214 RTRAL MICIIKIAN 



of wheat just noted were among the first released 

 by the College. To systematize this work of grain 

 improvement throngh cooperation with the Michigan 

 Agricultural College, a number of farmers, in 1911, 

 organized "The ]\Iichigan Experiment Association." 

 "The plan generally followed," says Bil)bins, secre- 

 tary of the Crop Improvement Association, "was to 

 allow any member of the Association to obtain from 

 the station plat an amoimt of grain varying accord- 

 ing to the supply, from one peck to one bushel. The 

 member was then required to sow this seed beside 

 his own variety and report his results to the secre- 

 tary of the Association." The Association recognized 

 the impossibility of securing a single type of any 

 grain adapted to all portions of a state so varied 

 in conditions of soil and climate as Michigan ; but 

 the type adapted to particular conditions might be 

 ascertained. Thus, as Bibbins states, it was de- 

 termined that the Worthy oat is suited to rich heavy 

 soil, and this is said at present to be the most ex- 

 tensively grown variety in Michigan. Coincidentally, 

 it was ascertained that the Alexander oat is appar- 

 ently best adapted to sandy loam types of soil. Simi- 

 larly Rosen rye was first distributed by the College 

 through the members of this Association. It had 

 been the function of the Michigan Experiment As- 

 sociation to determine experimentally suitable varie- 

 ties of grain. To develop its work among the farm- 

 ers of the State and carry out a more extensive 

 scheme of crop improvement, a reorganization was 

 effected in 1917, under the designation of "The 



