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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



be proud. They represent clubs with a membership of nearly 700 

 boys and girls, and will bring some of the splendid things this 

 society is doing to their communities. 



The Potato Contest. 

 Another project which I believe this society is especially 

 interested in is the potato contest. Nearly 1,200 boys and girls 

 were enrolled in this contest the past year, representing 200 clubs. 



Each member of the potato 



club must grow at least one- 

 eighth of an acre of one of 

 the three standard types of 

 potatoes, Rural New Yorker, 

 Green Mountain, and Early 

 Ohio. Records must be kept 

 of all operations and a story, 

 "How I Grew My Crop of 

 Potatoes," must be sent in at 

 the close of the contest. Each 

 member must also exhibit a 

 peck of his or her best pota- 

 toes at a general meeting of 

 some kind. This week, at 

 Bemidji, I believe we have the 

 largest potato exhibit ever 

 held in the state, when 300 

 boys and girls are showing 

 their best peck of potatoes. 



In 1915, Oscar Larson, who 

 grew 605 2-3 bushels on his 

 acre, made a national record. The splendid results in standard- 

 izing leading varieties, in demonstrating better methods of culti- 

 vation, seed selection and increased production can hardly be 

 comprehended. 



The main object, however, of the boys' and girls' work is to 

 interest the boys and girls themselves in farm life, and to show 

 them the wonderful possibilities and opportunities which are open 

 to the worker of the soil. 



Lessons in leadership, in co-operative effort, in thrift and 

 economy and in better methods of cultivation are all important, 

 but the boys and girls themselves are the most important. Let us 

 make them our partners by giving them a share of their own, 

 whether it be an acre of corn, a calf, a pig, a potato plat, a garden 



Elsie McNall, Sleepy Eye, one of the girls receiv 

 ing membership in this society for good work. 



