150 TWENTY-FIRST REPORT. 



demand for most grains offered over 99% purity of variety practical freedom 

 from noxious weeds and disease ; must conform to a certain prescribed stand- 

 ard of germination, color, weight per bushel, etc. 



The association does not handle orders or money for seeds, but merely 

 directs the inspection work and publishes a list of the names of farmers whose 

 seed conforms to the requirements. Then any one desiring seed of one of 

 these varieties can obtain it direct from one of the men whose seed passes 

 inspection, and this man furnishing the seed supplies a personal guarantee 

 that this seed conforms to the inspected seed requirements of the Michigan 

 Crop Improvement Association. 



This association is not organized in opposition to or to take the place or 

 legitimate seed companies. In fact, some of the larger seed companies of the 

 state include as one of the large factors in their business the handling of 

 pedigreed varieties. 



Strict rules and expenses in connection with the association inspection 

 necessarily limits to a few the number who will have seed conforming to the 

 requirements but through the standards maintained for inspected seed ; 

 through genuine description put out in regard to them ; through community 

 and county grain shows ; culminating in an annual grain show held by the 

 association annually the first week in February in connection with Farmers' 

 Week at the Michigan Agricultural College, it is possible for anyone to learn 

 the characteristics of any one of the improved varieties and to obtain genuine 

 seed of it. 



To illustrate the value of the Michigan Crop Improvement Association in 

 regard to the crop production of this and other states we might again con- 

 sider some facts in regard to Rosen Rye. Of course, it is impossible to get 

 accurate data in regard to a crop grown as extensively as this variety but the 

 following data is based on as accurate information as there is available : 



In 1912 one bushel of Rosen Rye from the Michigan Agricultural College 

 was sown in Jackson county. All the Rosen in the state is descended from 

 that buKhel and a few additional bushels sent out from the station during 

 1913 and 1914. According to the records of the association about 200 acres 

 were produced in 1915 ; 4,000 acres in 191G. In 1917 10,000 bushels passed 

 the inspected seed requirements. In 191S 22.000 bushels passed. During 

 these two years nearly one-third of the fields submitted for inspection failed 

 to pass — most of them on account of mixture with common rye. Of course, the 

 inspected seed represents only a small proportion of the seed sown. 



Data gathered from growers, county agents, and dealers this last fall 

 indicate that about 84% of the entire rye acreage of the state was sown in 

 1918 to more or less pure Rosen Rye. When we consider that the total 

 acreage of rye sown was about 500.000 bushels, this represents a remarkable 

 increase from the original bushel released in l'.»12. The popularity of this 



