282 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Hall talking about farming and the contest. I hope that there 

 will be many more join it next year. 



Dr. L. S. Merrill: I have some interesting data that I 

 would like to present to you concerning the work of these 

 boys. Mr. Mitchell has told you something about the Boys' 

 Club work and what he is trying to do in that line. You heard 

 one of the boys refer to the motto of the Boys' Club work, — 

 "Make the Best Better," and when I tell you something of the 

 results that these three boys have had during the past year, 

 you will see that it is really worth while tc try to "Make the 

 Best Better." The Boys' Club work is a worth-while work 

 for the State of Maine to engage in. 



Albert Lincoln, the boy who has won the first prize for his 

 essay, according to the report made, grew at the rate of 468 

 bushels of potatoes per acre. Of course this was only one- 

 eighth of an acre, but some of these boys, as they grow older 

 will use the entire acre. The smallest yield was 328 bushels. 

 They made at the rate of $56 to $128 per acre profit, after pay- 

 ing for all the expenses, including labor, fertilizer and seed. 

 So you see these boys not only have won a prize on the essay, 

 but have really won a substantial prize in the knowledge that 

 they can actually do a man's job in growing a man's crop 

 and make money at it. More than that, they have demon- 

 strated to Washington county what can be done in the growing 

 of potatoes. I expect it is a source of pride to that county that 

 all these prizes were won by Washington county boys. 



We have had clubs this year in 30 different towns and we 

 hope to extend the work and to get the support of the grown 

 up people of Maine in this work of giving the boys an oppor- 

 tunity to do something that is really worth while and to win 

 out. 



I want to congratulate you, boys, that you have actually 

 won out in two ways. You have actually carried on a demon- 

 stration in growing potatoes that will compare favorably with 

 the work done by the farmers, and you have prepared an essay 

 on "How to Grow Potatoes" which has won a prize. I want 

 to extend to you the congratulations of the Maine Seed Im- 

 provement Association and of all the ladies and gentlemen 

 present. 



The prizes were then presented by Dr. Merrill. 



