EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 469 



FUNCTIONS OF THE STATION. 



The land area of the Upper Peninsula includes 10,082,240 acres, a 

 little less than one-third of the entire state. In 1909 the land area in 

 farms amounted to 918,748 acres of which 340,602 acres were improved. 

 The number of farms at that time was 8,994. As rapid strides have been 

 made in the development of the agricultural conditions of the Upper 

 Peninsula since 1909, the number of farms and area improved has been 

 greatly increased. 



The data heretofore given indicates the location of the Station at Chat- 

 ham in the midst of a vast area where pioneering conditions prevail and 

 where information is being sought on greatly varied problems pertain- 

 ing to agriculture, including economic methods of land clearing, all 

 phases of crop production, live stock breeding, housing, grazing and 

 feeding, etc. Then these problems are further complicated by greatly 

 varied soil and climatic conditions. The conditions are new ones, and 

 many of the questions cannot be answered by information procured 

 elsewhere. The institution must needs partake of both an investigational 

 and demonstrational character and must necessarily inclnde those busi- 

 ness factors relating to comparative costs of production, transportation, 

 marketing, etc. 



It is apparent that close relations of cooperation must prevail witli 

 the Upper Peninsula Agricultural Extension Organization. The district 

 experts and county agents are constantly coming in contact with prob- 

 lems requiring investigation. In so far as possible the Director and 

 Superintendent will always be glad to endeavor to arrange for experi- 

 ments to answer these questions and thereby extend to the Extension 

 workers an invitation to make their wants known freely, even though it 

 may not be possible to meet all the needs at once while the facilities 

 of the Station are incoTii])let('. 



REPOET OF THE WORK OF THE UPPER PENINSULA STATION, 

 INCLUDING DATA FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE 30. 1018. 



r.Y v.. \V. lIOrSKTror.PER, ST'l'KRIXTKXhKXT. 

 CROP FRODUCTION. 



Plant breeding l)y the comparison metliod, or variety tests, is being 

 carried on quite extensively. During the summer of 1917 the following 

 varieties were grown, viz.: corn 11, oats 8, barley 10, spring wheat 4, 

 winter wheat 15, potatoes 0, and soy l)eans 1, covering an entire area of 

 about six acres. Some of these are tested sorts from tlie East Lansing 

 Station while others have been procured from neighboring states where 

 somewhat similar conditions prevail. The purpose of the work being 

 to determine the varities most adaptable to our climate and best suited 

 to our needs means, that definite results cannot be procured for a period 

 of years. Continuous, careful work, with the addition of new varieties 

 and field tests in other portions of this region must follow. 



