Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-04-11
Boys On the Maine Farms.
fRoskon uaraldN

This will be tho third year Of the state.
wide clubs for the boys and girls on the
Maine farms, and there 10 every promise
that the enrolment will be larger and the
results even more inspiring than last
year. This movement, starting In the
South and spreading into the West, has
taken various forms, and 1t WAS natural
enough that here In Maine tho potato
clubs should be the chief thing, rather
than the corn clubs. Last year more
than 400 boys and girls were enrolled,
most of them In eastern Maine. There
were $50 boys in 80 potato clubs, 13S
girls In Is garden and canning clubs and
81 boys and girls In 8 poultry clubs. The
extension department Of the College OF
Agriculture at Orono supervises the
work OF the clubs and awards tho Diplo-
mas to the winners. The Maine Central
railroad has also offered money prizes,
with special reference to the clubs along
its line.
Some Of the results that these young
farmers achieve, under proper encour-
agement and supervision, open the eyes
Of farmers who have been content to 60
along for years under the methods of an
earlier generation. For example, tho
boy who won tho potato club sweep
stakes In 1915 raised potatoes at the rate
Of 459 bushels to tho acre, and at tho low
cost Of II cents TO the bushel. Il would
have been different matter to carry this
yield over 100-acre tract, Of course, but
It could be done. This winner was Hart.
son Blackstone, . 17-year.old boy OF
Perham, Aroostook county.
The winner Of the prize for raising po.
tatoes at lowest cost was also from
Ar0ostook, Marlin Gentle OF Littleton.
He raised 378 bushels to the acre ut
cost Of 10 1-2 cents bushel. That also
can be done on larger scale, and with
potatoes soaring - at present, 1t means
q future for the boy on the Maine farm
that will be moro golden, II he 10 the
right kind Of boy, than the pot of gold
that 10 supposed TO be at the end Of the
rainbow that hangs alluringly over the
distant city. Aroostook also furnished
tho winner OF the contest for girls, Miss
Chrystsl Wsddell, aged IL, OF Mapleton.
She cultivated tenth OF an acre Of beets
In her garden. Her income was $3.50,
mainly from 168 quarts of picked -beets
and Is barrels of beets sold In bulk, and
the expenses were 912.07. This gave the
young lady net profit Of t41.73 from
her tenth Of an acre, besides her fun, .
lot OF wholesome exercise and becom.
ing tan. Scores Of other boys and girls
In the clubs were close to these winners.
1t means much to get 400 live boys and
girls In Maine interested In these con-
tests. Il would be . fine ching " tho
contestants numbered 1000 OF Ia 900.
Nobody knows what the cities would do
Without tho boys and girls from the
farms, but the call 10 loud and louder for
come Of them-mors Of them than In re-
cent years stay on the farms. These
clubs have great possibilities, for they
get the young people into sympathy with
the industry that 10 the foundation Of
their home life and their community life.
They learn 10 do farm work In the right
way and to like it, Instead Of doing it 10
the wrong way and hating It. They get
. chance 10 earn money for their own
uses. They learn how 70 keep farm 90
counts. They set their parents sn ex-
ample IN modern methods, and that IN
itself Il ample justification for the move
meut, Success 10 I'll