Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-12-29
-FOUR BOYS VISIT WASHINGTON.
Secretary of Agriculture IIon0rs Win
ncrs In Boys Corn Contest.

Washington, Dec. 21.-Special:
There was an interesting occasion in
the office of the Secretary of Agri-
culture December IA, 1909, at $50
O'Clock. Secretary Wilson presented
diplomas to Bascomb Usher of South
Carolina. Dewitt Lundy Of Missisip-
pi, Elmer Halter OF Arkansas, and
Ralph Bellwood Of Virginia.
These boys were among the 500
in the Boys Demonstration Work in
the South who planted one acre of
corn apiece and worked it under in
structions from the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture. DR.. S. A.
Knapp, who has charge Of the farm
demonstration work. offered trip
to Washington TO the boy in Missis-
siDpi who should get the best results.
The State Bankers Association in
Arkansas offered similar prize in
that State. Citizens of South Caro-
lima and Virginia duplicated the Of
fers there.
The above named boys, all under
eighteen years Of age, visited the De-
partment of Agriculture and other
interesting sights of the capital, and
were received by the Presiednt.
Thousands OF dollars worth of
prizes have been offered this year to
these Boys Clubs in the South by
merchants, boards Of trade and pub
lie spirited citizens generally, under
regulations furnished by the United
states Department of Agriculture
THESE regulations do not encourage
freak yields. but are drawn to en-
courage profitable farming. The basis
OF awards rests on showing Of profits,
written records, exhibits OF ears and
stalks, and yield per acre. The great
est yield does not get the prize in
c"ery case. Still there were some
fine yields this year. The prize win
ner from South Carolina made 152h
bushels per acre; boy in Mississippi
made li7 bushels: p boy I'm North
Carolina made i35 bushels, and the
Virginia winner 1872 bushels. More
than fifty boys made over 100 bushels
per acre. In several counties no boy
fell below 80 bushels per acre, and
the club average was about go.
Arrangements are being made in
all of the Southern States to send
the prize winners to Washington next
year.
In a brief address to the boys Sec
rctary Wilson declared that they and
tle DONS engaged III ike work are
1.-The only hope we have for the con-
tinucd greatness and prosperity Of
the country.' He pointed out that
the South now, In agriculture and in
manufacturing, was prospering as
never before. because the men and
women Of the South had put into the
work the.r own energy and ability
and in no sense were dependent upon
the capital or the industry of peo-
pie from other parts Of the country.
"These diplomas" he concluded,
are unique. No boys ever have re-
ceivcd similar recognition Of their
merit. Nothing | have done since |
have been Secretary Of Agriculture
has given me more pleasure than to
present them to you. You have earn
ed them. You have begun right You
arc now in the line to achieve the
highest honors Of your respective
States
Prof. w. II. Smith, County Super
intendcnt Of Holmes county, MiSsiS-
sippi, and one of the leaders in the
Boys Corn Club movement Of the
Farmers Cooperative Demonstration
Work, came to Washington to witness
this interesting event.