Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-25
TIME TO START CORN CLUBS;
HOW BOYS SHOULD GO AT 1T


College and Polytechnic Institute. tell:
how and for what to organize boys
corn clubs all over Virginia. lie writes
Tho Times Dispat ch:
Tho first thing to do in organizing
a boys corn club is to tell the boys
| % What they arc expected to do; CO
What they can expect to get out Of
it; and 90 How TO start This out
line is for information Of boys, parents
teachers. and others who arc in
tcrcstcd.
a corn club is made up OF the boys
in each school who arc over ten years
|, 1915. II gives them a chance ~
do these things. among others:
|. TO make some money OF their
OWN
. To learn more about scientific
! money making" farming.
2. TO have a good time together in
! tho club
4. TO enter into friendly competition
! for prizes.
>. TO do their lit during the great
war. for increased food production to
| help America win.
To start with each boy makes a bar
! gain with his parents Cor Euardian)
4 10 rent an acre OF lanu. lie DICKS out
an acre of average fertility. He plans 10
keep this same acre and improve it.
/ In this way he can really demon
strate" something and learn something.
He can expect to make more on his
/ acre each year.
| Note: 1t must be clearly understood
! that we do not advise growing corn
on the same land for several years,
as general farm practice. We be-
| lieve in rotation. But. We have adopted
this plan for the boys corn club. be-
| cause il is the best way to teach many
| important truths OF scientific agricul-
ture. without taking too much of the
! boys time or his fathers land. The
| principles he learns on this demon
stration acre" he can later make use
| Of in right rotation on the farm.
On this club acre. the boy will try
| to dcmonstrate-to himsclf-as we'll as
; TO others, two main truths:
!. That by better methods OF farm
ing. larger yields and larger profits
can be gotten ont of the land.
:. That by good management ana
! the right methods, greater fertility
chcaply. and larger yields and profits
made right along.
This will demonstrate the great pos
sibilties in farming when properly
carried on.
The frst year, each boy who follows
| u
the average yield in his neighborhood.
and get good profit. He will get
more out Of his land" by methods
like these:
ta) Better blowing and more thor
ough preparation OF the seed bed
tb) Better seed, pure-bred, strong,
and tested.
tc) Better cultivation. level and fire.
qucnt.
td)Judicious use of fertilizer, ma
nure. or both Instructions will be
furnished on How to save the ma
nurc that now is wasted on most
farms; how to get more manure from
the same amount OF live stock; how
10 increase it's strength.")
The next year the boy can do mucn
better. He can increase the fertility
OF his acre, and at the same time take
on, a larger yield and profit, by
methods like these:
ta) Flowing still deeper TO increase
the water-holdinE capacity OF the soil
and give more room for root growth.
90 Better care and use OF farm ma
nures.
tc) balancing natural fertilizers with
phosphatcs. etc
I'D Adding vegetable matter to the
soil regularly and often TO make
humus. On most sections OF the
State. this can best be demonstrated
by the club boy. If he sows cover
crimson clover, vetch. or even rye. 90
be plowed under the next spring
Others can SOW peas in the corn for
the same purpose)
Instructions will be sent regularly
to the boys telling them Just how 10
do these things. Each boy Is expected
10 read these directions carefully, AMI
follow them as closely as he is able.
Then he will get results. Each boy IS
given an account book in which to
keep the cost and figure the profit on
his acre. These records are to be re-
turned at the end of the crop year. as
directed.
Each parent Cor GUARDIAN is ex-
pected to agree that the boy shall have
for his own. the profit ne makes on
his acre. after paying rent OF lanl.
cost OF fertilizer. etc. or some definite
share OF the crop AS may be agreed
between them. II the parent has to
use the boys corn himself on the farm
II IS suggested that he pay the boy
his part in money. The wisdom Of
this is plain. The boy should have a
real reward for his work on his club
acre.
Experiences has taught that the boy.
are making splendid use Of their pro-
fits Many boys follow this plan: (al
Deposit part in the bank ar interest:
CD use part for clothes or other ncces-
stiles or 10 finance their acre for the
next year: and tc) Have some for
personal use or pleasure. |. is SPLEEN
did business training for the boy.
The boys OF each school organize
into club when several of tho bo.,s
have made the necessary arrangements
with their parents. They elect Il prcs-
ident. cc-presidcnt. and secretary
Copies Of rules and bylaws will nc
sen, in time for this. and very in
tcresiirS program for meetings
Each hoy who wants TO go in IN,
! corn club should read over this plan
carefully. lie should talk ii over with
his parents and teacher The names
OF an the boys who are interested
should be sent az once bv teacher or
club leader 10 The county agent Fur
thcr instructions will then be sent.
! IL there is no agent in your county
Sehd the names direct to Boys Club
Department. Biacksburg, Va
| Get the ":sS Money.
There a in nrod,,c;,,