AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES 213 



rolling the seed-bed." ^ He further states that 

 "buckwheat and millet are considered important 

 muck crops in subduing the sod. It cannot be said 

 that those are profitable as a regular part in the 

 rotation." Levin is also quite sure that sugar-beet 

 culture offers the best prospect of success in muck- 

 farming. It must be understood, however, that Lev- 

 in's conclusions are not universally accepted. 



CROP IMPROVEMENT PROGRESS 



One of the most striking features of Michigan 

 agriculture has been the gradual elimination of a 

 great number of mongrel varieties of grain and 

 the progressive standardization of types to a few 

 varieties of approved quality and character. In 1918, 

 J. F. Cox, of the Michigan Agricultural College, 

 recommends among the red varieties of wheat suit- 

 able for bread-making, the Eed Rock, or, in lieu of 

 that, Egyptian, Shepherd's Perfection, Mediterra- 

 nean, and Eed Wave, among such excellent types as 

 are available. Among the white wheats adapted 

 for pastry flour and breakfast foods, he mentions 

 Plymouth Pock, White Pock, Dawson's Golden Chaff, 

 and American Banner as leading varieties.^ 



The Michigan Agricultural College is stated to 

 have begun the distribution of pedigreed grains from 

 its breeding plats in 1909.^ Several of the varieties 



^Jmi/rnal of the Amer. Peat Soc, No. 3, July, 1920, 298. 

 2"Rept. Midi. Bd. Agr." 1918, 652. 



' MS. article by A. L. Bibbins, Secretary, Mich. Crop 

 Improvement Assoc., 1920. 



