The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-05-02
PRIZE ESSAY.
Written by Forrest Roberts, of Fay
cite Township, in Boys Essay
Contest.
"How the Farmer Boy Can Help
Win the War;"

say 10 CONSIDER lle lulpol Ial1ee y
winning this great struggle we are
, engaged in. The fact that our ideals
our friends, our homes. and posi-
bly our lives will have to be sacrilc
ed if we are defeated is sufficient tc
show the Importance OF our unltec
effort
1t is neither necessary nor pos
sible for the farmer boy to take part
in this struggle by shouldering the
rifle and becoming a soldier. When
we consider that this war is a wal
of resources, that an army without
supplies is worthless, and that there
is a serious shortage of food in oul
equally important duty that the
farmer boy can do, namely helping
to produce supplies for those who
do have to fight our battles. The
most effective thing that the farmer
boy can do and which he would have
to help increase the nations food
There are many ways in which
this can be done. Probably one Of
the first ways would be to increase
the acreage. of crops, There are
this country. The lack of farm help
is one of the main reasons. In many
places certain portions Of the farms
are left to grow up in weeds and
could easily be profitably cultivated.
! There are numerous vacant lots in
most towns which the farmer boys
could tend during the summer time;
their spare time in retaining the
usually wasted land, the food supply
would be materially increased
The present food situation is not
the result of shortage of tillable
land. The real reason for this con-
RI iS nf q nj nf
pie who are willing to tend the land.
There is much work for the farm
harvesting crops The average boy
can harrow, cultivate, and husk corn.
BY so doing he is just the same as
PRODUCING. that much more corn.
What is true with corn is likewise
true with many other crops. The
farmer boy can be of inestimable
value to the nation by helping to
produce the crops.
1t is very essential that plenty of
grain be raised but it is also neces-
sary that gu. our meat supply be in
good chance to help in this regard.
The raising Of livestock would take
but very little time away from his
other duties. He would be able to
look after a few, cattle or hogs be-
fore and after his regular days
"oIk. IL Wouiu pe easy ~! MIN 70
get started in the stock-raising bust
ness; in most cases his parents
would be willing and anxious to help
him get started. If he should hap
pen to have a small amount of cap
ital he could get a start by invest
ing it in young animals to fatten. II
he decided to go into the live stock
the various pork and beef clubs,
which ever his case demanded These
clubs would not only afford him the
chance to win a prize but would al
so furnish him with much valuable
Information; No matter what class
it would be possible for him to save
a large amount of feed and increase
his profits by feeding balanced ra-
ton. information on which he may
obtain by writing to any agriculture
experiment station; Where it isl
engage in the livestock business it
would be just as profitable and
would help the food supply out just
as much to raise poultry.
Another way by which the farmer
boy could help to increase the food
supply would be by gardening. AL
which to plant a garden. The pro-
ducts of a fair sized garden would
greatly aid in supplying the food
for the family. The food that the
family would otherwise have eaten
would then be saved and sent to our
armies. and the people of those
to feed.
The farmer boy can help his coun-
try in this struggle by helping to
increase the yield per acre of the
different crops. One way to do this
is is to supply barny arc am and comm .p
Way in which he can assist in en-
larging the production would be by
going into the corntield and select
ing seed. corn. After reading some
about the selection of seed corn he
would be able 20 select corn with
the IDEA of yield in mind and thus
breed up a high, producing variety.
After he has gathered the seed he
can hang it up in a dry, well-venti- |
lated place until spring when he
can test it and thus be sure that ev
cry grain will grow. He can great
ly increase the yield per acre by
studying and Applying the best
dreds of bushels OF corn are wasted
because of ignorance in re-
gard to setting the pillow shovels and
the time of blowing which by prop
er study could easily be remedied.
After the farmer boy has done all
lie Cdli LOW dIuS IAc VI
food there are still other ways in
which he can further help his coun-
try and show his patriotism. After ]
he has received his returns from his
work and paid all expenses he will
doubtless have some money left.
He can comply with the suggestions
of the food administrators and the
government officials. BY buying
government bonds or thrift stamps
he would be making a good invest
ment as well as helping to win the
war.
Farmer boys of America let us
unite all our forces in grand eff
fort to produce more food and sup
port our nation who is fighting for
as noble cause as man has, ever
upheld. In SO acting we will be do
those noble principles that our fore
fathers have fought and died for.
to crush autocracy and to make the
world safe for democracy"