454 RURAL MICHIGAN 



tation of Eosen rye for the purpose of securing seed 

 free from cross fertilization. Some of this rye has 

 been offered for sale by the Michigan State Farm 

 Bureau. High Island, near by, is largely in the pos- 

 session of the religious society known as "The 

 Israelite House of David/' situated near Benton 

 Harbor, which reports the ownership of some 2,980 

 acres out of the 3,200 of the island. The island 

 yields saw-timber, and the House of David has under 

 cultivation some 200 acres, part of which is devoted 

 to fruit and the remainder to the growth of vege- 

 tables, which yield abundantly, it is stated, and are 

 of fine quality. 



In Michigan agriculture, it must have become clear 

 that no crop or feature predominates. Thus, the 

 Crop Reporting Service of the United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture shows that, in 1920, the 

 State ranked first as a producer of rye, third as a 

 producer of potatoes, fourth in buckwheat, third in 

 apples, and fourth in pears. 



The growth of cooperation among Michigan 

 farmers is one of the most striking features of recent 

 agricultural history. The American farmer is nor- 

 mally individualistic, but the force of circumstances 

 has directed him along this new path. There were 

 reported in May, 1921, 123 cooperative associations, 

 memljers of the Michigan Potato Growers Exchange. 

 At the same date, the number of cooperative cream- 

 eries was at least 74. The membership of the Michi- 

 gan Livestock Exchange similarly comprised 104 

 cooperative associations. The list of associated ex- 



