The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-03-30

man and Professor Shumway secre-
tary Then it got down to business on
the rules. 1t was decided to confinN
the territory to the city of Mankato,
and the contest to boys between the
ages of ten and fifteen. The minimum
sized garden must be 500 square feet,
and the maximum 5000 square feet.
This. in other words gives leeway to
the boys to enter a garden from 20
by 40 feet up TO an eighth of an acre.
1t does not prevent them having
still larger gardens, but in that event
they must select only part OF 1t to
enter in the contest.
What Contestants Must Do.
1t was decided that every contest
ant must grow not fewer than ten
standard varieties of vegetables. En-
tries must be made by May Is, and
can be made by filing out blanks TO
be furnished ard fling them WITH
Professor Shumway Each boy is to
keep an accurate financial account of
his expenses and receipts and also 10
record any interesting points that
NAV come 10 light as the result of his
1abors. Each contestant is to be re-
CURED TO file a plat of his garden,
giving the size, kinds and amounts of
crop, and location by June L. These
plants must be not less than eight by
ten inches. Each contestant is also TO
agree to file report on any informa-
ton required during the contest, if
called for.
Before the contest closes, and after
the crops have been harvested, each
boy must leave his garden in neat
condition. with rubbish removed, etc.
II was decided to divide the $50 that
the Commercial club appropriated in
TO first. second and third prizes, OF
s25. SIS and SO respectively. 1t was
also the hope of the committee that
number of the merchants would seize
the opportunity to do the city a good
turn and incidentally get some favor
able advertising by donating other
prizes. Any member of the committee
will be glad to receive such offers,
and the sooner they are in the better.
Committee On Publicity.
Messrs. Ferguson, Shumway and
Koch were appointed a subcommittee
on publicity, and Messrs. Lynard,
Gunstrom and Kollmann subcom-
mittee on seed supply. 1t is intended
to see that there is no lack of seeds,
10 be had at reasonable prices. The
free government seeds were not
favored, as they are mostly new
varieties sent out for experimental
purposes. Arrangements will be made
to assist any boys who are not able
TO buy seeds.
This contest is not a vacant lot
proposition, but will require the very
best garden ground heretofore culti-
waited. At the same time, it was felt
that an effort should be made to get
the vacant lots planted, and to this
end it was decided that the full COM
mittee should meet with the city
council Monday morning next and ask
it to appropriate $100 to be offered in
prizes for the cultivation of vacant
lots. If this is done, the committee
stands ready to take charge of this
contest, also In fact, the members
have, figratively Speaking, pulled Oft
their coats and dedicated a good
share of their spare time the coming
season to looking after the best garL
den contest, and are willing to take
ND ANYTHING in that line. If everybody
else in Mankato gets half as en-
thusiastic, back yards and vacant lots
will burst into bloom the coming sum-
mer and the H. c. L. will be at least
partially solved for numerous families