BISHOP] NATURE-STUDY IN RURAL SCHOOLS 169 



to get the very best results possible, and to report the same in the 

 fall after harvesting his crop. Many boys who failed to get their 

 letters in among the first 50c, desired to rrceive some seed corn. 

 Accordingly, in a few counties the county superintendent arranged 

 to prox'ide a limited number of boys with good seed. In the 

 early fall, it was decided to hold a state contest to which boys who 

 had raised corn from seed furnished were invited to send the l')est 

 ten ears they had raised, with a written report giving infor- 

 mation as to kind and condition of soil in which it was planted and 

 method of cultivation. A bulletin giving instruction as to the 

 selection of seed corn was sent to each corn raiser. In counties 

 where a large number of boys were interested, a local county 

 contest was held, preceding the state contest. Premium lists 

 were provided as an inducement to send or bring exhibits. 



Because so many boys failed to write in time to be supplied 

 with seed corn, a second division was added at the state and 

 county contests in which boys who did not raise corn were per- 

 mitted to select ten ears of corn from the fields of their parents 

 and enter these in a corn selection contest. 



While plans were being formed for the state contest a division 

 was provided for the v'ork of girls in cooking corn bread and other 

 articles made from corn products. 



The first state contest was held at Lincoln, and was a surprise 

 not only to those not actively engaged in the movement but even 

 to those in charge. For the second state contest 1,000 boys were 

 pro\it]td with seed and a large number of counties made provision 

 for county contests. In addition to com, siigar beets, potatoes, 

 and macaroni wheat Vv-ere included. In the girls' work, the 

 making of wheat bread, cookies and fried cakes, and the canning 

 of fruit was added; while a division in manual training provided 

 for the making of aprons, sofa pillow covers and exhibits of 

 patching and darning. The boys made articles from wood de- 

 signed for use or ornament about the honie. 



The third year the same kind of work was taken up with the 

 exception that all those taking part were guided through the 

 county and school organizations. The same plan had been fol- 

 lowed in this the fourth year of the work. Butter-making is one 

 of the new features. 



The organization includes, fir.st, the state organizations known 

 as the Nebraska Boys' Agricultural Club and the Nebraska Girls' 



