The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-27
CORN IS READY.
Boy Agriculturists May Get the
Seed Supply Now.
Much Interest Shown in the
Coming Contest.
COMMITTEE is NAMED.
COMMITTEE is NAMED
Members Will Have Charge O
the Distribution.
Saturday, Nov. % Is Fixed a,
Date for Exhibition.


An announcement of great import
ance to the farmer boys of Shawnee
county was made Thursday by Brad
ford Miller when he said: Tell every
mothers son of them that seed corn
for the Boys Corn Growing contest can
De had at any time from now on by
gaining at my home, 626 Clay street for
| it, and all that is necessary for them
to do is to bring along a sack"
Inc shawnee. county boys corn
growing contest has unique place in
Kansas or in the entire west for that
| matter, and was started two or three
years ago by Bradford Miller and a
few more interested farmers who were
seeking a way In which to interest the
boys in the farms of their fathers. Ex-
cellent progress was made from the
first and last year there were 81 con-
testants with corn on display at the
court house during Thanksgiving week
including one farmers daughter.
The ten most successful contestants
were awarded a trip to the State Agri-
cultural college at Manhattan where
all of their expenses were paid for
week while they attended the meetings
held at the state Institution. Others
less fortunate were awarded prizes of
less worth and every one of the ten
boys. were given a good serviceable
pocket knife while the girl contestant
was awarded a number of special
prizes of great worth to her.
The interest in the event was intense
and the city court room where the
awards were made was not half large
enough to accommodate the crowd of
interested spectators. But two grades
of corn were shown, Boone County
White, and Reid's Yellow Dent, and
from the prize winners at this event
was selected. The seed from which
these prize winning ears were raised
had in it's turn been of the prize win
ming variety.
Following this plan for selecting the
seed corn for the corn growing con-
test it will be readily seen that the
quality is improved each season and
that in time there is every reason to
believe that Shawnee county will be
one of the best corn districts in the
state as far as the quality of the corn
is concerned.
Twelve committeeman have been Sc
lected from the various parts of the
county and seed corn may be obtained
from any one of them as soon as it is
possible to complete the distribution.
The committeeman selected are: J. A.
Parr, Rossville; S. ]. Wood, rural route
6; J. w. Cochran, route s; w. p KIM
ball. route A; William Quail, route 2;
S. .Parr route 2; C. A. Kline, route 2;
a.
ryton; William Firestone, Auburn; F.
A. Kiene, Jr., Valencia, and Fred Eng
Ter, route Z.
Nearly all of the seed corn which will
be distributed is on the ear and was
selected by a committee composed Of
F. A Kiene, Jr., Grant Kelsey and
Fred Engler, all acknowledged authori-
ties on Shawnee county corn. Each
boy must be between the ages of
IL and 16 years and will be allowed ten
So f0v. mr.
plant two acres or more.
THE season of course has much to
do with the planting time of corn"
said Mr. Miller, land I have known
corn to be planted In this part OF the
state as nearly as the first of April.
though in my judgment it should be
planted between the 10th Of April and
the list of June to secure the best re-
suits"
August Engler, 16 years of age, plant
ed a quart of prize winning corn last
wear and grew IA bushels of prize win
ming corn which he disposed of at 81
a bushel for seed. Besides the $l4 In
cash which he realized as a reward for
his industry he enjoyed week at Man
haitian college with all of his expenses
paid
Mr.. Miller has about rs bushels of
seed corn ready for distribution so that
there will be plenty for all who wish
to enter the contest and some to spare.
While there was nearly 100 contestants
in the event last year it is expected
that there will be double that number
this year. An attempt will be made to
secure the Auditorium for the occasion
and a small charge, perhaps ten cents
will be charged at the door.
1t is hoped that the receipts from
this source will be sufficient to send
double the number of boys to Manhat-
tan for a weeks instruction at the
State Agricultural college Last year
the Commercial club donated 500 tow
ards defraying this expense and a party
of ten boys were given week of en-
tertainment and all expenses paid. The
party was in charge Of F. A. kiene, Jr.,
who after paying all of the expenses
incident to the trip returned nearly $50
to the treasurer of the Commercial
club.
The date Of the contest this year Will
be Saturday, November %, when most
of the schools OF the county will be
closed. This date will also allow plenty
of time for the corn to mature after IL
has been laid by It is more than like
ly that the Rossville district will fur
nish a number of contestants for first
Mace. as a corn growers association
was formed in that township last week