1922.] Yotjng Farmers' Clubs. 1069 



prominent professional stock-raisers readily respond to the invita- 

 tions of Clubs to lecture. 



In almost every district where any particular land of stock or 

 crop is raised, there are local Associations whose leading mem- 

 bers are willing to give instruction. 



On occasions when no lecturer is available the children read 

 and discuss a chapter from one of the standard agricultural or 

 horticultural books. Numerous pamphlets and bulletins are 

 obtainable from the bodies before mentioned, and from the 

 Colleges. 



When the preliminary instructions have been given the 

 children are called together and ballot for the animals they are 

 to keep. These animals, which are purchased by the founder 

 of the Club, are scored on points before they are handed over to 

 their youthful custodians, and a note of hand, bearing no 

 interest, and signed by the parent, is taken in exchange. 



At the end of a period, which will be determined according to 

 the nature of the stock (in most cases it is one yearV, and during 

 which the Advisory Committee will pay periodical visits to the 

 children's homes to see that the animals are properly looked 

 after, and to withdraw those which are not, the stock will be 

 brought together and re-judged on points. Small prizes will then 

 be awarded to the children whose animals have made the 

 greatest progress while in their care, and other small prizes for 

 the best stock records, showing actual cost of feed and labour, 

 and weight of feed given to animals, etc., that the children have 

 kept in specially prepared books. 



The animals are then put up for auction and sold. Ten per 

 cent, of the price realised is paid into the funds of the Club, 

 the value of the animal at the date it was handed to the child 

 is returned to the founder of the Club, and the balance is 

 handed to the child as compensation for feeding and a reward for 

 industry. The child can buy in the animal if so desired, by 

 paying the original value, plus the 10 per cent, which goes to 

 the Club Fund. 



From this it will be seen that the only expense which falls 

 upon the founder of the Club is the small sum involved in the 

 prize money (which should .never exceed £20), and the interest 

 on the capital value of the stock for twelve months. The scheme 

 varies as to detail according to the nature of the stock or crop 

 to be raised. 



The foregoing is the general outline which should be appli- 

 cable to practically all stock -raising Clubs. 



