiz Experiment Farm in 1892. Follow- 

 ing that time, selections were made from the progeny of the cross resulting 

 in our present Marquis variety of spring wheat. This is the riiost important 

 variety grown today in the spring wheat district. 



Winter Fife, early Red Clawson and Preston are among other important 

 varieties developed by hybridization. A few varieties of other grains pro- 

 duced by hybridization and selection appear to have considerable merit. 



The problem of the improvement of farm crops, carrying with it the work 

 of the .scientist and the practical farmer, can be summed up in the statement. 

 "Crowing Bettor Crops." The "Growing of Better Crops" will avail us little 

 unless with it we "Grow Crops Better." Crops with the inherited ability for 



