TRAINING FOR COUNTRY LIFE 39 



the like, not for picking out the best ears or the best plants, but for 

 raising the maximum of produce at the minimum of cost. And 

 truly remarkable results are obtained in these competitions, in con- 

 sidering which, of course, the smallness of the area occupied in each 

 case and the opportunity given for most minute care, must be 

 allowed for. 



" These clubs," so wrote The Grain Growers' Guide, a leading 

 agricultural paper in Western Canada, after the institution had 

 gained a footing in that country, " have excited no end of interest 

 among older exhibitors and fair visitors and have created a vast 

 amount of enthusiasm, not only among the boy contestants but out- 

 siders as well. They have proven instructive and have had the effect 

 of identifying the boys with a practical, useful and fundamental 

 phase of live stock improvement. They are educational to an extent 

 scarcely foreseen by those who originated the plan. . . . The 

 organisation of these clubs and their progress creates a great deal of 

 local pride and co-operation. It proves a splendid publicity move- 

 ment for the bank. It draws attention to pure-bred cattle in 

 a way that other activities may fail to do. With this effect — 

 and it applies to every section where the calf clubs have been 

 started — it is easy to understand that they grow in popularity. It 

 is easy to understand why banks are inclined to lend their support to 

 the movement." 



The useful institution spoken of, of course, costs money. For 

 there must be festal gatherings for the purpose of exhibition, to 

 attract visitors and intensify interest, also prizes, and jollification. 

 The festal gatherings and merrymakings are in no wise thrown away, 

 as competent judges allow. Apart from stimulating the zeal and 

 interest of the children engaged — and of others, who watch the 

 results — they also exercise a very powerful influence on parents and 

 relations, attract them to the gatherings and lead them, while taking 

 pride in the triumphs of their belongings, to study the means by 

 which such triumphs are attained, which study results in " going 

 and doing likewise." The " fairs " also bring in money. 



Apart from the prizes, there must, too, be funds for the purchase 

 of the animals to be experimented upon, for fertilisers and seeds and 

 so on. Such funds the bankers of the American Bankers' Associa- 

 tion have shown themselves exceedingly ready to advance at a 

 moderate rate of interest, with no other security asked for except 

 the borrower's bond, backed by his or her parents or nearest adult 

 belonging. The money is lent for the period which it will take to 

 bring the animal or the crop dealt with up to selling point. And 



