The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-01-19
Ufh GREATEST FARMING SIC.
TON
oss'D'''tles Of Gulf States as Corn
escs'on-More Corn Would Mean
More Beef and Pork

More Beef and Pork
'Manlon Gore in Orlando Reporter.
Starr
comparatively little attention is be-
= given by the average citizen of
eiorloa to the boy corn club move
ment' lnaugurated few years ago by
Inc department of agriculture. The
middle west. the great corn field of
~ me continent, has been, and still is.
%Rulte content to let well enough alone.
dents of that section seem to
asthat they have monopoly of
Eiuction of corn, and feeling
the holding of it, take no
&,he rest of the country, so
able to pay for their
Z. They have supplied
for so long time, and
Fscompetition that they
Cook upon these pro-
upon our Florida eli
heritance, with moth
~ outside.
breaking through
81 selection and in
. n have already dem
rthe gulf states can cas-
Vice as much corn to the
produced in the most fa-
ION of the middle west, and
st per bushel, when land val
considered in the competition.
goy corn clubs have demonstrated
the lands of these gulf states can
made to yield twice as many bush
10 the acre as the average of the
Il in Iowa, Illinois or Missouri. We
y need to learn how, and then fol-
up the knowledge with practical
pplication.
And if we can produce the corn we
Fan easily produce the pork and beef.
This done the whole system will be
IA revolutionized, for We have such a va
riety of root and forage crops that
belong to the south, that the west
cannot produce, that we can put meat
on the market at less cost or at a
greater profit than is possible wher-
ever long, cold winters prevail, and
where so large percentage of food
is used up in keeping up the animal
heat, and so small percentage enters
into the production of meat.
The whole state of Florida should
rouse itself to the situation and take
advantage of it. We can have boy and
girl corn clubs in every county in
the state, and we can have experts
from the department of agriculture to
give them the necessary instruction.
Teachers in the public schools should
talk it up with pupils and parents, un-
til the leaven shall spread from one
Fl end of the state to the other. A fund
should be raised in every county to be
divided into prizes for those who can
81 secure best results. Once the work
is inaugurated it will become conta-
gious, and our now vacant fields will
FL produce profitable crops of corn. 1t is
III being done in Georgia and. Alabama.
The whole south has awakened to the
fact that this is corn section. Let
~ Florida come to the front and take
&Aher place at the head of the list. 1t
= viii spell prosperity such as we have
never dreamed of, and it will bring
i lasting prosperity to us all.
Il Upwards of one hundred thousand
81 boys of the south have become enlist
Il ed in these corn clubs, and are being
instructed by specialists in the meth
DDS leading to success. These boys
will teach other boys. They will also
teach their fathers and elder brothers.
II What does this mean to the south and
what would it mean if the boys OF
Florida were to take up corn growing
IlK by scientific methods here? Thus
NIB far, the Florida boys have not become
lM interested to any appreciate extent.
|EN They have not been encouraged to
|I# make the effort But it will come, and
Hi the girls will also take up the work
HI and will contest with the boys for the
|lR prizes.
III Business men, land owners, and
II public spirited citizens generally, will
Ii awake to the effect such movement
must have upon the development of
IE the state and will lend their encour-
agement 1t is only question of
time. But the present is the proper
IL time to begin.