The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1909-03-27
What the Boys Corn Clubs Mean

MS sign that there Ia growing intares, 4,
better agriculture than the activity now
being manifested in several Southern States T.
the organization OF county boys corn grox,,v
clubs.
Only few years back It would have been i'm
possible for such a movement to have assumed
tho proportions IT has during tho past eighteen
months in Mississippi. and # could not now secnrs
tho interest OF the boys on the farms did /, m,
interest and have tho approval of tho parents o,
these boys.
No force which has ever operated for the hot.
torment of agricultural conditions In the South
wili exert a more poton, far-reachlng influence.
II these organizations merely indicated an In
creased interest in corn culture or II they stopped
at accomplishing tho very important end Of
largely increased yield Of corn per acre. all III,
effort expended in the movement would yield an
abundant reward. but the influence OF this move
mcnt wili not stop short Of anything lcss than
complete revolution tn tho entire agriculture Of
IN" South. and With this revolution In our agri-
culture will Rtao come reorganization OF the
ideas and sentiment of tho people towards sgricu
;ura an occupation and the needs and possible
i,sos OF agricultural education.
We hear much about tho boys leaving tho farms
and tho comparatively smai number of farmer
boys ~ho attend agricultural colleges and the
s'IiI smaller number who having attended these
colleges return TO tho farms.
Maay aud diverse have boon tho remedies sue.
gcaod for tho correction of this rcgrcttablc cond
siou bot seldom havo those discussing the subject
shown a very clear conception of the underlying
causes. of II ,hcy have had a correct unders,and-
Ing Of sheer causes they have not had tho courage
or traakurss 20 state them
Tho truth t.. that tho h"ys have not been inter
~ss"S In farming l-rcansc they have been gtv.
en- chance so make IL profitable. aud because too
many mothers have thought farming was not so
hixh-toncd occupation as they wished their
eoYa TO aspire TO. These are tho plain facts aud
iheFo IL nothing TO BIO gained by denying them or
"hu',ing our oycs 10 tho real causes of the cond
tons of which wo have complicated
Tho boys have not been taught In a way which
would enable them tn earn sufficient money farm
isg tan furnish those pleasures and comforts they
~" boys OF so gr~at"r ability securing other
"scspatioss and back of that has been the subtle
but potent influence OF tho mother leading them
To look away from tho farm for those positions Of
honor and fanei.d case which are not found on
many farmn under present agricultural cond
,ionH
The boys corn eiuha will do more than any
movement yet lnanguratcd to interest tho boys In
farming and 10 show them how the business may
DO mad" sufficiently profitable 20 AFFORD many
OF The pleasures and comforts OF life as other
equations. aud when the farms yield the revenue
necsi~d to purchase tho educ ationaI and social
advantages which every ambitious mother wishes
Tor her son. our viewpoint regarding the dignity
al farming will change. hut not until then.
despite all our public declarations 20 the contrary.
VII farming DO looked upon as sufficiently high
toned" to satisfy the ambitions OF tho mothers for
their sons.
What has been said about the possibilities OF
the boys corn clubs for educating the boys on the