AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES 215 



Michigan Crop Improvement Association." "This 

 organization/' writes its secretary, "includes in its 

 activities the testing out of improved varieties and 

 methods in cooperation with not only the farm crops 

 department (of the Michigan Agricultural College), 

 but also with other departments closely related with 

 successful crop production, such as plant pathology, 

 bacteriology, etc.'' The Association does not confine 

 its attention to varieties of grain developed at the 

 College, however, but is concerned with types origi- 

 nated on the farms of the State and elsewhere. 

 Agents of the Association make inspections of such 

 grain just before harvest and then after the seed is in 

 storage. Ninety-nine per cent of purity, practical 

 freedom from noxious weeds and disease, conformity 

 to a prescribed standard of germination, color and 

 weight a bushel are required for approval by the 

 Association. After inspection, the Association pub- 

 lishes a list of farmers having approved seed for 

 sale. Marketing of pure seeds is now also effected 

 through the Michigan State Farm Bureau, through 

 cooperation with the Michigan Crop Improvement 

 Association. Through various agencies of publicity, 

 the county agricultural agents, the grain exhibit in 

 connection with farmers' week at the Michigan Agri- 

 cultural College and otherwise, the character and 

 advantages of improved types of grain are brought 

 home to the agricultural population. While farmers 

 are traditionally conservative, such demonstrations 

 are not lost. Thus, the sowing of the initial one 

 bushel of Rosen rye in Jackson County in 1912 ex- 



