The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-08-28
BOYS, FARM CLUBS.
Extension Of Corn Club Idea Gives
6oys Training in Crop Rotation
and Live Stock Feeding.

and Live Stock Feeding.
The success Of boys corn clubs and
pig clubs in the south has led those in
charge of the work in this section TO
plan for the extension of the move
ment through the formation of boys
| farm clubs. In these clubs the boys
who have learned in the former or
ganizations how to produce large
yields Of corn and the value of live
stock will be taught the elementary
principles of crop rotation, the eco
nomical feeding of live stock, and the
upbuilding of the soil.
Without some system of rotation
members of the corn clubs who have
obtained large yields on their acre
one year can not repeat their perform
ances the following season. The farm
clubs, therefore, are designed to teach
the boys how best to use this acre the
year after they have grown their corn
Each one of the members should own,
or have the care of, at least one farm
animal which should be carried on the
acre, returning profit to its owner
and fertiIizing the soil The third
year the acre is to be sown to corn
again.
In this way the boys clubs now pro
vide practical three years course in
! the principles of sound agriculture
The Importance Of the movement is
shown by the fact that nearly $4,000
| boys are now enrolled in the corn
| clubs of the south, and several thou
sand more in pig clubs, not only learn
| ing themselves, but furnishing an in
| valuable object lesson to the grown
| farmers around them.
The exact rotation that Is followed
| in these farm clubs is, of course, de
termined by individual conditions. In
some sections the acre should be sown
| to cover crop for grazing and turn
Ing under in the spring. After this
| treatment, cowpeas, soy beans, or pea
| nuts may be sown and prizes given
for the greatest yield. Elsewhere such
crops as rye and crimson clover, rye
| and bur clover, or vetch and oats may
! be sown together. Excellent results
| have already been obtained by many
| boys with crimson clover, one reason
being that they take more pains with
incubation than the average farmer.
For the smaller boys In the first
years of their membership In the
clubs acre is probably enough to
handle. The corn they require to feed
| their live stock may be obtained in ex-
change for small grain, hay. cowpeas,
clover seed, or some of the other pro-
ducts of their acre, or else the aver
age boy, by helping his father on
farm. may receive sufficient feed OF
corn In return for his labor Older
boys may, OF course. find 2 acres none
too much, putting / acre in corn and
the other in small grain and legumes.
In order to stimulate interest, the
authorities in charge Of this demon
stration work are recommending that
prizes be offered for legumes and for
! small grain grown by the club mem
bers as well as for corn. If a boy
| uses his grain crop for grazing or
turning under, he can compete for
l pT1ZcS Ou SUCH CAOp6 40 pSduuIS,
beans. peas. and lespedeza. 1t is also
an excellent opportunity for valuable
| demonstration in the best methods Of
harvesting the seed of the clovers,
vetch, etc.
After year Of this work. prepare.
tion should be made to plant the acre
to corn again. The boy will then know
much more about corn production and
farming in general than when he first
| entered the club. At the end of the
third year most Of the club members
will probably be compelled, for one
| reason or another. to leave the club.
| 1t Is recommended that certificates
signed by the highest authorities OF
the colleges and states should be Civ
en- to every boy after three years
work of the character outlined