McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1915-05-14
CORN CLUB RULES
MAKING AWARD
The Fewer Rules the Better
Says the Department
of Agriculture
USE PERCENTAGE BASIS
sressve ard II is Proposed to Fur
ther Systemize the Work.

bulletin A-74, Farmers Cooperative
Demonstration Work, United States
Department of Agriculture)
1t is not necessary to have many
rules-the fewer the better. A few
simple regulations, however, are neces-
sary. in order to prevent misunder-
standings and conflicts. 1t is well for
the boys to elect their own president,
vice president, secretary and treasurer
either in clubs or in county organiza'
tions. 1t is often helpful if these OF.
fcers, with one or two additional in
terested parties, constitute an execu-
tive committee.
The following rules should be adopt
ed by the clubs, with such modifica-
tons to suit local conditions as may
be found necessary:
"a Boys entering clubs and enter.
ing contests must. be between 10 and
~ years of age on January / of any
given year
(2) No boy should be allowed to
contest for a prize unless he becomes
a member of the club and agrees to-
submit his reports.
(3) Members of the clubs must
agree to study the instructions of the
Farmers Cooperative Demonstration
Work.
"a Each boys must plan his own
crop and Go his own work. if a small
boy, he may hire help for heavy plow-
ing in the preparation of the soil.
The hearty>co-operation of the father
of the boy is of great value.
(5j Exhibits of 10 ears, accompa-
MED by written report and written
account showing the history of the
crop must be made at place desig-
mated for the purpose In the county.
Such exhibits may be held on given
day, either at the county fair or, If
no fair is held in the county, at the
courthouse or some other convenient
| place.
co The land upon which the boys
crop is made must be carefully meas
ured and the corn weighed in the pres
ence of two disinterested witnesses
who shall attest the boys certificate
| This certificate must show that the
| plat contains 4,S40 square yards. The
| acre should be measured before plant
| ing. The crop must grow upon the
acre. 1t is suggested that fairness and
uniformity would require that the out
side rows do not come nearer than
Is inches from the edge of the acre.
ca The entire crop of corn from
the acre should be weighed when 1t is
in dry condition. Two 10O-pound
let's should be weighed from different
parts of the plat. Then the corn from
these two lots should be sheiled and
weighed separately. From these fig.
ures the average percentage of shelled
corn will be found The. total weight
of corn in the ear should be multiplied
] by this percentage and divided by 56
/ pounds, in order to get the total mum,
| ber of bushels of shelled corn. In ev.
cry case where the yield exceeds 100
/ bushels, notice should be sent to the
State agent in charge of the Boys
/ Corn Clubs in the State and to the
special agent in charge of the Farm.
ers' Cooperative Demonstration Work
at Washington, D. c. This should be
done Immediately
| (S) In awarding prizes the following
| basis shall he used:
/ Per cent
a. Greatest yield per acre. ........ 80
b. Best exhibit Of 10 ears. ........ 20
c. Best written account, showing
| history of the crop 20
d. Best showing of profit on invest
ment based on the commercial
| price of corn .................. 30
It is a good plan TO have a, b and
! jnased BY committee Of farm experts
an by committee of school Off
cers or teachers. Their combined
ju gment in such case should de
te nine the final results. In estimat.
ins the profits, uniform prices should
be used For instance, IS per acre for
land rental; 10 cents per hour for the
work OF each boy and cents per hour
for each horse; 50 for a 2-horse load
OF stable manure, Weighing about q
ton; 81 for a 1-horse load of manure
Weighing about half a ten; and the
market price for commercial fertilizer
This plan OF. cost accounting has the
advantage of great simplicity. but 9th
+ er methods Of accounting may be
, adopted by special arrangement
Ii is believed that the Boys Corn
Club work should be progressive, and
plans are now under consideration fol-
further systematizing this branch oi
our work. We feel confident that
boys may easily be taught the value
of the rotation of crops In building VI
Z soil. and that the Importance of sol
building may be illustrated to then
through simple demonstrations il
corn-club work The boys who car
: take poor land and make the greatest
improvement in its fertility and pro
ductiveness at the least expenditure
of time and money should be entitled
TO greatest credit. AS soon as the de
tails can be perfected. this work viii
,a taken mr.