I I: I I IIIIIIIIII I I‘ II ‘I ‘1 ‘II I I AN ANALYSIS OF THE AGRICULTURE OF THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN AS A BASIS FOR CURRICULUM CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADES Thesis for the Degree of M. A. George S ButIer I937 AN ANALYSIS OF THE AGRICULTURE OF THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN AS A BASIS FOR CURRICULUM CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADES A Thesis Prepared by GEDRGE SHERMAN BUTLER as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts MIQiIGAN STATE GOLLEI‘xE 19 57 This study was conducted under the direction of Dr. E. L. A‘JStin, Chairman. Acknowledgment is made for the valuable assistance given by Professor V. R. Gardner who read the manuscript and gave valuable suggestions; the staff of the upper peninsula extension service; coun- ty school commissioners of the upper peninsula; Resettlement Adminis- tration at Escanaba; George Bishop, Secretary of the Upper Peninsula Development Bureau; and Relief Administration, Iron MOuntain, Michigan. 110608 Section I. II. III. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v List of’flaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v List of’Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 A. Statement and Definition of Problem . . . . . . . l B. Geographical Location and Size of the Upper . . . 5 Peninsula C. The Early History of Agriculture in the Upper . . 9 Peninsula Conditioning Factors in Agriculture of the Upper . . . 10 A. B. C. D. E. F. Variations in Climatic Conditions in the Upper . . 10 Peninsula Classification of the Number and Size of Farms .. l? by Counties; Crop Acres Harvested Types and Distribution of Crops Grown in Upper Peninsula 19 Types and Distribution of Live Stock of the . . . 27 Upper Peninsula Marketing of Upper Peninsula Products . . . . . . . 33 Farm Tenancy Situation in the Upper Peninsula . . 56 of Michigan Agricultural Activities of Rural Boys and Girls of . . 57 A. B. Importance of Activities in the Field of Education 57 443 Club Projects as a Basis of Selecting Agri- 59 cultural Activities iii IV. V. VII. VIII. Federal Land Planning for the Upper Peninsula . . . . . Summary 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O I O O . conClUSions O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 References Cited 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 Appendix 0 O O O O O C O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 iv :3 49 52 LIST OF GRAPES Graphs l. Car-Lot Unloads of Strawberries at Chicago, 1929 LIST OF MAPS Maps 1. Geographical Location and Relative Size of the Upper Peninsula of’Michigan 2. Crop Acres Harvested in the Upper Peninsula, 1950 5. Land Suitable fer Agriculture in the Upper Peninsula 4. Regions of Similar Agricultural Practice Page 15 20 51 Table II. III. IV. V. VII. VIII. IX. X. XII. XIII. XIV. LIST OF TABLES Page Students' Reasons fer Enrollment in the Agricultural 4 Classes in the Northern State Teachers' College Comparison of Land Area of Upper Peninsula with 6 Selected States Comparison of Area of the 15 Counties of Upper Peninsula 7 with 26 Counties of Southern Michigan Length of’the Growing Season in Various Stations in 11 the Upper Peninsula Length of the Growing Season in Various Stations in 12 Lower Michigan A Comparison of the Number of Farms, Size of Farms, 18 and Crop Lands Harvested According to the 1925, 1950 and 1955 Census. Acreage of Timothy and Clover Hay Grown in Six Counties 22 of the Upper Peninsula Percentage of the Total Crop Land Occupied by EaCh Crop 25 and the Value of Each Crop in.Per Cent of Total value Using Ten Tear Average Prices from.1925 to 1955. Value of the Ten Leading CrOps in the Upper Peninsula 24 by Counties, 1954. Members in the 500 Bushel Potato Club of Michigan and 26 State Yield Pounds of Dairy Products Manufactured in the Upper 28 Peninsula of Michigan over 9. Period of Fifteen Years Types of Live Stock and Crops Grown in 1950 and 1955 29 in the Upper Peninsula Counties Production of Milk and Butter Fat in Michigan by 52 Regions Car Lot Unloads of Potatoes on the Chicago Market 55 from Maine and Idaho, 1950 vi XVII. XVIII. XIX. Statement of Vehicles and Passengers TranSported by and Receipts of Michigan State Ferry July 15, 1925 to December 15, 1956. Comparison of Farm Tenancy in the Upper Peninsula with the Entire State, 1955. OwnerShip and Tenancy on Upper Peninsula Farm Lands, 1955 Total 4+8 Club Enrollments and Completions by Counties in the Upper Peninsula, 1928-1956 493 Club Enrollments in Garden.Projects, Potato Pro- jects, Dairy Projects, and Forestry Projects in Upper Peninsula During the Years 1954-1956 493 Club Enrollments in Canning and Number of Quarts Canned During the Years 1951 to 1956 443 Club Enrollments in Various Types of Activities in the Upper Peninsula During 1956 vii 55 56 58 42 45 Al ANALYSIS OF THE AGRICULTURE OF THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN AS A BASIS FOR CURRICULUI CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADES I. INT DUCTIOH A. Statement and Definition of’Problem. In.January, 1955, President Rebater H. Pearce of’the Nbrthern State Teachers' College introduced a two year course Cf study in agricul— ture for prospective teachers. Six different agricultural subjects are offered during the school year: general agriculture, forestry, dairying, farm crops, animal husbandry, and horticulture. In attempting to select objectives which would.be of'the most value to the members of the classes, the students were asked to state their reasons for enrolling in the class. This question was asked of the students enrolling in dairying, farm crops, animal husbandry, and horticulture during the winter and spring terms of 1955. Forty-six students stated.that they .expected to use the information in teaching some phase of agriculture or to be able to assist in.4ph club work. Tio students stated that they expected to use this infermation in actual farming. Because most of these students expected to teaCh in the upper peninsula of’lichigan, it seemed necessary to determine the kind of agri- culture and 493 club work that would be expected of them in the areas in which they would teach. Letters were written to fifteen county school commissioners (1) of the upper peninsula to ascertain what agriculture was taught in the (1). See Appendix. seventh and eighth grades of each county. The high schools were omitted because agricultm‘e, as taught under the provisions of the Smith-Hughes Act, is taught in the ninth grades and above, and the Northern State Teach- ers' College is not qualified to issue certificates under the Smith-Hughes law. CorreSpondence or conversation was carried on with eight of the fif- teen school commissioners of the upper peninsula. Seven of the eight be- lieved that there was a great need for the improvement of the teaching of agriculture in the seventh and eighth grades and especially in the content of the course. One believed that a course in science should be given in these grades similar to the Science of Living Things by Walpole (1). He believed the agriculture should be adapted to the upper peninsula conditions. The text books used in these grades as reported by the county school commissioners are as follows: - (2) 1. Waters, 'Elementary Agriculture' 2. Goff and Mayne, 'First Principles of Agriculture” 5. Grin, 'Elementary Agriculture“ 4. Burkett, Stevens, and Hill, "Agriculture for Beginners” 5. Davis, uProductive Farming" 6. Uphan and Schmidt, “Introduction to Agriculture" 7. Walpole, "The Science of Living Things" In comparing the material in these texts with the reports of the agricultural extension specialists (5) and 4~H club leaders (4) of the upper peninsula, as shown in TABLE II p. 24, TABLE XII p. 29 , and TABLE XXI p. 45 AA._._‘ A AA‘.‘ (1). Walpole, B. A., The Science of Living Things. For the Department of of Public Instruction, Lansing, Michigan. Hillsdale School Supply and Publishing Co., Hillsdale, Michigan. 1955. (2). See List of References. (5). See Appendix. (4). See Appendix. it did not appear that there was a very close correlation between the sub- Ject matter contained in these texts and practical application. As an illustration, in 'Agriculture for Beginners" by Burkett, Stevens, and Hill, pp. 150-159, there is a discussion on cotton. Seven pages are given to the cotton boll weevil, and approximately one-half as much space is given to potatoes, and yet the potato is the leading cash crop of the upper peninsula. Because of an indicated need, and also because of the apparent lack of subject matter materials available for the teaching of agriculture in the upper peninsula of Michigan, it was decided to select the following topic for study: 'An Analysis of the Agriculture of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as a Basis for Curriculum construction for the Seventh and Eighth Grades.‘I This thesis does not attempt to set up a program of training in agriculture for the seventh and eighth grades of the upper peninsula. Neither does it attempt to set up a program of teacher training for teachers of ag— riculture. The study is confined to an analysis of the agriculture of the upper peninsula. It is hoped that further work may be done to make the in- struction in the field of agriculture in the seventh and eighth grades and the teacher training institution of the upper peninsula of more value to the boys and girls of this region. There has been an increase in the number of farms and agricultural production during the last few years. It is apparent, as shown later in this study, that there will be further increase in agricultural occupations in the upper peninsula. Harv boys and girls of school age will be a part of the ag~ ricultural program in a few years. It is hoped they may be guided to select the activities that will be most helpful from an economic and social standpoint. The study of the activities is the basis of this problem. The setting up of a course of study, partly based.upon the pupil's activities, is another problem. Since beginning work on this thesis, students enrolling in the agricultural classes during 1955 and later have been asked their reasons for their selections. Including the spring term of 1957, the enrollment in the agricultural classes has been 208. The reasons, grouped into four divi- sions, are as follows: TABLE I. STUDENTS' REASONS FOR.ENROLLMENT IN THE AGRICULTURAL CLASSES IN THE NORTHERN STATE TEACHERS' COLLEGE. L AA—‘# A ‘AA AA LA_F‘ A . ¥Aw Reasons fer Choice Number of’Reasons (1) 4A A‘ AAAJAHA‘A‘A “A‘_¥AAA -_‘_4 _. ~ AA L‘ To be used in teadhing some phase of ammme COOOOOOOOOOOIOOOOOO00....0.0.0.0.000... 159 To be used 8.8 a related BUbjBCt 00000000000000.0000 22 To be “Badmfamng 00000000000000000000000000000 9 To be used to meet college entrance requirements 00000000000000000000000000000000000000 J‘é 208 AAA A #— (1). Note - This indicates class enrollments rather than the number of indiViduEIS. B. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND SIZE OF THE UPPER PENINSULA The upper peninsula is nearly surrounded by water. It lies be- tween latitudes 45 degrees W. and 47.5 degrees W., and longitudes 85.5 de- grees N. and 90.5 degrees R. It is bounded by Lake Superior on the north and northwest; Lake Huron on the east and southeast; Lake Michigan and the State of Wisconsin on the south and southwest. The eastern end of the Upper peninsula is approximately north of Detroit, and the western end is approxi- mately north of Clinton, Iowa. The map on page 20 shows the relative position and size of the upper peninsula as compared with some of the other states, and extent of the shore line. The area of the 15 counties of the upper peninsula is excep- tionally large. TABLE II, p. 6, shows a comparison of their areas and that of several states of the United States.(1) MW- 4 A w (1). U. S. Census of Agriculture, Part I. 1925. TABLE II. COMPARISON OF LAND AREA OF UPPER PENINSULA WITH SELECTED STATES. AAAA‘#A ALA—AAAAA-A‘ A _A.-A_-—‘*‘_‘ kn‘A A AA AA _‘A #A—‘AA A AA—hkAA A .44_._.A__. A County Approximate Selected Approximate land area States land area acres acres Alger 0000000000000000 588,” 0011333th 0000000 5,085,8(XJ Bmga 000000000000000 586,880 Delame 0000000000 1,257,6m Chippewa ............1,006,720 “SSQChusetts 00000 5,144,960 Delta 000000000000000 748,160 mOde IBIEDd 000000 682,880 DiCRinson ........... 496,640 Gogebic ............. 725,120 Houghton ............, 652,160 Iron ................ 768,000 Ieweenaw ............ 554,560 Luce ................ 588,800 Mackinaw ............ 668,160 Marquette ..........1,196,800 Menominee ........... 875,840 Ontonagon 855,120 SChoolcraft ......... 772,480 Total 000000000000010,682,240 fatal000000000000010,170,2w ._‘ A . TABLE III. COMPARISON OF AREA OF THE 15 COUNTIES 0F UPPER PENINSULA WITH 26 COUNTIES OF SOUTHERN MICHIGAN (1) HA _‘ _._‘ AA‘AAIAAA. A H A A 4 A w— AAAAA A A A- h“ .- Name of the County Area . Name of the County Area Lower Peninsula Acres ‘ Acres Berrien 0000000000000000 564,160 Alger 0000000000000000 588,800 0883 0000000000000000000 515,520 Baraga 000000000000000 586,880 St0 Joseph 0000000000000 521,920 Chippewa 00000000000001,006,720 Branch 00000000000000000 518,080 Delta 0000000000000000 748,160 HillSdfllO 00000000000000 582,080 DiCkinson 000000000000 496,640 Lena'ee 0000000000000000 475,520 Gogebic 00000000000000 725,120 "bnroe 00000000000000000 566,720 Houghton 0000000000000 652,150 Wayne 000000000000000000 596,800 Iron 00000000000000000 768,000 waahtena' 00000000000000 450,560 Kevaenaw 0000000000000 554,560 Jackson 0000000000000000 ‘52,480 Luce 00000000000000000 588,800 Calhoun 0000000000000000 443,520 leakina' 0000000000000 668,160 Kalamazoo 00000000000000 559,680 "arguatte 0000000000001,196,800 Van Buren 00000000000000 594,880 Ianominee 000000000000 675,840 Allegan 0000000000000000 555,120 Ontonagon 000000000000 855,120 Barry 000000000000000000 555,840 SChOOlcraft 0000000000 772,480 Eaton 000000000000000000 565,400 Ingham000000000000000000 553,820 LiVingaton 0000000000000 565,520 Oakland 0000000000000000 567,040 Iacomb 00000000000000000 502,080 St0 Clair 00000000000000 454,400 GQDGSCO 0000000000000000 419,200 Shiawassee 0000000000000 556,480 Clinton 0000000000000000 565,400 Ionia 000000000000000000 560,560 Ottawa 00000000000000000 561,600 T0t81000000000000000010,2lo,560 ‘ T0m00000000000000 10,682,240 .__4 A JAL- A A-‘ #4_‘A M In comparing the land area of the upper peninsula with the older and more thickly settled part of the State we find the fifteen counties of the upper peninsula are about equal in land area to the twenty-six most southern coun- ties of lower Michigan as shown by TABLE III. This is about equal to the area lying south of a line rlmning east west of Flint. (1). U. S. Census of Agriculture, 1925. Part I. {:2 :30 no 3.5m $05.32 ‘ « ‘\\.\\5 .u E C. THE EARLY HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE IN THE UPPER.PENINSULA In the upper peninsula, agriculture followed the mining industry. With the opening of the iron and capper mines, communities were established. These communities provided a market for farm produce. J. Russell Whitaker, triting in the Journal of Geography (1) compares the events in the upper peninsula with what had happened in Colorado and California. When the min— eral resources became exhausted, land that was capable of producing craps found a more distant market for its produce. Whitaker states (2) that over 80 per cent of the farmers of Houghton County and 75 per cent of those in the mining townships of lar- quette County came into the region as miners. He describes three stages in the transition from miner to farmer. The first stage in the transition began when the miner, perhaps an immigrant, invested some of his money in unimproved land where he could rear a family. The second stage began when the future farmer spent the winter in the mines or woods, and the summer on the farm because he was not capable of providing a sufficient income from his farm. The third stage began when the farmer bought equipment and de- pended upon farming for his source of income. At the time the article was written the author believed that the majority of the "miner-farmers” were in the second stage. This article was written before the depression of 1929. A .— (1). Whitaker, J. hissell. "The-Relation of Agriculture to lining in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan". The Journal of Geography, vol. 25, no. 1, January, 1926, pp. 21-50. (2). Ibid. p. 24. - 10 -' II. CONDITIONING‘FACTORS IE AGRICULTURE OF THE UPPER PENINSULA A. variations in Climatic Conditions in the Upper Peninsula The length of the growing season in the upper peninsula has a very wide range in different regions. TABLE IV, p. ll, Shows that the length of the annual growing season at Seney, over a six:year period, is forty-eight days. At Detour, which is approximately 100 miles east and 25 miles sourth of Seney, over a twelve year period the average length of the annual growing season is one hundred fifty—three days. In making a conpari- son with some of the stations in lower Ilichigan, we find a lumber of regions with a shorter growing period in the lower peninsula than some of the upper peninsula stations as shown in TABLE V, p. 12 . According to TABLES IV and V, there are feur more days of growing season at Detour than at Lansing, fifteen more days of growing season at Detour than at Charlotte, and twenty- five more days of growing season at Detour than at Big Rapids. Some of the weather bureau stations are situated near one or an- other of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes have considerable influence upon the length of the growing season. Grand Harais, which reports a growing season of’one hundred fifty-two days, is situated on the shore of’Lake Su- perior. The Coast Guard Station, which records weather records, is less than forty feet from the water's edge. On August 10, 1955 frost killed po- tatoes two and one—half'miles from.Lake Superior at Grand Marais, but the Station at this town did not report frost until October. The writer, with R. G. Hill of Grand larais, visited an area from Grand Harais to Shelldrake, Emerson, Eckerman, Newberry, Germfask, and Seney August 12, 1955. Blueberries and potatoes were injured or killed by the frost of August 10, where they were situated more than three miles back from the lake. -11.. TABLE IV. LENGTH OF THE GROWING SEASON IN VARIOUS STATIONS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA (1) Length of Date of Last Date of First Length of Station Record in Killing Frost Killing Frost Growing Years In the Spring In the Fall Season in Days Chatham 19 June 14 Sept. 2 80 Calumet 28 May 15 Oct. 5 140 Detour 12 Kay 12 Oct. 15 '153 Escanaba 25 May 11 Oct. 4 145 Grand flarais 18 llay 16 Oct. 16 152 larquette 48 May 15 Oct. 9 148 Menominee 21 May 12 Oct. 6 146 Seney 6 June 26 Aug. 14 48 Sault Ste. 21 lay 12 Oct. 6 145 Eerie (1). U. 8. Weather Bureau Climatological Data Vol. 2, pp. 9, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. -12.. TABLE v. LENGTH or THE GROWING SEASON AT muons STATIONS IN 1.0m MICHIGAN (1) ' Length of Date of Last Date of First Length of Station Record in Killing Frost Killing Frost Growing Years in the Spring in the Fall Season in Days Big Rapids ’ 25 lay 15 Sept. 19 127 Charlotte 17 lay 17 Oct. 2 156 Flint 28 lay 11 Oct. 5 , 145 Gaylord 14 lay 27 Sept. so 114 Grayling ' 24 lay 25 Sept. 15 111 Lansing 51 lay 2 Oct. 8 147 lidland 15 lay 11 Oct. 5 145 Saginaw 24 lay 1 Oct. 8 158 ‘._F~ k A. ELL.‘ ~ k h‘ (1). U. S. Weather Bureau Climatological Data Vol. 2, pp. 10, Western lichigan and pp. 15 Eastern Lower lichigan. - 15 - Weaver and Clements (1) report that the number of heat units is more significant than the length of the growing season, and thus a plant will complete its cycle in less time in regions with a warm climate. Gard, ner, BradfOrd and Hooker (2) believe that a plant will adapt itself some- what to a different climate, but the number of "heat units'' is important for different species. This effect and the amount of heat required by plants is discussed in about the same way by Weaver end Clements.(5) Although Detour may have a longer growing season, it does not follow that all plants will grow better in Detour than in Lansing. Differ— ent species have different requirements fer the various plant activities, and there may be plants that will produce better results in Detour, e. g. the potato as explained by small“ Head lettuce, celery, rutabagas, strawberries, raspberries, carrots, parsnip, cauliflower, cabbage, rhubarb, asparagus, and garden peas are common garden plants of the upper peninsula producing a high quality product. Although corn is adapted to a warm cli- mate, the quality and flavor of sweet corn grown in the upper peninsula is excellent because the cool weather does not cause the sugar to change to starch so readily as the same plant grown in a warmer climate.(5) (l). Weaver, John E. and Clement, F. E. Plant Ecology. chrawzHill Book Company, Inc. 550 W. 42nd St., New York. (2). Gardner, Bradford and Hooker. Fundamentals of Fruit Production. chrawaHill Book Company, Inc. 550 W. 42nd St., New York. (5). Weaver, John E. and Clement, F. E. Plant Ecology. chrawéHill Book Company, Inc. 550 N. 42nd St., new Iork. (4). Smith, W. J. The Effect of the weather upon the Iield of’Potatoes. U. S. Department of Agriculture, lbnthly Weather Review, lay 1915, pp. 222-228. From.l925 U. 8. Year BOOk, pp. 550-551. (5). Appleman, C. O. and Eaton, S. V. Evaluation.of'01imatic Temperature Efficiency for the Ripening Processes in Sweet Corn. Journal Agricultural Research (U. 8.) 2081921, pp. 795—805. -14- Peppers, watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, muskmelon, pumpkins, and squaSh are some common garden plants not adapted to the upper peninsula on account of the cool climate. STRAWBERRI GROWING There has been an increased interest in strawberry growing dur- ing the last few years in the upper peninsula. This has been especially noticeable in certain sections of‘Houghton and Baraga Counties. Strawberries illustrate a special type of marketing problem somewhat peculiar to upper peninsula agriculture. In many sections there is very little danger of late spring frosts, and a snow covering in the winter protects the plants from winter injury. The increased interest during the summer of 1956 is shown by an organization of strawberry growers of this region, and an increase in the acreage is shown by the 1924 and 1954 census figures. According to the United States Census, 268 acres of strawberries were grown in 1924. (1) This acreage increased to 666 acres in 1954.(2) During the summer of 1954 strawberries were shipped from Grand larais to Chicago on.Ju1y 6.(5) On that date they were sold at $2.20 per crate. Carrying charges were 60 cents per crate, or a net return of $1.60. The same year, but two weeks earlier, strawberries from Benton Harbor sold fer 75 cents f.o.b. Chicago. During the summer of 1955 the writer grew Aroma strawberries to determine the date of ripening. These berries began to ripen on July 11 when very few berries were on the Chicago market competing with upper peninsula crops. The fellowing graph shows that there is very little competition on the Chicago market during July as far as strawberries are concerned. (1). U. 8. Census of Agriculture, 1925. Part I, pp. 620-629. (2). U. 8. Census of Agriculture, 1955. vol. II, pp. 200-205. (5). See Appendix. -15- _ 16 - LIGHT AS A FACTOR IN PLANT GROWTH IN THE UPPEB.PENINSULA Light is a very important factor affecting plant growth. Some plants require short days to produce flowers as shown by the chrysanthemum, while others require long days to fern flowers. The upper peninsula is noted as a region from which hay fever sufferers may obtain relief from rag- weed pollen. This plant requires a short day to produce flowers, and be— cause the days are long, there is very little pollen produced in most parts of the upper peninsula. (1) Plants utilize very little of the direct sunlight, but can utilize a large amount of twilight, so the sum total of sunlight and twi- light is important in its effect upon plant activities. (2) Leo l. Geismar (5) has computed the number of'hours of sunlight and twilight fer latitudes 57 degrees, 42 degrees, and 47 degrees which he obtained from a Twilight Chart prepared by Dr. W. J. Bussey, Director of Observatory, University of lichigan. Thirty—seven degrees passes through Kentucky, 42 degrees is south of Detroit, or between lenroe and Trenton, and 47 degrees is near Chassel in Boughton County. Beginning April 15 and ending October 15, there are 140.78 more hours of sunlight at 47 degrees than at 42 degrees, and 217.04 more hours at 42 degrees than at 57 degrees. This is a total of 209.9 more hours of sunlight and twilight at 47 degrees than at 42 degrees and 541.6 more hours than at 57 degrees. As plants use twilight as well as sunlight, the last figure is significant. _‘ Ag FF (1). chougall, W. B. Plant Ecology. Lea and Febiger, 600 S. WaShington Square, Philadelphia, Pa. 1951. (2). Holman and.Robbins. Elements of Botany. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 440 4th Avee, New Iorke 19550 (5). Geismar, Leo. l. Cloverland, pp. 10. U. P. Development Bureau, Marquette, Michigan. (no date) -17.. B. Classification of the Number and Size of Farms by Counties; Crop:Acres Harvested. In many sections of the upper peninsula farming is a new occur pation. Land from which the timber has been removed is low priced and is usually unimproved. A few acres are cleared each year. As a result, the number of acres of cleared land per farm is very low, as is indicated in TABLE VI, p. 18 . The number of acres per farm is also small. This is due to the fact that the farm, in.many cases, has not been self supporting. The owners work part of the year in the woods or mines, as has been indicated by Whitaker. (1) The number of farms has increased in the entire section with a decrease in the size of the farm from the 1950 Census as indicated by the U. 6. Census in TABLE VI, p. 18 . With the closing of many capper and iron mines, many people have purchased small areas of land near the cities, es- pecially near Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, and Houghton. This has in- creased the number of farms but has decreased the average size per farm. TABLE VI, p. 18 , shows that there is a decided increase in the number of crops harvested between 1950 with 1955. From.1950 to 1955 the average size of the farm.has decreased, but the number of crop acres herb vested has increased over 10.8 per cent. (1). Whitaker, J. Russell. The Relation of Agriculture to lining in Upper Peninsula of lichigan. The Jomal of Geography, vol. 25, January 1926. pp. 21-50. A. J. Nystrom and Compaxw, 2249 Cal- umet Ave., Chicago, Illinois. 1'4 -19.. C. Types and Distribution of Crops Grown in Upper Peninsula The total number of crop acres harvested in the upper peninsula is small compared with the total land acreage. According to TABLE VI, p. 462,757 acres of crops were harvested in 1955. This is 4.5 per cent of the total acreage. lap I, P.£Kl shows the location and area of crap acres harvested. Data fer this map were obtained from the Michigan Land Economic Survey maps published by the State Department of Conservation (1), county agricultural agents (2), students familiar with the area studied, and from the Fifteenth Census of Agriculture of the United States for 1950 (5). lap II, p. 21, shows the location and extent of land suitable for agricultural purposes. The data for this map were taken from the Land Situation map (4), Upper Michigan office. A comparison of the two maps Shows a very small amount of crop acres harvested as compared with land suitable for agriculture. “Cloverlandfl is a term used to advertise the upper peninsula dur- ing the past few'years. In a bulletin entitled "Cloverland'l (5) this word has been substituted fer "upper peninsula“. The United States Census re- ports of agriculture have not listed the acreage of clover separately, and it is difficult to draw the line between timothy and clover as these two have been grown together. Any one traveling about the upper peninsula will notice especially the large acreage of land in timothy. Some of the county AA# AA. (1). Conservation Department, Land Economic Survey, Lansing, Michigan. (2). Unpublished.Reports, County Agricultural Agents. E5). U. S. Census, 1950. 4 . Resettlement Administration, Upper lichigan Office, Escanaba, Michigan. 1956. (5). Geismar, Leo N. Cloverland. Upper Peninsula Development Bureau, larquette, Michigan. (no date) 'ed Ali. «Airs ,9: . I. 9 t .’ 5‘ - 22 - agricultural agents reported the number of acres of timothy and clover separately in their County Agricultural Adjustment Planning Projects, which are listed in TABLE VII, p. 22. Bay, which is largely timothy, occupies a large acreage of crop- land in the upper peninsula. This crOp has a low value per acre as compared with other crops as shown by TABLE VIII, p. 25. The greatest difference in value per acre of various crops is between.hay and potatoes. Hay occupies 72 per cent of the acreage and 40 per cent of the value of all crops. Po- tatoes represent 5.2 per cent of the acreage and 56 per cent of the value of all crops. A comparison of the relative value of the ten leading crops is shown in TABLE II, p. 26. The table also shows that the various crops are widely scattered with the smallest acreage of crops grown in Keweenaw County. TABLE VII. ACREAGE OF TIMOTHY AND CLOVER HAY GROWN IN SIX COUNTIES OF THE UPPER PENINSULAU) ff“ “*:=fiF;f+ _, “- l_ .44 4:;fifi. 4. :=======. Acres of’Timothy, Other County Grasses and Small Grains Acres of Glover and Cut for*Hay' Annual Legumes Delta 27,294 557 Houghton 59,551 615 Iron 15,000 175 laCkinac 10,057 476 lenominee 28,146 2,455 Ontonagon 24,504 4,712 (1). Upper Peninsula Agricultural Agents. See Appendix. -*Note - All county agents reported a larger acreage in timothy in the upper peninsula than is advisable, but many feund it difficult to Classify the acreage because of some clover growing with the timothy in many fields. - 23 - TABLE VIII. PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL CROP LAND OCCUPIED BI EACH CROP AND THE VALUE OF EACH CROP IN PER CENT OF TOTAL VALUE USING TEN YEAR AVERAGE PRICES FROM 1925 to 1955(1) r; A 417‘:¢:ff~:i‘tiii :::-ll;: A or ‘ “goo: “7;; :4 ;; t 7 Percentage of'Total Percentage of’Total Crop Land in Crops Crop Value Hay 72.0 40.0 Oats 10.0 8.0 Potatoes 5.2 56.0 Barley 4.6 4.2 Corn ' 5.6 6.8 ‘Flax 2.0 2.4 Mixed Grain . 0.9 0.82 Wheat 0.9 0.89 Rye 0.6 0.58 Sugar Beets 0.11 0.5 wAA ALAA A4 A AAA (1). Clanahan, D. L., Upper Peninsula Crop Extension Specialist. Letter dated Feb. 16, 1957. Marquette, Michigan. - 25 - The potato is the outstanding caSh crop of the upper peninsula. With 5.2 per cent of the crop land in potatoes, and producing 56 per cent of the total value of crops, as was shown in TABLE VIII, p. 25, one may suppose this area to be well adapted to growing the crop. W. J. Smith has described the ideal climate for potatoes as fellows: "In the United States the potato has made its greatest develop- ment in the cooler sections of the countny, where the mean annual tempera- ture is between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit and where the mean temperature in July is not over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Further, the greatest yields of potatoes per acre in those States where the mean annual temperature is be- low 45 degrees Fahrenheit and where the mean of the warmest month is not far from 65 degrees Fahrenheit.'(1) A comparison of temperatures at some of the weather bureau sta— tions in various parts of the upper peninsula is given in TABLE IV, p.1J. From these figures it will be seen that the temperatures closely parallel the recommendations for the best climate for potatoes as described by Smith. The potato growers of the upper peninsula.have been able to ob- tain good yields, as Shown by the results of the State "500 Bushel Potato Club". A comparison of membership and.yields with the entire State is Shown in TABLE I, p. 26. A -LA_44_._A A4;_‘ #44 AA_A__ — —- (1). Smith, W. J. The Effect of the Weather upon the Yield of Potatoes. U. S. Department of Agriculture Monthly Weather Review, May 1915, Ppe 222-2280 From 1925 U. So 1381‘ 800k, pp. 550-5510 H 4“ ‘A g (1). - 25 _ TABLE I. MEMBERS IN THE 500 BUSHEL POTATO CLUB OF MICHIGAN AND STATE YIELD (1) FE A 4 r WWW: I J“ :2 Year State Upper Average Yield Peninsula (State) 1922 10 — - 1925 24 2 — 1924 56 1 575 1925 52 1 542 1926 54 - 559 1927 7 1 551 1928 61 5 560 1929 7 2 554 1950 11 5 552 1951 28 5 556 1952 45 20 410 1955 21 17 586 1954 59 56 579 1955 51 55 559 A“ A—hHLA— Clanahan, D. L., Upper Peninsula Crop Extension Specialist. Letter to Upper Peninsula 500 Bushel Club members, dated Feb. 16, 1957. - 27 _ D. Types and Distribution of Live Stock of the Upper Peninsula The largest branCh of the live stock industry in the upper peninsula is dairying. This has been brought about by natural conditions, and has made a steady and pronounced growth during the past fifteen years as indicated by TABLE XI, p. 28. In the transition stage from a miner or woodsman to a farmer, the cow was an important factor in the change. A large number of these people were Swedish and FinniSh, and.had been ac- customed to the raising and feeding of dairy cows before coming to America. With an increasing amount of cheap pasture, an abundance of hay, a cool summer climate, and an increasing demand for dairy products, the in- crease in the amount of dairy products could be expected. The agricultural agents, extension specialists in dairying, 445 club leaders, and the orperi- ment station at Chatham have encouraged and assisted in the development of the industry. Other live stock raised in the upper peninsula includes beef cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and poultry, but the numbers are small compared with dairying. A few years ago the Triangle Ranch located near Amasa owned a large number of beef cattle, but very few are found in that vicinity at the present time. A short grazing season and a long winter make feeding of beef animals uneconomical. The comparison of the-number of livestock raised in the upper peninsula and the kind of crops grown is shown in TABLE XII, p. 29. A comparison is also made with the years 1950 and 1955, which shows a large increase in corn and potato acreage. - 23 - TABLE XI. POUNDS OF DAIRY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN OVER A PERIOD OF FIFTEEN YEARS (1) Tear Butter All (Italian Ice Condensed Cheese Cheese) Cream Milk 1921 2,885,472 597,906 _ .. 417,475 .. - 1922 5,449,418 828,584 .. - 574,786 - - 1925 4,221,499 1,455,751 .. - 502,647 - .- 1924 4,799,075 1,752,522 - - 440,975 .. .— 1925 4,872,448 1,975,804 - — 465,559 - .. 1926 5,064,769 2,144,592 - - 472,749 — - 1927 5,257,005 2,468,572 - - 471,554 - - 1928 5,822,510 5,894,052 - - 591,052 - - 1929 6,205,111 5,200,700 - - 552,267 - - 1950 5,950,652 4,520,807 582,784 524,541 4,526,654 1951 6,655,545 4,065,524 255,154 409,862 8,025,654 1952 6,517,984 5,255,855 404,567 276,082 11,219,757 1955 6,570,958 4,401,275 414,744 259,459 10,188,455 1954 6,215,052 4,795,766 505,956 500,791 10,556,786 1955 4,752,244 5,915,569 947,551 290,875 10,510,580 (1). Borwood, Russell E., Upper Peninsula Extension Dairyman. Lecture befOre Dairy Class, Northern State TeaChers' College, Marsh 19, 1957. TABLE XII. TYPE810F LIVE STOCK AND CROPS GROWN IN 1950 AND 1955 IN THE UPPER PENINSULA COUNTIES (1) __.;LQSO _, 11 , _1_ 19551_14-111 Types of Livestock Total Average Total Average and Crops Per Farm Per Farm Number of Farms 15,087 16,081 Crop Land 455,668 54.66 462,295 28.74 Dairy Cows &:He1fers 71,554 5.4 75,708 4.58 over 2 yrs. Cattle* 106,257 8.1 115.651 7.06 Horses & Colts 20,442 1.6 18,545 1.15 Sheep & Lambs 11,854 .9 11,488 .7 Hens over 5 mo. 452,182 55.0 ‘ - - Hogs 11,415 .9 11,608 .72 Hay 505,255 A 25.5 A 552,851 A 20.7 A Barley 25,888 A 2.0 A 25,665 A 1.47 A Oats 46,478 A 5.6 A 47,585 A 2.88 A Potatoes 15,558 A 1.18 A 24,059 A 1.56 A ‘ Corn 4,668 A. - 16,645 A 1.05 A Sunflowers 267 A - - - value of Feed $1,656,500 1152.69 - _ Purchased value of all Crops 36,846,211 525.15 $6,852,494 $426.l1 Grown (Excluding Fruits) *1955 - all cattle over 5 months. (1). 1950 - all cattle over 1 year. Horwood, Russell E., U. P. Extension Dairyman. Lecture before Dairy Class, Northern State Teachers' College, March 19, 1957. The Michigan Live Stock Industry Report written by George E. Taylor of the Dairy Husbandry Department, Michigan State College, and V. A. Freeman, Animal Husbandry Department of Michigan State College (1) provides some information concerning the dairy industry of the State. This report is a part of the Federal Agricultural Adjustment and.Planning. They divided the State into seventeen regions as shown in lhp III, p. 51. According to the Michigan Live Stock Industry Report, lenominee County in the upper peninsula has the highest average in the State in pounds of milk per cow of 5,628 pounds and also the most pounds of fat per cow of 214 pounds. The entire upper peninsula is above the average for the State in these two factors, as shown in TABLE XIII, p. 52. In their report the authors recommend an increase of 8.5 per cent in the number of dairy cows in the upper peninsula. _ L .- AAA -44#_. # (1). Taylor, George E. and.Freeman, V. A. Michigan Live Stock Industry Report. MICHIGAN SCALE 0' IILES . ——_ . :c JJ 4; 5 \ ’ 7 7, -‘ " '._.fl—\;-!._), 2 ‘ . Rimous 0F 511111.411 mfimrumfé _|-._ i / ~. I ' i RACTICE Cl) \ (1). Report - Michigan Live Stock Industry Committee. - 52 - TABLE XIII. PRODUCTION OF MILK AND BUTTER FAT IN MICHIGAN BI REGIONSU) Pounds of Milk Pounds of Butter Average Per Cent Region Per Cow Fat per Cow Butter Fat ‘4‘ 1 5,162 196 5.79 2 4,970 189 5.79 5 4,860 185 5.80 4 5,617 215 5.79 5 5,297 201 5.79 6 5,528 210 5.79 7 5,188~ 197 5.79 8 4,902 186 5.79 9 4,958 188 5.80 10 5,060 190 5.79 11 4,776 181 5.79 12 5,180 197 5.80 15 5,222 198 5.79 14 4,919 187 5.80 15 5,549 205 5.79 16 5,628 214 5.80 17 5,092 195 5.79 A -_A (1). Taylor, George E. and Freeman, 7. A. Report, p. 140 —4 AA‘ 4“— Iichigan Live Stock Industry -55.. IL Marketing of Upper Peninsula Products. Many of the crops of the upper peninsula are marketed as dairy products, as indicated in TABLE XI, p. 28 . The potato crop is marketed in Chicago, where a premium is paid fer potatoes grown in the upper penin— sula. The Marquette Mining Journal, dated February 15, 1956 (1) reports a sale of ten carloads of certified Green Mountain potatoes to a dealer in Pennsylvania, with a price of fifteen cents a hundredweight more than the dealer would have had to pay for Maine certified tubers. The paper further states, 'A car of Lake Linden Green HOuntains received at Chicago sold at $1.425 per hundredweight. White stock from Wisconsin and Russet Rurals from.lichigan have been bringing about $1.15 to $1.20.” As far as the distance to market is concerned, no part of the upper peninsula is as far from Chicago as Idaho or Maine. There is a direct route by railroad from the central part of the upper peninsula to Chicago. These states Ship large amounts to Chicago as indicated by TABLE XIV, below. TABLE XIV. CAR LOT UNLOADS OF POTATOES ON THE CHICAGO MARKET FROM MAINE AND IDAHO, 1950. (2) State Unloads at Chicago, 1950 Heine 59 Idaho “4,880 AkM_ #Q A m (1). Mining Journal, Harquette, February 15, 1956. (2). Car—lot Shipments and Unloads of Important Fruits and Vegetables, 1929-1950. U. S. Dept. of Agricultural Statistical Bulletin No. 58, July 1952. Bureau of Agricultural Economics. - 54 - A market condition, peculiar to the upper peninsula, is a home market which has developed at a rapid rate during the past twenty— three years, as a result of the tourist industry in this region. This large increase in the population during the summer months provides a mar- ket fer many agricultural products, especially fresh vegetables, poultry, and dairy products. The Michigan State Highway Department keeps a record of ve- hicles and passengers transported across the Straits of Mackinac. Many people cross on the car ferry, and many people come into the upper penin- sula from the Wisconsin line (1). A comparison of the increase in the number of vehicles and passengers during the season the State Ferry is able to Operate, is given in TABLE XV, p. 55. To this number must be added the people who enter from the Wisconsin border and people crossing on the car ferry during the time the State ferry is not Operating. According to the State Highway Department, traffic volume in 1956 increased 57.9 per cent over that of 1925. This infOrmation was based on State Trunk Lines US—2, US—4l, and H—28 in the upper peninsu1a(2)’ L—k‘k L A ¥ A (l). BiShop, George, Secretary, U. P. Development Bureau, unpublished report. (2). Lucas, 0. W., Director, Public Relations Division, Michigan State Highway Department. Letter dated may 4, 1957. - 55 - TABLE XV. STATEMENT OF VEHICLES AND PASSENGERS TRANSPORTED BY AND RECEIPTS OF MICHIGAN STATE FERRY JULY 51, 1925 TO DECEMBER 15, 1956(1) A A HAW“ A...‘ A . _ .. Season Total Passengers Vehicles* Transported July 51 to Nov. 21, 1925 10,551 2,418 May 11 to Dec. 6, 1924 58,468 12,826 April 25 to Dec. 6, 1955 59,484, 14,421 May 6 to Dec. 5, 1926 75,179 15,575 April 15 to Dec. 5, 1927 92,965 165,058 April 25 to Dec. 7, 1928 107,516 185,910 April 7 to Dec. 11, 1929 150,942 222,821 April 10, 1950 to Jan. 15, 1951 152,655 222,400 April 8 to Dec. 15, 1951 129,858 220,165 April 10 to Dec. 15, 1952 99,121 175,899 April 10 to Dec. 15, 1955 107,170 192,027 April 50 to Dec. 15, 1954 158,502 245,876 April 16 to Dec. 15, 1955 164,848 288,917 April 16 to Dec. 15, 1956 202,819 547,968 _¥ gkg A—gi (1). Lucas, 0. W., Director, Public Relations Division, Michigan State Highway Department. Letter dated Mhy 4, 1957. *Note - Total vehicles include passenger cars, trucks, trailers, motor thles, buses, wagons, and special vehicles. -56.. F. Farm Tenancy Situation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan In his report to President Hoover, Arthur M. Hyde, United States Secretary of Agriculture in 1951 briefly mentioned the increase in tenancy in the United States(1) and suggested that the high percentage of tenant-Operated farms should receive some attention. The tenancy has increased from 25.6 per cent in 1880 to 42.4 per cent in 1950 in the United States. He stated, "The present high preportion of tenant farms may in- volve significant consequences to the general welfare, and attention may well be directed to the probable social effects."(2) According to TABLE XVI, below, and TABLE XVII, p. 58, the ten- ancy in the upper peninsula is far below the United States average fer 1880. In 1950 the number of tenants in the upper peninsula was less than twenty-five per cent of the average fer the United States for the same year. TABLE XVI. COMPARISON OF FARM TENANCY IN THE UPPER PENINSULA WITH THE ENTIRE STATE, 1955.(5) Michigan Upper Peninsula Number of farms 196,517 16,081 Number of tenants 57,554 1,742 Per cent of tenants 18.99 10.85 (1). United States Year Book of Agriculture, 1952. The Year in Agri- culture. The Secretary's Report to the President. p. 42. (2.) Ibid. (5). United States Census of Agriculture, Vol. II, 1955. In his report to President Roosevelt, Secretary Wallace ems phasized the importance of tenancy, in which he states: "Underlying most aspects of land planning is the problem of tenure. Without a stable and continuous association with the land, farm Operators have little incentive to take care of the soil or to develop cOOperative ferns of economic and social life. Prosperity, individual or social, consists of two ferns: (1) Income, and (2) security in the possession thereof.'(1) He states further that tenancy has increased since 1950, and "It is manifest that such conditions with the threat to sound farm practice and their discour- aging influence on human beings, make efficient land planning extremely difficult.'(2) III. AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES 0F RURAL BOYS AND GIRLS OF INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL AGE. A. Importance of Activities in the Field of Education. In our modern text books it is suggested that daily activities of children be used more extensively to assist in the processes of learn- ing. The activities which the adult is expected to pursue should be con- sidered while the child is in the lower grades. Bonser (5) stresses the value of present day activities as well as the desirable activities of the past in developing the curriculum. A A_h‘ H44 AAA A 4A A (1). Wallace, Henry A. Report to the President of the United States, WaShington, D. 0. Dec. 10, 1955. U. S. Year'Book of Agri- Wlme , 19 56 o (2). Ibid. (5). Bonser, F3 G. The Elementary School Curriculum, Macmillan Publish- ing 00., 50 Fifth Ave., New York. - 53 - TABLE XVII. OWNERSHIP AND TENANCY ON UPPER PENINSULA FARM LANDS, 1955(1) County Number of Farms Number of Owners Number of Tenants +4 1950 A 1955 1950, 1955 195Qgg, 1955 I Alger 511 671 472 652 17 25 Baraga 715 858 68 5 7 51 15 2O Chippewa 1,446 1,779 1,087 1,406 115 151 Delta 1,584 1,554 1,251 1,521 65 95 Dickinson 515 772 450 658 51 74 Gogebic 726 915 677 822 15 58 Houghton 1,840 2,000 1,185 1,570 495 479 Iron 801 1,010 725 875 42 99 Keweenaw 102 177 '19 24 75 158 Luce 178 522 140 266 15 54 Mackinac 415 618 546 529 21 46 Marquette 1,006 1,581 786 1,019 151 271 Menominee 1,961 2,186 1,658 1,876 111 156 Ontonogan 1,154 1,409 1,051 1,157 59 105 Schoolcraft 557 451 290 595 50 55 Horne (2) believes that the most important classroom instruction involves lessons which are connected with life. Caswell and Campbell (5) (1). United State Census of Agriculture, 1955. (2). Horne, H. H. The Democratic PhiloSOphy of Education, p. 205. Macmillan Publishing Co., 50 Fifth Ave., New York. (5). Caswell, H., and Campbell, D. S. Curriculum Development, p. 185. American Book Co., 88 Lexington Ave., New York. n4 .. -59- believe the teacher should be allowed some freedom in using the experiences of children in building her course of instruction. Kilpatrick (1) would make the needs of the community the most important factor in a course of study. I From the statements of these men who are prominent in the field of education, an analysis of the agricultural activities of the boys and girls seems advisable. The reports of the 44H club program fer the upper peninsula provides an opportunity to study these activities which cover sections in widely scattered regions of the upper peninsula. TheSe activ- ities are the experiences of boys and girls who will be the students of the rural teacher in many cases. B. 44H Club Projects as a Basis of Selecting Agricultural Activities The 4~H club program includes boys and girls from every county of the upper peninsula. In 1956 there were 7,457 boys and girls enrolled. This was an Increase of 1,557 over 1954.(2) This is shown in TABLE XVIII, p. 40. The ages of the boys and girls ranged from 10 years to 20 years. Of the 6,045 club members completing their projects 5,714 members were in the age group of 11 to 14 IneIusIve.(5) The importance of dairying and potato growing is again emphasized in club work as shown by TABLE XIX, p. 41. Two more activities of consider- able interest are the garden and fOrestry projects which have large enroll- ments, as shown in TABLE XIX,p.41. The canning projects are closely connected (1). Kilpatrick, W. H. and others. The Educational Frontier, pp. 165-170. Century Company, 55 W. 52nd St., New York. (2). Rood, Clare A., Bird, Olga, and Meyer, Marcella. Annual Report of Assistant Club Leaders of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. December 1, 1955-November 50, 1956. p. 55. (5). Ibid. p. 50. with the home gardens. This activity has shown a considerable increase during the past few years, as shown in TABLE XX, p. 42. The interest in club work has increased gradually during the past feW'years. The organization fer club work has had an opportunity to establish itself around the more worthwhile and important activities as shown in TABLE XXI, p.45. Forestry is one of the more recent projects, and has shown a rapid gain. The rapid increase in enrollment since 1928 is shown in TABLE XVIII, below. TABLE XVIII. TOTAL 4-H CLUB ENROLLMENTS AND COMPLETIONS BY COUNTIES IN THE UPPER PENINSULA, 1928-1956.”) 1928 1950 1952 1954 1956 Number Enrolled 5865 5501 6667 5900 7457 Number Completed 5081 4412 5488 4994 6045 "Home gardens continued to play a most important part in the club program this past year. The project enrolled more boys and girls than any of the agricultural projects, and it is important that we continue to stress the worthwhileness of these projects and make the educational benefits more valuable to the boys and girls. “The potato club continues to be one of the most important 4-H agricultural projects in the upper peninsula. The project is very closely related to the agriculture of the upper peninsula, the potato crop being (1). Rood, Clare A., Bird, Olga, and Meyer, Marcella. Annual Report of Assistant Club Leaders of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. December 1, 1955-November 50, 1956. p. 50. probably the most important cash crop grown in the upper peninsula, and with a special market for upper peninsula Green Mountain potatoes there is a real incentive for 4-R boys to continue in this market." (1) TABLE XIX. 4-3 CLUB ENROLLMENTS IN GARDEN PROJECTS, POTATO PROJECTS, DAIRY PROJECTS, AND FORESTRI PROJECTS IN UPPER PENINSULA DURING IRE TEARS 1954-1956 (2) Enrolled Enrolled walled Enrolled Tear 4—H Dairy Garden 4-H Forestry Potato Club Proj ects Club Proj ects 1954 A 451 819 201 470 1955 548 1587 190 555 1956 451 1257 285 216 “The dairy project continues to be one of the most important projects for 4—H work in the upper peninsula. Probabe from an agricul- tural standpoint, the dairy project and the potato project are our two most important projects, both of them being most closely related to the farm problems and most directly influencing. the adaption of better fan practices." (5) "The 4—H Forest Ranger program continues to play an important part in the upper peninsula set-up. There has been increased interest in the western part of the upper peninsula where the federal forest pe0p1e, #5“ . n...— (1). Rood, Clare A., Bird, Olga, and Meyer, Marcella. Annual Report of Assistant Club Leaders of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. December 1, 1955—November 50, 1956. p. 42. (2). Ibid. p. 420 (5). Ibid. p. 45. _ 42 - who have been in periodic conferences with agricultural extension workers have grown interested in this particular phase of our program." (1) TABLE XX. 4-H CLUB ENROLLMENTS IN CANNING AND NUMBER OF QUARTS CANNED DURING THE YEARS 1951 TO 1956.“) Tear Enrolled Quarts 1951 444 28,045 1952 414 ' 51,581 1955 485 51,069 1954 610 40,569 1955 1,028 59,055 1956 _ 746 50,555 (1). Rood, Clare, A., Bird, Olga, and Meyer, Marcella. Annual Report of Assistant Club Leaders, Upper Peninsula of’Michigan. December 1, 1955-November 50, 1956. p. 45. (2). Ibid. p. 58. 45- TABLE m. 4-H CLUB ENROLLMENTS IN VARIOUS TYPES OF ACTIVITIES IN THE UPPER PENINSULA DURING 1956.“) Enrolled Com leting Boys Girls Boys Gir1§__1 Clothing 7 2,242 7 1,881 Girls Own Room - 164 - 152 Hot Lunch 168 286 159 282 - Food.Preparation 5 559 5 516_ Canning 5 745 2 568 Handicraft 1,157 9 945 9 Dairy 555 76 291 67 Poultry 55 9 21 8 Furestry 258 25 184 20 Home Garden 746 491 541 566 Commercial Garden 28 - 20 — Potato 195 25 157 19 Beef 15 - 15 - Sheep 14 2 l2 2 Colt 10 - 7 - ”_§gine 15 5 10 5 __T:9_ta1 5,005 4 452 2,550 5,695 I 7,1157 6,045 (1). Rood, Clare, A., Bird, Olga, and Meyer, Marcella. Annual Report of Assistant Club Leaders, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. December 1, 1955—November 50, 1956. p. 55. - 44 _ IV. FEDERAL LAND PLANNING FOR.THE UPPER PENINSULA. In the future federal land planning will be an important factor in upper peninsula agriculture. Progress is being made in this direction, and the first reports concerning agricultural planning have been submitted by the county agricultural agents of the upper peninsula to the federal government. The following brief summary represents the progress up to date.(1) The present type of hay acreage, which is prin- cipally timothy and wild grasses, should decrease and a better grade of hay should be grown. The number of the crop acres should be increased. More alfalfa should be grown. More and better dairy cattle should be raised. The tenancy in the upper peninsula is not a serious problem. V. SUMMARI. The purpose of this study has been to determine the activi- ties in the field of agriculture for the upper peninsula of MiChigan, and from the data obtained provide a basis for selecting desirable activi- ties in studying or teaching agriculture in this region. This study is a result of a desire to provide better classroom instructional materials for the students of the agricultural classes of Northern State Teachers' College. The writer has found through corre- spondence and conversation with county school commissioners of the upper peninsula that.the agriculture taught in the schools is unsatisfactory because of lack of materials adapted to the upper peninsula conditions. (1). County Agricultural Narrative Reports, Agricultural Planning Project. County agricultural agents of the upper peninsula of Michigan. See Appendix. -45.. The text books used in the seventh and eighth grades were fOund unsatisfactory because in many cases the agricultural practices of the upper peninsula were different than the problems discussed in the text. There is an increase in the agricultural industry of the upper peninsula as shown by the increase in the amount of dairy products, number of crop acres harvested, and number of farms Operated. There is also an increased interest in agriculture by the children of intermediate school age as Shown by the increased enrollment in 4—H clubs during the last few years. There is a wide variation in the length of the growing season in different parts of the upper peninsula. Seney has an average growing season of 48 days, and Grand Marais, which is 26 miles north of Seney, has an average growing season of 152 days. The upper peninsula experiment station has an average growing season of 80 days. The amount of land from which crops have been harvested in the upper peninsula is small compared to the amount of land suitable for ag- riculture. The total number of crop acres harvested per farm is small. Timothy is the leading grass crop and potatoes are the leading cash crop. In 1955, thirty-three of the fifty-one members Of the "500 Bushel Potato Club'' of Michigan were residents of the upper peninsula. Dairying is the principal livestock industry, and the herds rank high in the state in production per cow. The number Of pounds of dairy products manufactured in the upper peninsula during the last few years has increased rapidly. There has been a large increase in the tourist traffic into the upper peninsula during the last fifteen.years. During the season of 1924 the state ferry carried 58,468 vehicles across the Straits of Macki- nac. During the season of 1956 202,819 vehicles were transported across the Straits. In addition to this number, many vehicles were tranSported on the car ferry during the winter months the state ferry was unable to operate and a large number entered the upper peninsula fromeisconsin. The increased tourist traffic provides a greater market for agricultural products. There are more hours of sunlight and twilight in the upper pen- insula during the growing season than there are in southern Michigan. This is an important factor in plant growth. VI. CONCLUSIONS. 1. There is a desire on the part of some of the county school com- missioners of the upper peninsula for an improvement in the teaching of agriculture in the seventh and eighth grades. The use of the most desir- able agricultural activities that are common to the students will assist in improving instruction. 2. There are variations in the agricultural activities in differ- _ ent regions of the upper peninsula partially due to variations in the length of the growing season. 5. The large increase in the tourist traffic provides a home mar- ket fOr agricultural products during the summer. This factor provides a problem fer further study. - 47 - 4. There has been an increase in the enrollment of the 4+5 clubs during the last ten years. These clubs are composed mostly of boys and girls Of intermediate school age. The teacher should be acquainted with the activities of these boys and girls to provide more valuable instruc- tion. 5. Some parts of the upper peninsula are well adapted to success- ful agricultural practices. There is a large acreage suitable for agri— culture which is not under cultivation. If this land is to be developed, agricultural agencies may be asked to advise in regard to proper prac- tices. The rural teacher should be willing and capable to assist to some extent in this development. 6. It is the unanimous Opinion of the county agricultural agents of the upper peninsula that the number of crop acres harvested per farm is too small. Fewer acres of a better quality hay should be grown; more cash crops, especially potatoes, should be planted, and the dairy indus- try should be improved and expanded. They also report the tenancy situp ation is not serious. 7. With the proper training, the rural teacher may help obtain the above objectives. 8. An educational program, based partly upon student activities and future needs, is desirable. Just how much agricultural instruction in the schools Should be based around the agricultural activities of the community is a problem fer further study. If these activities are im- portant in the organization of a course of study in agriculture in the upper peninsula, two problems are apparent: 1, An organization of a course Of study based upon the activities most common to the students in the upper peninsula; 2, Acquainting the teachers of the upper peninsula with the factors influencing the conditions of living in the rural areas. -49- REFERENCES CITED Appleman, C. O. and Eaton, S. V. Education of Climatic Temperature Efficiency fOr Ripening Processes in Sweet Corn. Journal Agri- cultural Researdh 20, 1921. Bishop, George. Secretary, U. P. Development Bureau. UnpubliShed Report. Bonser, F. G. The Elementary School Curriculum. Macmillan Company, 60 Fifth Ave., New York. Bureau of the Census, U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. United States Census of Agriculture, Part I. 1925. Bureau of the Census, U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. United States Census of Agriculture, 1955. Burkett, C. W., Stevens, F. L., and Hill, D. H. Agriculture for Be- ginners. Gina and Company, Boston, Massachusetts. Car—Lot Shipment and Unloads of Important Fruits and Vegetables, 1929-1950. U. S. Department of Agriculture. Statistical Bulletin No. 58. Caswell, H. and Campbell, D. S. Curriculum Development. American Book Company, 88 Lexington Ave., New York. Clanahan, D. L., Upper Peninsula Crop Extension Specialist, Marquette, Michigan. Letter to Upper Peninsula Agricultural Agents. February 16, 1957. Clanahan, D. L., Upper Peninsula Crop Extension Specialist, Marquette, Michigan. Letter to Upper Peninsula 500 Bushel Club Members. February 16, 1957. Conservation Department, Land Economic Survey, Lansing, Michigan. Davis, Kary-Cadmus. Productive Farming. J. B. Lippincott Company, 227-251 S. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Gardner, Bradford, and Hooker. Fundamentals of Fruit Production. McGraweHill Book Company, 550 W. 52nd St., New York. 1922. Geismar, Leo M. Cloverland. U. P. Development Bureau, Marquette, Mich. Goff, E. S. and Mayne, D. D., First Principles of Agriculture. American Book Company, 88 Lexington Ave., New York. Grim, James 8. Elementary Agriculture. Allyn and Bacon, 11 E. 565th St., New York. 1916. Holman and Robbins. Elements of Botany. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 440 4th Ave., New York. 1955. Horne, H. H. The Democratic PhilOSOphy of Education. MacMillan Company, 60 5th Ave., New York. Kilpatrick, W. H. and others. The Educational Frontier. Century Company, 55 W. 52nd St., New York. Lucas, C. W., Director Public Relations Division, Michigan State Highway Department. Letter dated March 4, 1957. McDougall, W. B. Plant Ecology. Lea and Febiger, 600 S. Washington Square, Philadelphia, Pa. 1951. Mining Journal, Marquette, Michigan. February 15, 1956. Resettlement Administration, Upper Michigan Office, Escanaba, Michigan. 1956. Rood, Clare A., Bird, Olga, and Meyer, Marcella. Annual Report of Assist- ant Club Leaders of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Marquette, Mich. December 1955 - November 1956. Smith, W. J. The Effect of the Weather upon the Yield of’Potatoes. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Monthly Weather Review, May 1915, pp. 222-228. From 1925 U. S. Year Book, pp. 550—551. Taylor, George E. and Freeman, V. A. Michigan Live Stock Industry Report. United States Census. 1930. United States Weather Bureau Climatological Data, Vol. II, Sec. 61. Upper Peninsula of Michigan - U. S. Department of Agriculture. Weather Bureau, Washington, D. C. United States Year Book of Agriculture. 1952. The Year in Agriculture, "The Secretary's Report to the President." Upham, Arthur A. and Schmidt, G. A. Introduction to Agriculture. Appleton and Company, 29—55 W. 52nd St., New'York. 1919. wallace, Henry C. Report to the President of the United States, Washing- ton, D. C. December 10, 1955. United States Year Book of Agriculture. 1935. - 51 _ Walpole, B. A. The Science of Living Things. For the Department of Public Instruction, Lansing, Michigan. Hillsdale School Supply and Publishing Company, Hillsdale, Michigan. 1955. Waters, Henry Jackson. Elementary Agriculture. Ginn and Company, 15 Ashburton Place, Boston, Massachusetts. Weaver, John E. and Clement, Frederick E. Plant Ecology. McGraweHill Book Company, Inc. 550 W. 42nd St., New York. Whitaker, J. Russell. The Relation of Agriculture to Mining in Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Journal of Geography, Vol. 25, January 1926. A. J. Nystrom.and Company, 2249 Calumet Ave., Chicago, 1111110130 - 52 _ APPENDIX UPPER PENINSULA COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS *Aldrich, T. B., Sault Ste. Marie — Chippewa County Bettens, Jeremiah, Hancock - Houghton County *Chamberlain, Miss Mary, Newberry - Luce County Kilmer, Alfred, Greenland - Ontonagon County *Langdon, Charles, St. Ignace - Mackinac County Mason, John, Crystal Falls - Iron County *Miller, Bert, Iron Mountain - Dickinson County Nelson, Miss Elna, Baraga - Baraga County *Peterson, Mrs. Vera, Munising - Alger County Schuyler, Miss Ethel, Menominee - Menominee County *Swanson, Miss Ada, Manistique - Schoolcraft County *Watson, Mrs. John 0., Ironwood - Gogebic County *Williams, Stanley, Marquette - Marquette County *Titus, C. P., Escanaba - Delta County Winter, H. S., Mohawk - Keweenaw County *Note - County school commissioners who have indicated a change is de— sirable in the teaching of agriculture in the seventh and eighth grades. The other commissioners did not make a reply to the letter written to them. _ 55 - APPENDIX Horwood, Russell E., U. P. Extension Dairyman, Chatham, Michigan. Lecture befbre Dairy Class, Northern State Teachers' College. Reynolds, Paul. Coloma, Michigan, formerly of’Grand Marais, Michigan. Shipped strawberries to Chicago, July 6, 1954. Wells, J. G., Jr., Assistant County Agent Leader, Chatham, Michigan. Unpublished Reports - County Agricultural Agents. Upper Peninsula County Agricultural Agents County Agent Post Office Address Alger Kuhn, B. L. Menominee Baraga Biekola, Fred L'Anse Chippewa McMillan, D. L. Sault Ste. Marie Delta Wanner, E. A. Escanaba Dickinson Lonsdorf, Art Iron Mountain Gogebic Gunderson, C. E. Ironwood Houghton Roberts, Earl Houghton Iron Otterbein, A. W. Crystal Falls Luce Kuhn, B. L. Menominee Mackinac Cargo, Wm. St. Ignace Marquette walker, L. R. Marquette Menominee Kuhn, B. L. Menominee Ontonagon Schubert, A. R. Ewen E" - ‘i :1; - . "n _ V 1 1 5:4 . “26a: 9mm NEE (my 0&3'33 M 26 '43 Doc 23 4a a 9 \949 FAN“ 4, ‘9 6| 14 my} EM. ' M32553; ‘0- 20 “is Jan27’55‘ MEWS 'z'j _ ~.. 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