CHAPTER XXVII 



BOYS ^ AND GIRLS' CLUBS 



More Food Needed. The population of our coun- 

 try is increasing- very rapidly, much faster than the 

 production of food; and so the ,cost of everything 

 we eat is a great deal higher than formerly. Every 

 citizen is, therefore, interested in increasing the 

 farmer's crops by methods of scientific agriculture. 

 Not only are the farmers anxious to improve crops, 

 hut business men, journalists, and statesmen are all 

 helping along the movement. People are realizing 

 more and more how closely their living, their pros- 

 perity, and their business success are linked with the 

 work of the farmer who produces the nation's food. 



The Whole Country Interested. Not only are 

 farm journals teeming with suggestions and advice, 

 but magazines and newspapers of all descriptions 

 are spreading the great truths of scientific tillage 

 and stock-raising. Business men's clubs are offer- 

 ing prizes to boys for the best acre ,crops, and the 

 champion corn raisers are getting large money 

 prizes and often splendid trips to the state or 

 nation's capital with all expenses paid. President 

 Roosevelt during his term of office appointed a com- 

 mission consisting of eminent men to study country 

 life and make such recommendations as seemed wise 

 to them. 



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