Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-12
BOYS AGRICULTURAL CLUES.
Good Advice, Suggestions and Offers Of
Assistance from University of Maine.

How is it. boys, snail We organize
some agricultural clubs in Maine this
year.
New York under the leadership OF
the Agricultural college Was the pia-
neer III boys and girls agricultural
club work. and other states quickly
followed In many states the move
ment has assumed enormous propor-
tions. In New York alone there are
- 900 boys and girls enrolled as mem
bers. Nebraska has $1,000. Mississippi
GG6e; No. Dakota. 5000; Ohio. 5000; In
diana. 5000. and many ether states
ranging from one Ia 5000 members.
Wherever organized the boys are do
ing something worth while. In Ne
i braska there is held annually a boys
state corn show AT which several thou
sand dollars in premiums are contested
! for and it cannot be disputed that in
some states wGcrp these clubs are ef-
fectiXe the boys are establishing Il
neW standard Of excellence not only
| IN crop production methods but in
per acre yield.
The general plan followed in the or
ganization and direction of these clubs
o. q school district or town to meet az
some school house CT grange hal and
organize BY electing 4 president, vice
president, secretary, and treasury. y
..urloisc SGT nf bylaws should be adopt
e. ,,.ot ought 10 be as simple as pos
e.4... y cDntes., oil some sort should
be agrGed upon. II the interest Of the
, town is or should be corn then that
crop would be the best or the contest
might he with potatoes, oats. wheat,
or beans. In somc instances contests
| in poultry mana cement have been or
sanized and carried through very sue
! ccssfully. With the girls. eithe" they
| should engage in somc of the above
| or should nave contests in domestic
ar s such as cookery. sewing, drawing,
| etc.
The writer is confident that the
! oranges ana business interests of our
] Maine towns will gladly contribute
| premiums tor carrying on these con-
/ tests. so that there will not or should
! not lac fny expense attached to meln-
| b1rsl!ip.
For several Years many of the boys
ot our state have responded promptly
| To- every call that has been made up
! ON them to grow corn FOR exhibition
purposes buth for the Farmers Week
course of the College and the annual
| fair given by tie Maine Dairymen's
! Association. The present year will
| furnish great opportunities for the
| boys in the exhibition of farm pro-
| duets. In addition to the regular ag-
| ricultural fairs there will be held in
| the State the present season a seed
! show at the Annual Farmers Week at
! the College of Agriculture. the Maine
i Seed Improvement Association seed
show. the State Grange, and the Maine
+ Corn and Fruit Show to be held at
Portland in November. The college
is planning to again assist in placing
an exhibit at the National Corn Show.
A few years ago New England boy,
only Is years of. age, won the grand
sweepstakes at that Exposition This
year an Indiana boy won the coveted
prize. So much for what boys can do.
Are you interested? Would you like
a club in Your town? Are you willing
to lead the way? If so Il letter ad :
dressed to Director OF Agricultural
Extension, Orono, Maine. will receive
PROMPT attention ana bring to you
plans for organization, etc. The writer
Will If possible arrange to attend any
meeting called to organize boys clubs
and give assistance in the planning of
contests.
f LEON S. MERRILL,
n Director Agricultural Extension