THE DEMONSTRATION WORK 



Club for the purpose of having a set of rules or an organization. 

 True, this idea is used, but mainly in an incidental way. This work 

 is not a contest in corn growing wherein each one who enters is left 

 to prepare, plant, fertilize and cultivate in his own way. Of course, 

 prizes are offered in this work, but only for the purpose of arousing 

 interest and keeping up enthusiam. The plan is to instruct, to 

 direct, to guide and to train. The circulars of instruction sent at 

 different times throughout the year cover the fundamental principles 

 of good farming, such as deep fall plowing, the pulverization of the 

 soil, seed selection, suitable spacing, intensive cultivation, the in- 

 crease of humus, the economical use of fertilizers, the systematic 

 rotation of crops, the use of more horse power and better implements, 

 and the keeping of farm accounts. The effort is made to have each 

 boy receive attention and instruction on his acre or the acre of a 

 neighboring boy. A boy takes pride in ownership and will learn 

 more agriculture and more business on his own acre of corn than 

 elsewhere." 



Soon after the boys began to enroll in large numbers in 

 this new form of Corn Club Work it became necessary to have 

 badges, pennants, banners and other regalia upon which some 

 uniform insignia should be used. Agricultural colleges and 

 high schools began to round the boys up in short courses and 

 encampments at fairs and elsewhere. One of the occasions 

 which Dr. Knapp enjoyed most, in- the closing years of his life, 

 was the attendance of 1,500 Corn Club boys in overalls, and 

 with cornstalks as walking sticks at the Texas State Fair at 

 Dallas. He regarded it as one of the greatest honors that had 

 come to him to be able to address such an assemblage. 



Dr. Knapp made many valuable suggestions with regard 

 to the insignia to be used by the Club members. It was his 

 suggestion, too, that the boys enter into competitions by groups 

 and by counties rather than altogether as individuals. Inas- 

 much as prizes were offered and awards made in many in- 

 stances for best records as clubs, there was much interest 

 aroused in club activities and county records. The first prize 



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