Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-04-12
Correspondents.


AITkIN, MIMI, April =, WI.
To the Rditorof the American.
No doubt many Of the readers Of your
valuable paper, like myself, have been
much interested in the great work that has
lately been carried on in the South by the
U. 8. States department Of agriculture, in
corn culture. But il you will kindly
grant me little space, will say few
words on this very important subject.
It seems that, few years ago, our very
efficient and energetic agricultural depart
ment decided that the consumption OF
corn was rapidly gaining upon the pro-
duction, so the department sent its ex-
perts to various parts Of the country to
study the situation, with view to in
creasing the production and thus averting
corn famine.
After the field men had made their re-
ports, the great question was where to
do the work which it was necessary to
do in order to have their modern ideas
bear fruit. 1t was finally decided to make
the campaign for the expansion Of the corn
crop and larger yield in the Gulf and
South Atlantic states. The corn experts
invaded many OF these states armed with
their new ideas on the subject, but the
farmers, who all through that great sec
ton had been giving nearly all their at
tention to the production Of cotton and
tobacco, gave them to understand that
they did not consider corn an important
crop, and moreover they knew all about
the cultivation OF it, and did not care to
waste their time receiving worthless in
struction from book farmers on the SUBJ
ject.
Something must be done in order to get
the corn gospel before the people, so the
department OF agriculture hit upon the
happy idea Of getting the farmers boys
interested in the subject, and in order to
do this more successfully, they organized
hundreds Of boys corn clubs in each
state. In order to create competition and
to stimulate the boys to do their best
work, they found that it would be de-
| sirable that prizes should be awarded to
the most successful growers.
The government could send out the ex-
perts to direct the work and mail to each
member all the instruction bulletins
needed, but there was no money to be
used for prizes, SO they put the matter
before the leading men in the cities and
towns in such Q forcibIe manner that all
the money needed for that purpose was
donated by them. The scheme worked
like . charm, and the way that those
boys took hold of the work was only ex-
ceeded by the truly wonderful results
that they produced.
In more than q dozen states, during the
season just closed, more than $4,000 boys
have been engaged in this great work,
| with all the earnestness OF youth, and it
seems more than likely that this splendid
movement will spread to all parts Of our
country. All through the South the lads
in this new volunteer army OF juvenile
farmers have been giving their fathers OBJ
ject lessons in farming right at home.
Many OF the fathers, when they saw the
immense yields that the boys were getting
by carrying out the instructions OF the
shook chaps" from Washington, began
''sit up and take notice., and they decided
that the new method brought results, and
was well worth trying.
OF course, not all OF them were con-
verted to the new corn gospel, but the in
crease in the crop in the sections in which
this work has been carried on has been
from one-sixth the nations total crop
to one-third Of it. Surely, this is great
record and one well worth striving for,
for when any OF the great divisions OF our
country, by applying modern methods Of
cultivation, can double SO important .
crop, it is certainly producing cash re-
splts, and that is what counts in business.
The champion corn-grower OF all these
Thousands OF boys, and no doubt Of the
world, is Jerry Moore, Of South Carolina,
who made the enormous yield Of 228 BUSH
nearly 800 boys who made yield of more
than 100 bushels to the acre. Just think
Of this, when the great corn states Of
Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, with their
soil OF unrivaled fertility, have an average
yield OF but thirty-fve bushels to the
acrel
| It was . proud moment for about .
dozen OF Uncle Sans champion corn
growers when they arrived in Washing
ton, u. Y. 70 trip TO the capital CITY Doin&
the grand prize in each OF the ststes).
They were presented to Pres. Taft; re-
ceived their diplomas from that grand
old man who has done 30 much for the
agricultural interests Of our country,
Secretary Of Agriculture James Wilson,
and were praised BY both these great
leaders for their splendid work.
have been pleased to notice that
Maine, like Minneapolis, has begun to fall
into line in this important movement for
greater yields OF this useful cereal, and
has begun the foundation Of corn clubs,
but 1 have not been informed that my
native city, Ellsworth, has been active in
the matter yet. II am correctly informed,
the Ellsworth board Of trade has com
mittee on agriculture, and there would
seem to DO good opportunity for it to do
some excellent work in this dircetion.