The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-09-24
DoNALDsoNvLLE LA, SATURDAY, sEPTElBE
Corn Club Exhibit.


The following letter, which explains it
self, was addressed by Prof j. L. Rusca,
superintendent of the public schools of the
parish, to all of the public school teachers
in Ascension:
Donaldsonville. La. Sept 49, 1910.
DEAR TEACHER:
Your assistance and cooperation is
needed if the corn club exhibit, which we
propose holding at Gonzales on Oct. Il, is
to be a success.
The object or this club is to train the
boys, who will soon be men, in better
methods of farming and greater yields at
less cost. Many Of the boys who begin to
study agriculture in this way will continue
the study after they leave school on their
own farms and many of them, if not all
will make better and more useful citizens
From the pleasant and profitable ex-
perience of owning and managing their
own small plots, they will develop into
intelligent, industrious, independent citi-
zenS and farmers. The country needs
such a citizenship, and such a life offers
great opportunities.
The professions are crowded and the
wage earners must pay high prices for
the necessities of life. Not SO with the
farmer who knows how to do intelligent
farming for he can enjoy health, wealth
and contentment.
Please see that the trustee of your
school appoint disinterested committees
whose duty will be to ascertain the yield
of the crop of the corn club member and
have this yield, or copy of it, properly
certified to and signed also by the mem
Der whose corn yield has been estimated
and sent to me by Oct. |.
The yield must be found by marking off
a 3O-feet square where the corn represents
the average of the entire plot. Gather all
this corn on this square, husk and shell it
and weigh it and multiply the weight by
48 and 2-5 and divide what you get by 56
pounds. This represents the number of
bushels that an acre of that corn would
produce.
First. second, third and fourth premiums
will be given for the greatest yield per
acre, best exhibit of ten ears. best individ-
ual written account showing history of
crop, best written account showing profit
on investment, best essay or composition
on corn.
Please see that all of the members who
attend your school enter each contest and
put forth their best effort. They must re-
ceive no assistance from teacher or par
ents or friends in this written work or in
any of the work of the corn club under
penalty of being ruled out of the contest.
All written pa4erS must be sent to me by
Oct. and shall have them passed upon
by a committee of disinterested and COM
petent citizens of this town. The results
will be announced on the day of the exhib-
its, etc. When p sSible deliver the
papers to me personally rather than
trusting same through the mails. Do not
allow the pupils, rather members, to delay
getting their papers ready; better too soon
than too late.
The ten ears and the single ear exhibit
must be at Gonzales by 8 o'clock in the
morning of the contests.
Work up interest among your members
as well as among all boys large and old
enough to enter another year. Work up
interest among the fathers and see that
they attend the contests and hear the
talks and encourage these who are to be
the backbone of Ascension some day.
Hoping that your school will come in
for share of the premiums, l am, with
best wishes for happy and profitable
session, Yours truly,
j. l. RUSCA, Supt.