284 RURAL MICHIGAN 



rates, over-charges, delays, and other causes of com- 

 pkiiits. 



Meanwhile, a large force of agents was building up 

 the membership of the organization. Early in 1920, 

 it stood at some 23,000. The announced membership 

 increased until, July 17, 1920, it had reached some 

 70,000. At September 25, it amounted to 81,358; 

 October 16, 88,000, and at the close of the campaign 

 in the Upper Peninsula (November 13, 1920) 6,462 

 members belonged to the State Farm Bureau. 



The Michigan State Farm Bureau has thus sum- 

 marized the results of the first year of its operation : 

 "It has successively placed upon a self-supporting 

 basis departments of seed, wool, elevator exchange, 

 and purchasing. Other departments, including 

 tralhc, legislation, organization and publicity were 

 developed." The membership campaign, concluded 

 in December, 1920, brought 97,000 ten-dollar-a-year 

 members pledged for three years. The seed depart- 

 ment had, it was averred, worked a revolution in the 

 Michigan seed industry, whereby a more economical 

 system of distribution was created; there was a 500 

 per cent increase in the amount of Grimm alfalfa 

 seed sown; while over 3,000,000 pounds of seed were 

 distributed throughout the State "carrying guaran- 

 tees that exceeded the guarantees of all state seed 

 concerns and even the requirements of the state law." 

 All of this seed was cleaned, freed of noxious weeds, 

 and, in the case of most alfalfa and all sweet clover, 

 scarified. This business was conducted through 369 

 cooperative associations located in seventy-nine coun- 



