Oxford Democrat., 1916-02-22
Boys Sweet Corn Clubs.

A
INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THE MEN
BEERS MUST DO.
(R. P. Mitchell, State Lesder.)
Jerry Moore, q fifteen-yesr old South
Carolina boy, following Corn Club in
structions, raised 22S bushels of dem
corn on one acre Of land.
At Harlskenden, New Hampshire
Young Hoyt Quimby harvested 124 bush
els of flint corn from one acre.
These are record yields and show
what American boys can do when they
try.
A plan for Boys Sweet Corn Clubs in
Maine has been worked out by the State
Leader of Boys Agricultural Clubs, aud
the Maine Gamers Association has
offered. ..s2525 for prizes to the boys in
the state growing sweet corn for their
canneries. Here is a chance for Maine
boys to earn some money and TO make a
record yield for their state.
| All boy needs to start with Is a
quarter of an acre of land, three dollars
to buy seed and fertilizer, and plenty OF
stick-to-it-iyeness.
The Maine Gamers Association will
furnish seed at regular prices and will
buy all the corn the boys can raise. The
seed can be procured from the nearest
factory belonging to this Association.
Write to the factory in time to procure
seed on or before April first.
RULES
Any boy Tor girl between ten and
eighteen years living in the vicinity of
any of the canneries and agreeing to
grow one quarter acre of sweet corn ac-
cording to directions may join club.
2 He must test the seed before plant
ing, and must cultivate the crop accord
ing to the directions given him by the
State leader of Boys Clubs.
He must keep an accurate record o
costs and receipts on blanks furnished
by the state leader.
4 At the end of the season he must
write story of at least 800 words on
the subject, "How Raised my Crop"
5 He must make an exhibit of ten
ears of corn at the Sweet Corn Club Con-
test held in Portland in December, and
must submit at least two weeks previous
to that time his financial record and his
story.
The money for the prizes has already
been placed in the hands OF the State
Leader of Boys Agricultural Clubs and
will be awarded on the following basis
OF points: Profits, 80; yield, 80; story,
20; exhibit, 20.
The sweet corn growing sections OF
the state will be divided into eleven
groups. The announcement of this
grouping will be made later.
Two hundred dollars will be awarded
in each group as follows: First prize,
SIS 90; second prize, $500; third prize,
sl2 90; fourth prize $1,000; fifth prize,
50. 90; sixth prize, 90: seventh prize,
81 90; eighth prize, $500; ninth prize,
$500; tenth prize, $500; thirty-five
prizes, $500; one prize, $500; four
prizes, Sl.00.
Three hundred and twenty-five dollars
will be awarded in the state contest in
1916 in the form Of scholarships to the
College of Agriculture, University OF
Maine. This amount will be divided as
follows. First prize, $4,000 scholar
ship; second prize, $1,000 scholarship;
third prize, $4,000 scholarship; fourth
prize, $4,000 scholarship; fifth prize,
$50. 90 scholarship.
These scholarships are to be held in
trust by the University of Maine. In
the event that the winner of any scholar
ship should 60 to some other institution,
or should fail to use this scholarship be-
fore his twenty-6rst birthday, the money
will revert to the donors.
THE BIG CONTEST
A contest, at which the exhibits will
be Judged and the records and stories
rated, will be held in Portland some time
in December, 1915. Every boy who has
carried through his club project accord
| ing to rules will be invited TO attend this
contest and will be entertained free OF
charge during his stay in Portland. Re-
duced fares to and from the contest will
be offered by Maine railroads.
STARTING A CLUB
IL there has been no movement to form
club in your town, perhaps you can or
ganize one yourself. Tell everybody
YOU know about the Sweet Corn Club
plan. Ask the boys you know between
ten and eighteen years old if they will
join. If there is grange in your town
find out whether it has committee on
Agricultural Extension Work; If it has,
| it is one of the duties of that committee
10 further the organization OF Agricul-
tural Clubs, and they will help you to
start Sweet Corn Club. Ii there Is no
grange or no grange committee, try to
think of the men in your town who are
interested in farming and in boys. Talk
to these men and see If you can per-
| suade three of them to form a local CON-
mittee TO help organize q Sweet Corn
Club and carry it through the season.
When you have stirred up some enthu-
siasm in the community, ii is the duty
of the grange committee or the local
committee to find some man who will
promise to act as local leader OF the
club. Perhaps the superintendent oil
schools, the principal of the high school,
or a farmer prominent in grange work
will be willing to do this.
As soon as some one is found to act as
local leader, and six boys have promised
to Join the club, write TO the State Lead
/ or or Boys IluOS, EAtcuSiOu b'io'o",
University of Maine, Orono, Maine, for
enrolment cards. All you will need to
do is to follow all instructions received
| during the season.
limo local leader can be found and u
fewer than six boys want to join, write
to the State Leader for enrolment cards
and Join the General Club, which is or
ganized for boys who live in communt
ties where it seems impossible to organ
ize local club. The General Club IL
directly in charge of the state leader
and he will send you all the instructions
which the local clubs get and will try to
have some one visit your plot and help
you with expert advice whenever you
need it.
II your county has County Extension
Representative, he will do everything ht
possibly can in helping you to organize
club, 10 visiting and advising you about
your crop, or in any club matters 10
which you need help. II you do NOT
know who your County Extension Rep
II N tha EYfanainr