The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-09
CORN AS LEADER
IN AGRICULTURE
Prof. [. N. Duncan Is Doing
Profitable Work
ORGANIZING CORN CLUBS
Encourages the Boy To Improve Meth
DDS, Produce More Corn and Be-
come Satisfied With Life
on the Farm.
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.


Montgomery, January s.-(SpeciaL)--
Working through the county superin-
tendents of education and the teachers,
using the popular subject of corn as
leader, Prof. Il. N. Duncan, of the Au-
burn faculty, reporting to DR.. 8. A.
Knapp, of the department Of agricul-
ture demonstration service. is arousing
great interest in every section of the
state for better farming and farm life
conditions Using the boys. who are
organized in farm life clubs, he secures
the enthusiasm of the entire family and
the result is wonderful in the arousing
of attention to the things that will help
to keep the-child on the farm and help to
make the farm a likable place to stay.
Mr.. Duncan's first work is in corn
clubs, many of which have been formed
in several counties. He gets the names
of teachers from the county superin-
tendents and writes to them for the
names of the boys. Then letter is writ
ten to each boy direct, mailed in an en-
velope and addressed to him. He is
informed of the work, of what he can
do and how much money he can earn.
Full instructions are given in the prep
aration of the land, fertilizing and care.
SO that the boy is kept on the alert
all the time to keep up with the infor-
nation given. Bankers, merchants. bus
mess men and farmers put up the money
for the prizes, being glad to do SO.
j. II. Pinson, a farmer of Sumter coun-
ty, is giving himself s225 for next year.
At least one boy in each school dis
trict is desired. He has the help of
the teachers and the school officers, who
are everywhere urging agriculture in the
schools. Last year Tuscaloosa county
had a club of 275 boys, tending from
one-half to an acre. The average yield
per acre was increased in tended lands
from 1873 bushels to 34S bushels. The
awarding of the prizes. was made a
great day. After the boys were lined up
they. each with an ear of corn, were
marched to the fair grounds and given
special attention as young patriots who
are helping the country to grow its own
corn, the state having bought 100000
bushels for its own use last year. the
effect was to begin a sentiment for diver
sification of crops that is bound to be
wonderful help to the county and the
rest of the state.
Ine COu1ltIcb WutIc ILLS Woth has eohCh
hold Is showing related interest on the
part of the grown folk that is wholesome.
The acre tended by the boy was in ev-
cry case better than any acre on the
farm, which attracted the attention OF
the father. One mother, whose boy lost
his corn by high waters, came to Mr..
Duncan to be sure he gets in on the next
one with high lands. Tho ownership
gives the boy new energy. In most
- L 49, -~lxrA
any land for his own, being forced to
bear his share of the labor without spe-
cial claim on any of the returns Now he
feels 1t not only his own, but thing
that he is obligated to make. a little
better than the rest Of the crop about
him.
The boy is urged to select his seed and
told how to judge corn. He finds help
from the leaders In the campaign at ev-
cry step so that with all his independ-
ence he may not be made to feel that
he is cut off from instruction. Litera-
ture is sent him and in his school he
hears talks and lectures about corn and
the best way to increase the yield. Those
Tuscaloosa boys sent the average output
in their section to 81 bushels to the
acre while the general state average Is
not much over 49, In addition to all of
this modern school gardens arc main
tanned and in this way the boys are get
ting actual training in school hours.
Calhoun county was also well organ
ized last year and so far this year re-
quests have come from Mr.. Duncan to
organize 20 or more counties, all of which
he will try to get into in time to set
the work going. He is first going to work
in the Alabama counties along the Mis-
sissippi line, hoping to get enough corn
grown to head off the evil effects of the
boil weevil when he comes some time this
fall to eat on the cotton crop. That is
the motto he would urge, Flight the
boil weevil with corn" If the slogan cen
be gotten circulated and the sentiment
made to take root the hefty little pest
will find that his region in Alabama will
be shorn of much of its terror