The Grit-advocate., 1905-06-30
PRIZES TO BOYS and GIRLS IN
PATTERSON SEED COMPETITION

and girls on the farms ir
Colorado during the next two
years through one of the most move
and interesting contests ever inaugu
rated in this country. 1t is to be
known as "The Patterson Seed Compe
tition," having been named after Sena
tor 4. M. Patterson. who has agreed
to provide the money for the prizes
The competition is 10 be open to every
boy and girl in Colorado under eight
cen years Of age, and continues fol
three years. with an annual reward Of
prizes and a general award at the end
of the three years.
1t is announced in the Denver News
as follows:
The contest Is to see who can pro
duce the best wheat, oats and barley
by seed selection and Improvement
during the three years trial, and each
contestant is required to grow each
year an acre of grain from which is
selected 100 heads, to be judged in
competition by the experts at the col
lege. There will be ten prizes award
ed annually for each grain, fall wheat,
opt NIB oa'G anu Ddl ~ loll
prizes in all each year, and AN addi-
tional forty prizes for the general com.
petition at the end of the third year.
AS far as known no such competi-
tion was ever before held in this coun.
try, and it will attract widespread at
tention, not only in Colorado. but all
over the country. Professor Olin's
idea is to encourage the breeding OF
seed for use in this state and else
where. He maintains that the seed
brought from eastern states for plant
ing here is not acclimated. and that by
Careful selection and growing in three
years he can produce a seed that will
very materially increase the output OF
Colorado farms. He has selected the
young folks to do the work because he
believes that it will be easier to inter-
est them in the work, but the experts
from the experiment stations will lend
every assistance and advise and in
struct those contesting.
Il have been greatly impressed with
the agricultural possibilities of Colo
redo" said Professor Olin yesterday,
but when find the farmers of east
ern Colorado planting seed that came
from the wettests part of the Missis-
sippi valley and the gardeners of the
high mountain district using seed from
Alabama and other points at sea level,
l feel positive that we could get far
greater returns by breeding and grow
ing our own seed. If we only add five
bushels tn the acre in our average out
put of grain it will mean millions.
Another point is that while grain
brought from low attitudes to high al
titudes for planting deteriorates, grain
taken from high altitude to a low al
titude does not lose its strength. 1t is
the same way with animals. You bring
cattle here from southern Texas and
for the first year or SO they do not do
well, but animals grown in this climate
will do well anywhere. If our compe-
tition proves successful, therefore, it
will mean the building of new indus.
try, that of growing seed for use in
other sections of the country, and as
seed grains always bring much higher
prices than ordinary grain, it Is a pay
ing proposition"
Professor Olin already has assur-
ances of numerous contestants for the
prizes from various portions of the
state. and expects that the enthusiasm
of the young folks will spur up the in.
terest of the older farmers, and at the
same time the contest will interest
many of the boys and girls of the state
in practical farming.
eve have had this plan in mind for
some time" said Professor Olin, but
unfortunately the agricultural college
was hampered for funds to carry it out.
The matter was placed before Senator
w hn OF =
mense possibilities in such a contest,
and he has agreed to provide the
funds. The whole contest will be un.
der the direction of the agricultural
college and experiment station, how
ever. and we will do everything possl.
BILE to assist those who enter the con,
test. both by direction and advice. The
matter will be taken up in the schools
in the various farming localities, and
where the children desire they may
form companies and work together as
one competitor. They may have the
assistance of their parents in planting
and cultivating and harvesting, and
may select their seed plot wherever
they .lease, so that 1t il in Colorado.
The competition will be absolutely fair
and by the plan determined upon. The
grain itself governs the contest"
Those entering the contest and do
Ing intelligent work will stand good
chance to make it pay them we'll 1t
is possible for young man to win as
high as 800, and all the prizes are
worth striving for. Professor Olin
will very shortly issue bulletin Civ
ing full particulars and instructions,
but in the meanwhile all those who in
tend to enter should be busy making
arrangements to secure seed and for
selecting seed plot for next year.
The preliminary plan decided upon is
as follows:
I. Any boy or girl residing In the
state of Colorado. who has not passed
the eighteenth birthday before the
first day of January, 1906. is eligible
to compete for the prizes offered.
There will be yearly competition
m each of the three years. 1906, 1907
and 1908. and there will be main