The Ocala evening star., 1911-06-20
Jerry Moore

jerry Moore
The tourist into the Southern states.
il he possesses an inquiring mind and
mingles with his brethren, will dis
cover that a fifteen-year- old boy is the
reigning hero Of the period. Jerry
Moore, Of Winona, South Carolina. in
the autumn Of 1910 won the title OF
Champion Boy Corn Grower of the
World" His achievement has made
him tremendous asset to his state. He
produced on one acre of land 228
bushels and three pecks of corn. He
has become the carnate symbol of
great future for the South in agricul-
ture-the youthful Messiah of the soil.
1t was an interesting and diverting
experiment in travelling throughout
South Carolina in the early spring
months for the writer to mention the
name of Jerry Moore on the trains or
in the hotels. The response to his
name was a denial of any lack of en-
thusiasm in the South and proof Of
Jerry's Importance to his state. y few
years ago the average yield of corn to
the acre in South Carolina was a frac-
tion over eight bushels; last year the
crop had grown to an average of eight
cen and a fraction bushels. This shows
growth in intelligence of culture as
we'll as in quantity. The cause of the
increase has been the boys of South
Carolina-and, in fact, of the whole
South.
Jerry Moore is the champion of an
army of over five thousand boys in
South Carolina alone. enrolled in the
Boys Corn Clubs of the South. They
have not only been learning what can
be done on the farms with a scientific
application of fertilizers and a deeper
furrowing of the plow, but thry have
taught their elders. Each year the boys
in the public schools of nearly every
county in the Southern states choose
acre of land and industriously en-
gage in the competition for the hon
ors of corn growing, and the boys of
South Carolina have held the cham
pionship ever since they have entered
the lists And each year the champion
has scaled a higher maximum Of pro
duction. They intend that there shall
be no going back" Various organ
igations in the counties add to the
zest of the competition by Offering
prizes--a trip to Washington, a new
plow, money sometimes. The governor
of South Carolina awards a diploma ia
each boy whose crop amounts to sew
enty-five bushels or more, and there
were l42 winners of the honor in 1910
Jerry Moore's father is a Methodist
clergyman whose glebe comes as a
portion of his reward for his service
to his church. Last year the rains
were uncommonly plentiful and it was
hinted that Jerry scored an advant-
age over his competitors in the pray
ers of his father; but Jerry'S earnest
la Dor and inCessant guardianship 81
his precious cornstal<s rose 10 the dig
nifty of a religion. lie has carted over
seven hundred loads Of rich earth on
his acre. and he spent over $50 on fer
tilizers But his profits. after paying
all expenses. amounted to over $3.50
His distinction won him many hun
dredS more. No agricultural festival
in the South and the near adjoining
West has been regarded : a normal
occasion without the presence of Jer-
ry. He has been summoned as far as
Columbus. Ohio, where a banquet was
given to his honor-and to his great
discontinue also. When all the bl-
farmers assembled around the table
rose to drink his health, one of then
raised Jerry to his feet in his chair
and he hid his face in his arm. his
boyish. blushing bashfulness being a
charming to his hosts "a ii was a@ontZ-
ing to him.
Into the competition this spring OF
1911, must to the surprise of everyone
Jerry has projected himself. aspiring
apparently to beat himself. 1t has
oeen generally supposed that his re
cord could never be beaten. II may be
however. that this boy is wise eTt0u2F
nave learned the precept that the
license of so important a title aS the
hampton Boy Corn Grower of the
may be best attained by en-
'ellhS himself as the cOmpetitOr