Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-10-21
BOYS FARM CLUBS
Extension of Corn Club Idea Gives
Boys Training in Crop Rotation and
Live Stock Feeding.

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
former organizations how to produce
large yields of corn and the value OF
live stock will be taught the elemen
tary 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 can not 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
their 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, returning a
profit to its 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 lesson 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 a cover crop for grazing
and turning under in the spring.
After this treatment, cowpeas, 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 togther.
Excellent results have already been
obtained by many boys with crimson
clover, one reason being 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
/ acre is probably enough to handle.
The corn they require to feed their
live stock may be obtained in ex-
change for small grain, hay, cowpeas,
clover seed, or some of the other pro-
ducts of their acre, or else the average
boy, by helping his father on farm,
may receive sufficient feed of corn
in return for his labor. Older boys
may, of course, find acres none too
much, putting l 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
small grain grown by the club men,
bers 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 lespedeza. 1t is also
an excellent opportunity for valuable
demonstration in the best methods OF
harvesting the seed of the clovers
vetch, etc.
After year of this work, prepara'
ton should be made to plant the acre
to corn again. The boy will then
know much more about corn produc-
t;on 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 COM
PEELED, for one reason or another,
to. leave the club. 1t is recommended
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.