The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-03-27
CORN GROWING CONTEST
Valuable Prizes to Be Awarded.
What st. Francois County Boy VIII
Win? Contest Open to One and All.


day. This spirit and trend is largely
due TO the increased facilities for lar.
ming and also the better understand
ing of how to do the work. The con-
tests that are being carried on from
time to time have something to do in
developing interest and exploitation
the best methods. 1t is a good thing
that right here in St. Francois county
the young folks of the farm are to
have chance to compete for valuable
prizes. A. W. Terrill our County Farm
Adviser explains the plan below.
The average yield of corn in Mis-.
souri, from 1904 to 1913 has been 1877
bu. per acre. During the dry year just
past, five boys grew corn that aver
aged more than 80 bu. TO the acre Of
air dried corn. One member Of the
corn growers association reached the
high mark of ia bu. in spite Of the
severe drought. What has been done
can be done again.
One of the main factors that
brought about these increased yields
was the corn growing contest for
boys. Boys who enter into this contest
are sent explicit directions on kind Of
corn to grow, selecting seed, testing
seed, amount to plant to acre, SOIL,
preparing seed-bed, fertilizing, time,
number and depth Of CIVILIZATIONS,
gathering, harvesting, measuring and
storing the crop. Boys who follow
these directions are sure to be living
examples to their fathers and others
of the community Of what can be ex
pected by better methods Of crop
growing.
County School Superintendent, A.
! II. Akcrs, and the Farm Adviser are
cooperating with the State Univer-
sity, the State Corn Growers Asso-
citation and Prof. r. H. Emerson Of
the Department Of Rural Education
at Columbia, who is in charge of boys
and girls club work in the State, to
organize boys corn growing clubs in
this county. Heretofore there has
been not single entry from st.
Francois county in this line. This
must change.
There is TO be organized corn clubs
in each school district that can get at
least six members between the ages
of 10 and 18 inclusive to enroll. They
will elect their own officers, organize
clubs, have their local and general
meetings. Enrolment cards, suggest
ions for holding meetings, record
books and all blanks will be sent out
from the College of Agriculture. Each
member will have to write n compost
ton of 400 words telling "How Rails
ed My Crop" They will keep a record
Of cost receipts, etc, in the record
book. There must be some older leader
in each club, such as a teacher, col
lege graduate, a progressive farmer
or county woman. Much will depend
upon the willingness of leader to
serve in this capacity.
The best acre yields and the best 10
ears of corn from the various districts
will compete in the county fair this
fall for the first place where most
probably some suitable prizes and rib
bons will be offered. These boys will
! also he entered in State contest where
the State Corn Association plans to
give away at least $4,000 in prizes.
The Missouri Ruralist of St. Louis is
also offering some prizes on acre
yields. In addition some splendid cash
prizes will be offered on ten ear eX-
hibits.
The Farm Adviser has active
charge Of organizing these corn clubs
and would like to have the names at
his office of every boy who wishes to
grow under the directions Of College
of Agriculture, and compete for the
district and county honors, and the
prizes offered at the Missouri State
Corn Show. Just send in your names
and they will be enrolled and the lit
erature sent you.
Similar clubs are being formed for
the girls where they will grow lilo of
an acre of tomato plants under direc-
ton of the College of Agriculture,
keep track of yields, cost, etc., same
as in the boys clubs. If six girls in any
one school district between the ages
of 10 and Is inclusive will enroll their
names with the Farm Adviser, these
clubs will be formed. There will also
be competitions between districts al
the county fall roundup for largest
yield, tomato canning corn, fruit an6
vegetable canning and preserving con
; tests, baking and cooking contests
sewing and embroidery contests. AT
ter the corn, tomato and vegetable
seasons are over, there will be out
lined othcr work and branches fol-
I those clubs tn follow during the win.