Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-16
FARMING AMONG THE BOYS.

II
Richmond News Leader.
FARMING AMONG THE BOYS.
Agricultural Department Pushing q
Great Work.
"In The Progressive Farmer
Uncle John" tells about margin
a boy a year ago to join q
Boys Corn Club. The boy did sc
and has reported this fall that he
made 1O4 bushels of corn on an acre
of land where he gathered twelve
bushels Of nubbins the year before,
"Our reports show that there are
a great many boys Of this kind
among the 12,464 boys in the south
who have Joined such clubs, and who
have planted and cultivated their
acres by improved methods. A re-
port which came in today tells Of a
boy who made S,540 pounds OF
1924 bushels of shelled corn on an
acre. This report was not so much
Of q surprise to me because I had
visited the plat and had counted the
number of stalks and ears to the row
and the number Of rows to the acre.
A great many Of these reports show
yields Of more than 100 bushels per
acre.
mot so very many miles from the
boy above referred to, I have met
another boy whose work Is Of espe-
cial interest. He will make a fine
yield on his acre, and he will know
how he did 1t. He has secured a
nice desk In which he has kept ac-
curate records of the progress and
expenses Of his work. He knows ex-
actly when his land was prepared,
how deep 1t was broken, what fer
tilizers were used and the analysis
Of the same. He knows the time OF
planting, the kinds and amount of
seed and the dates Of the various
civilizations. He has kept a record
Of his own time and the amount OF
time required for the horses to do
the necessary plowing, and the value
also keeps all the bulletins and agri-
cultural papers which he receives
carefully filed in his desk. He will
evidently develop into a business
farmer, something the country needs
in large and increasing numbers.
Some of the meetings OF the Boys
clubs and their exhibits this season
have been Of unusual interest. In
some cases the exhibits have led to
the establishment Of county fairs
where prizes are offered, not only to
boys for other field and garden crops,
but also to girls for good work In
flower and vegetable gardens and
also for good specimens Of cooking
and sewing.
"At some Of the meetings the
tell how they worked their crops.
The reports say that boys who would
be unwilling to talk publicly on abb
stract subjects talk right out in the
meeting when 1t comes to telling about
their successful work. This progress
in public speaking, as we'll as the
preliminary knowledge gained In
conducting the clubs, Is worth while.
"Public-spirited men generally ap-
preciate the importance Of this work
and realize it's significance. In some
counties more than $500 worth Of
prizes have been offered. In quite
a number the amounts are above
$500, while it is very common for
the amount to exceed 800. The fol-
lowing will show some Of the things
which are offered as prizes in this
work:
"A trip to Washington; $50 in
gold $40 in gold; $40; IS; a nice
buggy and harness; good two-horse
wagon; a first-class bicycle; strong
two-horse plow; two-row corn
planter; a double barreled shot gun;
a substantial cultivator; IS hat; a
SIS suit of clothes; half ton Of fer
tilizer; a IS pair Of shoes; some full
blooded pigs; three books on agricul-
ture; bride, saddle and whip; gold
stick pin in shape Of ear Of corn.
1T will be noticed that some very
good suggestions are contained in the
lists. A sample prize list from a
single county will perhaps give a
more definite idea. Herewith Is sub
mitted list from a county which
has a live, active Boys club.
1925 cash; SIS saddle; IS farm i'm
plement; $40 watch; corn planter;
diverse cultivator; SIS shot gun; IS
hat; IS pair Plymouth Rock chick
ems; trip to state fair; three books
on agriculture; three good agricul-
tural papers for one year; SO cash to
boy in each beat who makes most
corn on one acre, given by Farmers
Union; 500 pounds fertilizer.
1.-The prizes are not offered upon
greatest yield alone; other important
factors are considered. When a club
Is first being organized and the work
being started in a county 1t Is the
custom in many cases to put up a
few prizes. just on seed selection
alone. Each boy is asked to bring
the best ten ears Of corn he can find
on his fathers farm to the organi-
zation meeting. Some instruction Is
then given in corn judging. This has
been found helpful to the boys in the
that the following points are used In
making awards Of prizes and premi-
ums: %, yield; (2), ears and
stalks: (3), written account; (D,
showing Of profit.
There are great many more
members Of Boys Corn clubs In the
gulf states than in the south Atlantic
states. Some of the boys in
the South Atlantic states, however,
are showing some fine records for
this year. They will be prepared for
still better work next year, and sew
eral more thousands Of boys in these
states will join clubs.
Those boys who have made more
are public benefactors in their COM
munities. They are making demon
strations Of what can be done. They
constitute great correspondence
school because they ask for the best
bulletins on specific subjects and
then master them. After they learn
a great deal about corn they are bet
ter prepared to study other plants.
Such study gives pleasure and profit.
1t opens up some Of the delights Of
farm life. Just from the standpoint
of profit the showing Is good. The
boy who made 1924 bushels Of corn
per acre can sell his corn at $500 per
bushel If he wants to. I have heard
already of a good farmer in his coun-
ty who wants to buy some Of his
seed. He will probably make s25 or
more in county prizes and at least
an equal amount at his state fair.
He will stand fine chance Of winning
the prize trip to Washington. AL
together his one acre will be worth
at least $400 to him. Many other
boys will approximate the same sue
cess. May his tribe greatly increase
in 1910"