The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-24
VERY POPULAR
STIRRING INTEREST
DO Much to Broaden the knowledge
and viewpoint of Contestants.
Improved Methods and
Greater Efficiency
BY c. r.. STEWART

" cohtests nave been proposed, and if the
idea bears fruit as did the corn growing
contest scheme the farmers of the United
States, and their wives and sons and
daughters will be working for prizes in
almost every line of their daily actiyi-
ties.
In furtherance of the new plan the de-
partment has issued a booklet which
points out the advantages of the contests
! gives the complete list of the varied COM
| petitions proposed. and furnished the
| forms for regulating entries and the va
| ried steps IN the contest. This booklet is
| intended primarily for the use of lecturers
on farm extension subjects at oranges, in
| stitutes and agricultural schools. How
ever, it is none the less interesting to
every one who is interested in farm and
garden products which includes about
everybody in these United States who
gets or tries to get three square meals
| a day.
Very Popular Movement
The contest plan has been so readily
adapted to most lines of endeavor and
has offered so many opportunities for the
securing of desirable and needed results
| that it has proved one of the most pop
ular movements ever inaugurated for the
| interest of people in active work for in
dividual and community betterment
| Through the contest many lines of work
| are being advanced and progressive prin-
ciples being applied. They demand the
actual doing of things and develop a
spirit of loyalty among the people of any
/ community. The football baseball or
other athletic contests makes the city,
school or college a unit for the support
\ of its team. In like manner the educa-
| tional contest brings the people of all sec
| tions of township, county, state or ma
| ton to the support of the movement and
gives to these people deeper apprecia-
| ton of the merit of those engaged in the
various lines of activity.
! Perhaps the greatest good derived from
the contests Is that they do much to
broaden the knowledge and viewpoint Of
| the contestants. The boy who takes part
| in corn growing competition is devel-
opng nucleus of good citizenship. he
| is not alone content with the planting,
cultivating and harvesting of the crop, but
| secures and studies all available literature
| regarding corn growing; he sees the vast
possibilities of his plot of ground under
| ideal conditions; he endeavors to secure
these conditions by studying the leaks in
corn growing methods and striving to
overcome them. He not only tries to grow
a large number of bushels of corn, but he
also seeks to become more proficient in
the work and to extend his knowledge of
the various phases of that branch of ag-
rculture
Improved methods and greater efficiency
are the direct results of such contests
Through the corn growing contests that
nave been held in almost every section of
the corn growing belt it has been demon
strated that more than 227 bushels of corn
may be grown on single acre of ground
Without the. Improvement of the ordinary
nod 80
ing result never could have been accom-
plished.
Cost of Producing Eggs
through similar contests some farmers
nave hao thelr attention called to the
fact that they were producing eggs durine
the winter at cost of about 30 cents per
dozen. The results of these contests in
the neighborhood showed that the cost ~
producing eggs at that season, under the
existing conditions, should NOT have ax
ceeded cents per dozen. AS a result of
this work action on the part of the pen
pie has been stimulated land an attempt
- pelhs maze not only to grow more and
better corn to the acre, and to produce
eggs of better market quality at q lower
cost but to improve all forms of agri
cultural practice. 1t is to this end that
the department of agriculture is UNDER
taking to widen the field of contests un-
til they will include practically everv
thing that is done on the farm and in
the farm home
Contests vary so widely in their nature
conditions and adaptabiity that no sne
cific outline can be given for their organ
1zatlon. Inc department advises however
that contests which are to reach large
numbers ana cover considerable period
of time should be well outlined and thor
oughly organized. 1t Is suggested Lartic-
n
be organized in connection with schools
thus securing the support of the teachers
and other school officials. 1t is also found
that contests have greater influence with
people ie they have the direction and s,,n-
port of. or are affiliated with some rec
ognized educational institution. IT Is
also pointed out that the matter of pre-
miuins Is or great Importance. While
the contest has for its primary object
the giving of inspiration, the creating of
interest and the discriminating of informa. /.
ton among the members and throughout
the community, it is found that premiums
are necessary to secure the best results.
Also the influence of the contests will be
greater If it is possible for So per cent of
the contestants to win prizes than if but
per cent can get recognition
Nature of Premiums
AS to the nature of the premiums that
Is essentially a matter for local consider
aton. The department advises however.
against cash premiums, except in unusual
instances. and urges that the prizes
should be educational in character trin
10 the State Fair. the International Live
Stock exposition, the Naional Corn show.
or to the national capital
Here Is the list of % contests which the
department outlines for the benefit of
those who are interested in the work. and
there are competitions for youths and
adults of both sxes:
Corn growing contests, and contests in
wheat growing, sugar beet growing. cab
page growing. onion growing tomato
growing. potato growing, melon growing.
pig feeding egg producing, milk produce
tions, stock Judging weed and weed seed
collection, butter making, bread making.
fruit canning, insect collecting, farm plan
ming, sewing contests for girls of various
ages and for women. lunch box prepara- :
tion, home decorations and furnishing. cell
lar planning. kitchen planning household
expense accounts, compositions on homes
and flower garden making.
In each instance the contestants are IN
be required to write essays about what
they have accomplished, and this is re-
gsrded as one of the most important feat
ures of the contests from an educational
standpoint.