BOYS' FARM CLUBS 



if he broke any records in corn production that it would be \ 

 upon a full acre basis and not upon any little rich garden spot, 

 for which the boy would have to apologize and explain that 

 at this rate it would be such and such yield per acre. Dr. 

 Knapp went further in his standardization work. He insisted 

 that the ten-ear exhibit should be only a small part of the 

 basis of award. It was his suggestion that the cost of pro- 

 duction should figure as one of the main items. It was at 

 his suggestion, also, that each boy should write a history of 

 his crop. He realized the beneficial effect on the schools and 

 teachers, when thousands of boys began to write compositions 

 upon living themes, in which they were intensely interested, 

 instead of upon abstractions. Not only have thousands of 

 interesting stories been written in good English by the Club 

 members on how their crops v/ere made, but hundreds of these 

 bright boys have stood upon their feet and made public talks 

 to large audiences along the same line. There has been no 

 collateral influence touching upon teaching in the schools 

 which has been more beneficial and far-reaching in its appli- 

 cation and use than the farm and home clubs in connection 

 with the Demonstration Work. 



The basis of award that was agreed upon in Dr. Knapp 's 

 ofiice and adopted generally in the Southern States for the 

 awarding of prizes in the Com Clubs was as follows: Yield, 

 30%; Showing of Profit, 30%; History, 20%, and Exhibit, 

 20%. These ideas and these percentages entered into the 

 bases for judging other crop and live stock club work every- 

 where. 



Although the different phases of work represented in 

 these different items were stressed, and an effort to maintain 

 a proper balance was constantly kept up, the question of large 

 yields was an engrossing one in the public mind for several 



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