Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-11-06
Boys Farm Clubs

The success of boys corn clubs and
pig clubs in the South has led those
in charge of the work in this section
to plan for the extension of the move
ment through the formation of boys
farm clubs. In these clubs the boys
who have already learned in the for
mer organizations how to produce
large yields of corn and the value of
live stock will be taught the element
airy principles of crop rotation, the
economical feeding of live stock, and
the upbuilding of the soil.
Without some system of rotation
members Of the corn clubs who have
obtained large yields on their acre
one year cannot repeat their per-
formances the following season. The
farm clubs, therefore, are designed
to teach the boys how best to use
this acre the year after they have
grown th&ir corn. Each one of the
members should own, or have the care
of, at least one farm animal which
should be carried on the acre, re-
turning a profit to it's owner and
fertilizing the soil. The third year
the acre is to be sown to corn again.
In this way the boys clubs now
provide practical three. years.
course in the principles of sound
agriculture. The Importance of the
movement is shown by the fact that
nearly $4,000 boys are now enrolled
in the corn clubs of the South, and
several thousand more in pig clubs,
not only learning themselves, but
furnishing an invaluable object les
son to the grown farmers around
them.
The exact rotation that is followed
in these farm clubs is, of course, de-
termined by individual conditions. In
some sections the acre should be
sown to cover crop for grazing
and turning under in the spring.
After this treatment, cofpeas, soy
beans, or peanuts may be sown and
prizes given for the greatest yield.
Elsewhere such crops as rye and
crimson clover, rye and bur clover,
or vetch and oats may be sown to-
gether. Excellent results have al
ready been obtained by many boys
with crimson clover, one reason be-
ing that they take more pains with
incubation than the average farmer.
For the smaller boys in the first
years of their membership in the
clubs one acre is probably enough to
handle. The corn they require to
feed their live stock may be obtained
in exchange for small grain, hay,
cowpeas, clover seed, or some of the
other products of their acre, or else
the average boy, by helping his
ficient feed of corn in return for his
labor. Older boys may, of course,
find two acres none too much, put
ting one acre in corn and the other
in small grain and legumes.
In order to stimulate interest, the
authorities in charge of this demon
stration work are recommending
that prizes be offered for legumes
and for the small grain grown by
the club members as we'll as for
corn. If boy uses his grain crop
for grazing or turning under, he
can compete for prizes on such crops
as peanuts, beans, peas, and les
pedeza. 1t is also an excellent op-
portunity for valuable demonstra-
ton in the best methods of harvest
ing the seed of the clovers, vetch,
etc.
After a year of this work, prepa-
ration should be made to plant the
acre to corn again. The boy will
then know much more about corn
production and farming in general
than when he first entered the club.
At the end of the third year most
of the club members will probably
be compelled, for one reason or an
other, to leave the club. 1t is rec
commended that certificates signed
by the highest authorities of the
colleges and States should be given
to every boy after three years. work
of the character outlined.