The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-04-27
BOYS AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.

How is it boys, shall we organize some
, agricultural clubs in Maine this year?
! New York, under the leadership of the
+, Agricultural College, was the pioneer in
boys and girls agricultural club work,
and other States quickly followed In
many States the movement has assumed
enormous proportions. In New York
alone there are 75,0 900 boys and girls en-
rolled as members. Nebraska has U.s.
900; Miss, 5000; North Dakota, 5000;
Ohio, 5000; Indiana, 5000, and many
other States ranging from one to five
thousand members.
Wherever organized the boys are doing
something worth while. In Nebraska
there is held annually boys State corn
show at which several thousand dollars
IN premiums are contested for, and it
cannot be disputed that in some States
where these clubs are effective the BOYS
are establishing new standard of ex-
cellence, not only in crop production
methods but in per acre yield.
The general plan followed in the or
ganization and direction of these clubs
is for the boys or the boys and girls of
school district or town to meet at some
, school house or grange hall and organize
/ by electlng President, Viee-President,
Secretary and Treasurer A concise set
of by laws should be adopted; they ought
! to be as simple as possible. A contest
of some sort should be agreed upon. If
! the interest OF the town is or should be
! corn, then that crop would be the best, or
the contest might be with potatoes, oats,
! wheat or beans. In some instances con-
tests in poultry management have been
organized and carried through very sue
cessfully. With the girls, either they
should engage in some of the above or
should have contests in domestic arts
such as cookery, sewing, drawing, ETC.
The writer is confident that the oranges
and business interests of our Maine
towns will gladly contribute premiums
for carrying on these contests, so that
there will not or should not be any ex-
pense attached to membership.
For several years many of the bows of
our State have responded promptly to
every call that has been made upon them
to grow corn for exhibition purpose, both
for the Farmers Week course Of the
college and the annual fair given by the
Maine Dairymen's Association. The
present year will furnish great oppor-
tunities for the boys in the exhibition
of farm products. In addition to the
regular agricultural 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 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 ex-
hlbit 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 fol
what boys can do. Are you interested:
| Would you like a Club in your town? Are
you willing to lead the way? If so let
ter addressed to Leon S. Merrill, Direc
tor of Agricultural Extension, Orono
Maine, will receive prompt attention ant
bring to you plans for organization, etc
The writer will, if possible, arrange t.
attend any meeting called to organic.
boys clubs and give assistance in tn.
planning of contests.
LEON S. MERRILL.