The Bozeman courier., 1927-07-01
(From Montana state College,

FORE than 1000 farmers of Mon
NH tana are this year cooperating
1VI with the Montana extension serv-
ice in the work Of improving crops
and crop production methods by growing
test plots to determine superior varieties,
conducting demonstrations to show i'm
proved practices or producing seed OF
recommended varieties. In % counties
and practically every important crop
producing section there are farmers who
have unselfshly taken it upon them
selves to see that Montana's agriculture
continues It's progress and maintains its
place Of leadership in the competition
with other producing areas and other ma
tiOns.
When Montana's wheat wins a world
championship cup in competition with
wheat from all over the world 1t means
not only that Montana has soil and
climate capable of producing that kind
of wheat, but that great group OF 1arm-
ers in this state are producing pure seed
Of the strains and varieties which give
the best results, are fighting destructive
plant diseases and insects, and keeping
their field free from the contamination
of weeds and inferior mixtures. When
MOntana's alfalfa seed commands pre-
mium on the nations markets, it means
that the growers Of that seed have re-
ligiously cared for their fields and care
fully attended to the many details neces-
sary before seed can be registered. Con-
ditions are favorable in Montana for the
production Of high quality products but
Intelligent cooperation with nature is
necessary before the best results can be
obtained.
How Montana farmers are co-operat-
ing in the work of improving crops and
production methods is told in summary
recently prepared by A. j. Ogaard, agron-
Omist for the Montana extension service
showing the projects directed by the eX-
shows thai
this year there are IL winter wheat nur-
series and 40 spring wheat nurseries IN
% counties where farmers are lending
their aid in testing out different varie-
ties. In these nurseries many varieties
are grown in small test plots to demon
strate their possibilities under actua
farm conditions.
The most promising varieties from the
nursery tests are selected for further
tests in larger plots and under greater
variety of farm conditions. There art
1913 small grain and "a corn variety tes
plots on the farms of the state this sea
son. These variety tests not only make
possible the selection of superior strain
and varieties but they serve as demon
stratiOnS to neighboring farmers to poin
out the crops which give the best results
When a certain strain or variety ha
clearly demonstrated it's advantages it
placed on the recommended list Of tn
Montana Seed Growers association. Small
quantities of foundation seed stock ar
distributed among selected farmers t
produce a supply of pure seed. Pur
seed plots are subject to rigorous inspec
UiOn throughout the growing season an
further careful inspections are mad
after the seed is harvested to make sur
that it remains pure and up to the re
Quired standard. The work of INSPECTION
and registration is directed by the See
Growers association.
The supply Of pure registered seed
then distributed among still other grow
ers who, under the supervision Of tn
Montana extension service, produce az