The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-02-09
CORN CLUB!
BOYS DEMONSTRATION WORK.
Conditions Of The eontest-Free to All.

Conditions Of The eontest-Free to All.
ORGANIZATION AND INSTRUCTION.
1t is worth while to get boy to form a
good purpose and work persistently to-
ward its accomplishment. If number of
boys can be induced to strive for the same
goal, with spirit Of friendly rivalry
which stimulates observation, study, in
dustry and economy, then the good re-
suits will be increased many fold.
Such is the plan Of the Boys Corn Clubs
in the Farm Demonstration Work. In
order to get the best results it Is not only
necessary to get the boys to unite their
efforts, but it is also essential that other
vital forces in the county cooperate. One
OF the strong features about the Demon
stration Work is that it is cooperative.
So in the Boys Department we frequently
find the county superintendent of educa-
tion and teachers, the Demonstration
agents, the business men, the newspapers
and the parents giving aid and support.
Where this work is being INTRODUCED in
a county, the county superintendent OF
education and teachers can teach the boys
in all sections OF the county mora quickly
AMI more effectively than any other agency
The superintendent can explain the plan
to the teacher, and they can explain It to
the boys and secure the names Of all the
boys who will agree to plant one acre OF
corn. It Is best to begin with corn. It Is
a fine subject for study, and our people
need to raise more corn to be prosperous
and independent.
After this Is done meeting Of all boys
interested should be held at the court
house for the purpose Of organization and
instruction. Such meetings should be
held as early in the season as possible 80
that every boy may have time for proper
preparation of soil and selection Of seed.
For the first year it has been found advan-
tageous to see that first class seed are fur
nished to all Of the boys alike. After that
each boy should select and breed his own
seed. Wherever special agent Of the D.
a county it will be found that he will gladly
help in giving instructions and advice In
regard to the agricultural part Of the work
either to the county Club or to local groups
Of boys whom he may meet BIN his rounds
over the county.
PRIZES AND PREMIUMS.
II the merchants and other public-spirit-
ed citizens have been visited and the work
explained to them before the general meet
ing Of boys, there will be fine list OF
prizes to announce. There have been
many commendable contributions to this
cause in various parts of the country dur
ing this year. It adds considerable In
terst to the work Ito offer prizes like the
following. which have been selected from
different lists in the South for this year:
ga trip to Washington, $50 In gold, $40, S.,
nice buggy, first class bicycle, a strong
IS hat, a SIS suit of clothes, an up to date
corn planter, a ton Of Fertilizer, two
horse wagon, and other articles Of utility
and value. Some Boards Of trade and
chambers Of commerce have made appro-
priations direct for prizes and some have
given fine recognition to the efforts OF the
Boys Clubs by giving them banquets and
street car and automobile rides.
CIRCULARS AND BULLETINS.
Just as soon as the names Of all Of the
boys are assembled In the Office OF the
county superintendent OF education, dupli-
cate lists should be sent to DR.. S. A. Knapp
Washington, D. c., who has charge. Of the
farmers cooperative Demonstration Work
These boys will from time to time receive
circulars OF instruction and information
in regard to preparation, fertilization, Gull
tivation, seed selection, etc. These circu-
lars furnish excellent subject matter for
discussion at a club meeting or for lesson
in school. They also lead to further study
of farmers bullitens and books. boy
will profit from such lessons, discussions
and books because he Is making practical
learns scientific agriculture because he
needs it and not because it is scientific.
RULES AND AWARDS.
1t is not necessary to have many rules.
A few regulations, however, are necessary
in order to prevent misunderstanding. 1t
is we'll for the boys to select own president
vice-president. secretary and treasurer.
Some clubs have badges OF membership
in the shape Of a button with the name OF
the club, name Of 1.-THE county and states,
and year printed or engraved upon it. =.
The following rules might be adopted
by club, with such modification and ad-
ditions as may be found necessary:
/. Boys joining clubs and entering con-
tests must be under 18 years Of age.
q No boy shall contest for prize un-
less he becomes member ola club.
8. The members Of the clubs must agree
to read the instructions of the Demonstra-
ton Work.
4. Each boy must plan his own crop and
do his own work.
S. Exhibits must be delivered to the
county superintendent OF education by
OCTOBER 10Th.
6. The amount OF the yield and the
method Of measurements must be certified
by each boy and attested by at least two
disinterested witnesses, who shall be sat-
isfactory to the county superintendent.
7. In awarding prizes the following
basis shall be used:
(a) Greatest yield per acre 80 per cent.
(bBest 10 ear exhibit Is per cent
lei Best written account showing history
Of crop and all expenses rs per cent.
(d) Best showing of profit on investment
80 per cent.
Note: The above will not 60 into effect
until 1910 as many have already adopted
different system OF awarding prizes for
the present year.
Experts from agricultural colleges and
departments Of agriculture and leading
farmers should be invited to act as judges
and also to give talks on corn judging and
seed selection.
In estimating profits uniform prices
should be used, for instance; SIS per acre
for rent, 10 cents per hour for the work
Of each boy, and cents per hour for each
horse.
FAIRS AND EXHIBITS.
There is county fair the boys exhibit
should be shown there. II no fair should
be held in county, the boys exhibit
should be collected in the court house or
some other public place easy OF access.
good exhibit by n Boys Club may lead
to the establishment OF a county. Exhibits
by local clubs at school houses stimulate
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