UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION _ BENJ. IDE WHEELER, PRESIDENT COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ^^^^^^ ,^^3^^„ „^^, ^„^^^^ ,,„^^^^^ BERKELEY H. E. van NORMAN. Vice-Director and dean University Farm School CIRCULAR No. 190 January, 1918 AGRICULTURE CLUBS IN CALIFORNIA By B. H. CEOCHERON Agriculture clubs are a means whereby young persons profit from farming through the practice of it in competitive groups under the supervision of trained men. Thus the object of such clubs is to capitalize for j-oung people their work on the land. There may be other valuable results of agricul- ture clubs. They may teach lessons of science, of thrift, of industry. They may help to organize country life and provide a needed struc- ture for the social and moral growth of the countryside. But all these are bj^-products of the main purpose which has a direct, economic end in view. Agriculture clubs have no necessary connection' with the public school system although most are first organized in schools where the club group can be formed more readily. The clubs are not part of a required course of study and have nothing directly to do with the formal pedagogic aspects of agriculture. They are a separate and distinct line of progress from the so-called ''home project work" which is becoming a valued part of the secondary teaching of agri- culture. For home projects are an attempt to carry out at home the operation which has been learned by text or lecture at school. Thus the care of a team of horses may be a home project but would be only an incidental operation in an agriculture club. A home project may finish with a deficit in materials or labor, or have no tangible financial result, and yet be a success if the student has learned something of value. The agriculture clubs are only a success when their members make money from the carrying on of a "contest." The assumptions upon which agriculture clubs start are : (1) Tliat the agricultural institutions of the state and nation have information which, a})plied to farming, will increase farm profits. (2) That many boys and some girls want to make money by farm- ing and would like to be shown how. (3) That the chances for individual success are increased when several persons in a neighborhood undertake the same work, an added interest for which comes through competition. Unless the above three assumptions are correct the agriculture clubs as established in Cali- fornia are unsound. HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE CLUBS IN CALIFORNIA A. HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS The movement for agriculture clubs in California started on its present basis in January, 1914, with the students of the College of AGRICULTURE CLUB POTATO CONTEST PASO ROBLES HI SCI i^z- Every club member must grow a crop on his home farm each year. Agriculture who, having an agriculture club of their own, felt that there were boys in the state too young to go to college, or who had missed the opportunity, but who would like to take part in contests with growing crops or animals and so demonstrate their ability to make money out of farming. With the aid and co-operation of the Extension Division, a committee of over forty students launched the campaign for agriculture clubs, which was restricted to pupils of high school age. This was because (1) they were less numerous than the vast army of elementary school boys and thus could be reached more adequately; (2) they were nearly of vocational age and there- fore might be expected to respond more readily to the money-making aim of the clubs; (3) they naturally looked up to the college students who were to be their volunteer leaders. From the first the high school clubs had a favorable sliown bv the following' table: •rowth as Clubs Members enrolled 1914 1915 1910 1917 34 64 103 101 343 622 1157 2047 During the long, hot summers hundreds of high school boys demon- strated their ability to grow crops on California soils. In many cases they not only surpassed the yields of neighboring farmers but proved by their accurate balance sheets that careful culture pays big profits. All the boys in any one club grow the same crop, but different Agriculture clubs seek to prove to country boys that careful farming pays profits. Dewey Cameron of Kerman, prize winner in 1915, who now has a ranch of his own. clubs must grow different crops because of the highly divergent char- acter of California agriculture and because of the large area which the state represents. Twenty-four possible contests were planned, selection being left to the club upon the basis of the contest that might be expected to result in the most monetary profit to that particular community. Gradually, through experimentation and practice, the contests usually selected have narrowed to about a half dozen. In the first year the boy seldom grows a crop of unusual credit or profit. By the second .year lessons of experience have been learned which applied in the field, give a larger net return. By the third year it is evident that only through unusual care and attention can unusual yi(4ds be gained. Boys then often conduct seed selection or even plant-breeding demonstrations in addition to the regular field plots. Although the plots " required in the contests vary from one- fourth acre to an acre for each boy, or from one to two animals in animal contests, many club members in the second or third year of their work had under tlieir direction or management ten to twenty acres, or even whole ranches. In California agriculture clubs less emphasis is placed upon yield than upon net profit. All results are judged upon a carefully con- trived score card wherein net profit is calculated after all expenses The club members are lead to grow successive crops on increasing areas. The boys conduct seed selection and even plant breeding demonstrations in addition to their regular field plots. Leslie Porter, at Salinas, prize winner in 1914. who ever since has carried on plant-to-the-row selection work with beans, which has shown astonishing results. including the value of land rental and even of the labor of the boy himself have been deducted. The plan is based upon the belief that the principles applied in a club contest should be those which would hold true on a larger acreage. It has been upon this basis that the club members have gradually extended their operations. Supervision It became evident at the outset that the agriculture clubs could not be maintained by volunteer leadership alone. Therefore the actual supervision of the clubs was taken over by the Extension Divi- sioii which now, in co-operation with the United States Department of Agriculture, employs three men who devote their whole time to the enterprise. Other members of the staff of the college, such as county^ farm advisers and crop specialists, have given much service to the agriculture clubs. Always, however, the Agriculture Club of the University students has maintained its helpful committees to assist in the work. T^he club specialists from the Universit}^ visit each high school agriculture club once a month during the entire year. During the 4 - w '].'— '>l-|i -^^. ■ :.k>\ ' iPinKr-f-ife* The boys are proving that much selection work still remains to be done. David Patterson of Wasco, with two high yield bean plants which averaged 425 pods apiece; usually bean plants run about 50 pods to the plant. winter months the boys are advised at school in club groups but during the growing season they are visited at home where their crops are inspected and instruction is given. As soon as a boy enrolls he begins to receive special literature upon the crop he is growing, the best treatises from the United States Department of Agriculture and from the University of California being selected as well as leaflets written for this special purpose. These bulletins reach him at inter- vals of two weeks until the series is exhausted. By means of the 6 printed material and the personal instruction of the club specialists, as well as by the study of the growing crop itself, it is possible for an ag-riculture club boy to gain more detailed and intimate knowledge of that one crop than is given in any regular course offered to college undergraduates. Among the materials sent to the club members, the first is a "record sheet," being a carefully planned blank on which to keep a Net profit is emphasized as the end toward which all operations are directed. Hayes Keiser of Whittier, who after deducting the rent of his land, the value of his own labor and other expenses made a net profit of $87.40 from one-quarter of an acre of garlic. complete financial statement of the crop, its entire expense including the rental of the land and the labor of the boy himself, as well as memoranda of all operations, the tools with which they were per- formed and the time which the work required. At the end of the season these records are returned completed to the state office, where conclusions are drawn from them and a summary statement submitted to each club pointing out, if possible, the factors which resulted in the success of the winner. These find much local publicity and spread broadcast the teachings of successful agriculture. Each year at the end of the club contest an exhibit of the products is held. These exhibits often attain large proportions and attract considerable local attention. Sometimes the exhibit is held at a county or district fair, but more often it is in the business district of the town on a day when many farmers are present. The records of the boys are exhibited with the products, the judges then announce their decision and the essay of the winning boy telling ''how he did it" is printed in the local paper. Club members are lead to become real farmers by easy steps from year to year. Oscar Dimmock of Lemoore, who first raised hogs in the club contest in 1915, who was prize winner in that year, and who now is a well known breeder of pure bred hogs. Prizes No prizes of any kind are offered by the University. It is evident, however, that the work has the enthusiastic approval of the people of the state since annually they have subscribed large sums of money for travel trips for the winning boys The totals of the sums so expended have greatly increased year by year. The chief form of prize offered by the communities has been a trip to the University Farm at Davis. The University offered to entertain there the most successful boys in the club contests; half the boys from a club being permitted to attend. Thus in 1914, 143 boys were sent to Davis, in 1915 there were 235, in 1916 the number 8 was 274, and in 1917 there were 324 who attended. At the University Farm the boys are camped out for three days in militia tents, are entertained there by the colleg-e and spend the time in receiving agri- cultural instruction. In 1915 the trip also included a visit to the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco, while in 1916 they journeyed by special train to Berkeley and the campus of the Uni- versity. Another and larger prize has been a transcontinental tour offered by some communities to their winning boys. This tour, conducted b}^ the University, but entirely financed b}^ the several communities. The Clul) Leaders go about the state visiting each boy on his home farm during the growing season. Meetings are held by club members on plots deserving special attention. Constant instruction and encouragement bring success in club work. attempts to make a study of the most prominent types of agriculture in America, as well as to see some of the big cities, industries and historic places. For three successive years a carload of winning, boys thus has been taken over America on a tour of ten thousand miles. The tour differs from all others ever offered, in that it is definitely organized for agricultural instruction in order to train leaders for country life and for California. No boy in the contest "wins" or "earns" a transcontinental tour. It is an investment made by the people in the expectation that in later years he will give a return to the community far beyond the initial expenditure. More than anything' else, country life needs leaders trained from among its own people. Some of these leaders of the future will come from among- the "Transcontinental Tour Boys." B. ELEMENTAEY CLUBS From the beginning the intention has been to extend the agri- culture clubs to the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades of the elementary schools as soon as the high school development became fixed and as Fifteen District Club Leaders operated in California during 1917; in 1918 their number will be increased to forty-five. These men are teachers of agriculture in high schools who enter into a co-operative arrangement wherebv they become agents of the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of California to carry on the club project in the elementary schools tributary to their high school districts. soon as sufficient trained and (employed supervision could be obtained. So far as volunteer leadership is concerned the plan is to utilize the successful and experienced members of the high school clubs to organ- ize and act as volunteer leaders for the elementary clubs in the district tributary to their high schools. Their position would then be pre- cisely similar to that assumed by the University students; for the 10 high school boy is the natural leader of the elementary school pupil, just as the university man is the high school boy's exemplar. This plan of utilizing high school boys as leaders for elementary clubs has already successfully been demonstrated elsewhere. But inasmuch as volunteer supervision is not alone sufficient to carry agriculture clubs to a successful conclusion, it was necessary to employ trained agricul- tural men to closety supervise and advise the elementary clubs. There are in California seventy-eight high schools which employ instructors in agriculture who are trained men. Most of these were employed for but nine or ten months a year. During the two or High school boys who have been successful club members for one or more years are encouraged to become advisors of an elementary club of younger boys and to give them their encouragement and advice. On the right, district club leader; in the center, the elementary club boy, and on the left, John Cantoni of Napa, prize winner in 1915, who since has been advisor to a club of elementary boys near his home. three months when farming operations are most active, these agricul- tural instructors were absent from their communities or were there inactive in leadership. In co-operation with the high school boards it was proposed to employ these instructors for three months of their spare time. Where this was done the agricultural instructor agreed to spend three months upon agricultural extension activities in the district tributary to his high school, under the direction of the office of the State Leader ; the high school board agreed to appropriate not less than two hundred dollars for transportation in this work; and the College of Agriculture co-operating with the United States Depart- 11 iiient of Agriculture, agreed to pay two hundred dollars salary for work so done. Fifteen higli schools and their instructors entered into such an agreement during 1917. In those districts 107 elemen- tary clubs were formed with 830 club members. More schools will enter the project as the plan proves successful and as additional funds become available. Where proper supervision as well as volunteer leadership is furnished, elementary agriculture clubs will at once become possible. The plan of supervision for the elementar}^ clubs is precisely the same as that for the high schools mentioned heretofore. That is, just Two war badges for volunteer work done by boys. On the left that of the Boys' Working Reserve. On the right the special badge for boys who act as assistants to club leaders and farm advisors in their emergency projects for increased food production. as the club specialist from the University once a month visits the high school boys, so the agriculture instructor from the high school, known officially in this work as a district club leader, visits once a month the elementary schools. During the winter he forms clubs in the schools and meets the club boys there in groups. During the growing season he regularly visits the elementary boys on farms advis- ing on their work. Meanwhile the boys have been receiving special literature from the state office at intervals of two weeks. No doubt certain counties, desiring to form elementary clubs and realizing the necessity of trained and emploj^ed supervision will employ county club supervisors to act under the direction of the agricultural agencies of the state and nation. Where such county men are employed a wide development of clubs is possible. 12 SUGGESTIONS FOR ORGANIZATION In starting an agriculture club the first and most important thing to do is to secure a volunteer adviser. The club organization should be a student enterprise on the same basis as an athletic association, a debating club, etc., but like all student organizations, it will need guidance. Some local person should, therefore, be selected to act as club leader or adviser. This may be the principal of the school, a teacher, an interested farmer, a chamber of commerce man, or some other person. This club adviser should be some resident person who will take a sincere interest in the work of the club and in the bovs, During 1917, 136 Agriculture Club boys contributed their services with trans- portation for special war work throughout California. Two of the nine boys who made a farm-to-farm food survey of Humboldt County and secured complete records of the production of about 1000 farms. and who will be able to devote some of his time to supervising the work. He should act as a sort of balance wheel to the organization. The club adviser should be secured first of all. Before presenting the club idea to the bo3^s it should be decided which would be the best crop for them to grow in their contest. This should be determined by the club adviser in conference with several successful farmers and such other persons of the community whose judgment is valued. If a farm bureau center is in the locality, the question may be discussed at its regular monthly meeting. It should be remembered that the contest must be an annual crop, in order that 13 The uniform which has been adopted for agriculture club members throughout California. 14 a cash return may be secured the first year. The crop selected should be that which will make most money for the members, and whicli could be grown extensively and profitably in the community. These things having been accomplished, all the boys in the school should be called together and the plan of work explained to them. The important points to be emphasized are : (a) The agriculture clubs are part of a national club movement conducted b^^ boys in almost every state of the union. (h) In California, while different clubs may grow different crops, all boys in the same club must grow the same crop. An agriculture club convention is held once a year at the University Farm at Davis. The home communities send boys who have done especially good work. In 1914, 143 boys attended; in 1915 there were 235; in 191( :74; and 1917, 324. (c) The members of the club should consist of boys of school age (whether now in school or not) who are vocationally interested in agriculture and desire to make some mone.y from the land in contest with other boys of the community. {d) The best place to have the crop grown is on the home farm of each boy. Those who have no farm may rent land elsewhere. The poorest place to conduct the contest is on the school grounds. (e) Each boy must keep accurate records of his work, including all cash and expense accounts and receipts for his sales. At the end of the season these records and vouchers must be turned over to the judges. 15 (/) The club holds meetinos twice a month. One of these may be a field meeting at some successful farm or at a boy's plot. The other ma}' be an indoor program and business meeting. The College of Agriculture will furnish complete outlines for eighty-four different meetings. mrnKfUmmpv H" r •'.< ^S*v ■iWi \ m m m No prizes of any kind are offered by the University. A transcontinental tour has been offered by some communities to their winning boys. Annually a carload of prize winners thus has been taken over America on a tour of 10,000 miles to see its chief types of agriculture. Seventy-three boys have been sent on such a trip. In 1914 there were 20; in 1915 there were 29; in 1916 there were 24. {(j) All work is under the honor system. The judging is done by a local board of three, appointed by the club, of which the club adviser is chairman. 16 (h) Prizes for club work are given by the local communities, not by the University of California, or by the United States Department of Agriculture. Travel is the best prize ; money is the worst prize. All boys who are not interested in joining the club under the conditions above, should be eliminated at this point. With only those boys present who expect to take part in the con- test, the meeting may merge into an informal discussion in which the boys are encouraged to ask questions. The model constitution (as prepared by the office of the State Leader) should be read and adopted. When there are no further questions, officers should be elected. These, according to the club constitution, include a president, vice-president, and secretary. At the discretion of the club president, the following standing committees may be appointed : 1. Membership committee. 2. Publicity committee, to keep local papers informed of club activities. 3. Programme committee, to arrange programmes for club meet- ings, secure speakers, etc. 4. Contest committee to secure prices on seed, etc. Other committees may be appointed for special purposes. Enrollment cards (supplied by the office of the State Leader) may then be given out. These should be taken home, the project discussed with the parents, and after final decision, should be signed and mailed without postage to the office of the State Leader. This puts the mem- ber on the state list to receive supervision and instruction. The club adviser may briefly explain and emphasize the first things to be done in the contest work, such as selecting and preparing the land, testing or preparing the seed, etc. The time and place of the next meeting should be decided before adjournment. 17 CONSTITUTION The followino- model constitution is proposed for all the agTicnl- ture clubs in California : CONSTITUTION OF THE AGRICULTURE CLUB A. Name. — The name of this organization shall be the Agriculture Club. Name of school B. Object, — The object of this organization shall be the promotion of interest in agriculture, the introduction of better methods of farming, and the improvement of social and ecohomic conditions in the country. II. Membership Membership shall be open to all young people who show by their active interest a desire to take part in the advancement of country life. By failure to attend three consecutive meetings or to take part in at least one contest per year any person is dropped from the roll of the club. The minimum membership for any club shall be six members. III. Officers The officers of the club shall be president, vice-president and secretary. Election. — The officers shall be elected by a majority vote, and regularly at the beginning of the calendar year. Any member of the club shall be eligible to the presidency, but after the first year it shall be the expectation that the vice-president shall succeed to the presi-. dency. Duties of Officers. — -The duties of the president shall be to preside at meetings, to take general charge of all activities of the club, to appoint all necessary com- mittees and in general to be the manager and director of the club. The duties of the vice-president shall be those of the president in the absence of the latter, and at all times to be his assistant and adviser. He should gain an intimate knowledge of all contests carried on, in order to continue them the fol- loAving year. The duties of the secretary shall be to keep the minutes of the club meetings in permanent form, records of attendance at such meetings and records of con- tests and all activities. He shall as far as possible keep in touch with other agriculture clubs^ IV. Meetings The club shall meet regularly twice a month. One of these meetings shall be a regular indoor business meeting at which an agricultural program may be given. The alternate meeting should be a field trip to some successful farm, ranch, or agricultural enterprise. Special meetings may be called by the president or any four members. V. Dues There shall be no regular dues in this club. Any necessary expense shall be met by an assessment by a majority vote. 18 CONTESTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS Complete rules for the contests listed below may be secured from the State Leader's office. Each outline states briefly the rules as to acreage or number of animals, duration, work required of the con- testant, and the basis of making- the award. A brief, practical bibliography is appended to each. From time to time additional instructions are sent. The possible contests are as follows : Crop Contests Bean Contests 1. Pink Beans. — The production of at least one-half acre of beans, the selec- tion of seed stock, and an essay on ' ' How I Grew My Crop. ' ' 2. White Beans. — The production of at least one-half acre of beans, the selec- tion of seed stock, and an essay on * * How I Grew My Crop. ' ' 3. Blackeye Beans. — The production of at least one-half acre of beans, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on ' ' How I Grew My Crop. ' ' 4. Tepary Beans. — The production of at least one-half acre of beans, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on ' ' How I Grew My Crop. ' ' 5. Lima Beans — The production of at least one-half acre of beans, the selec- tion of seed stock, and an essay on * ' How I Grew My Crop. ' ' 6. Siring Beans (Pole Beans). — The production of at least one-quarter acre of beans, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on ' ' Hoav I Grew My Crop." Corn Contests 7. Field Corn. — The production of at least one acre of corn, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on * ' How I Grew My Crop. ' ' 8. Grain Sorghums. — The production of at least one acre of grain sorghum, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on ''How I Grew My Crop." 9. Pop-corn. — The production of at least one-half acre of pop-corn, the selec- tion of seed stock, and an essay on ''How I Grew My Crop." 10. Sweet-corn. — The production of at least one-half acre of sweet corn, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on ' * How I Grew My Crop. ' ' Potato Contests 11. White (Irish) Potatoes. — The production of at least one-quarter acre of potatoes, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on "How I Grew My Crop." 12. Sweet Potatoes. — The production of at least one-quarter acre of sweet potatoes, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on "How I Grew My Crop. ' ' Miscellaneous Contests 13. Celery. — The production of at least one-eighth acre of celery, the exhibit of twelve best bunches, and an essay on "How I Grew My Crop." 19 14. Mixed Vegetables. — The production of at least one-half acre of mixed vegetables, complete records of all operations, and an essay on "How I Grew My Crop. ' ' 15. Nursery Trees. — The production of 1000 seedling trees, to be budded at eight months, and an essay of 1000 words. 16. Onions. — The production of at least one-eighth acre of onions, the selec- tion of seed stock, and an essay on ' ' How I Grew My Crop. ' ' 17. Peanuts. — The production of at least one-quarter acre of peanuts, the selection of seed stock, and an essay on ' ' How I Grew My Crop, ' ' Animal Contests Pig Contests 18. Fattening Tivo or More Pigs. — The feeding and care of two or more pigs for at least four months, keeping records, and an essay on ' ' How I Raised My Pigs." 19. Litter Raising. — The care of one sow through breeding and farrowing, and the care of the litter until at least four months old. Complete records and an essay on ' ' How I Raised My Pigs. ' ' Poultry Contests 20. Egg Prcduction.- — The care and feeding of at least two dozen hens for at least four months. Complete records and an essay of 1000 words. 21. Faising Ycung Chiclcens. — The hatching and rearing of at least thirty pullets and three cockerels to eight months of age (all of the same breed). Complete records and an essay on ''How I Raised My Chickens. ' ' Miscellaneous Contests 22. Beelceeping. — The care of at least six hives of bees for a period of eight months. Complete record and 500-word essay. 2.3. Calf Bearing. — The care and feeding of at least one calf for a period of at least eight months. Complete records and an essay on ' ' How I Raised My Calf." 24. Colt Bearing. — The care and feeding of at least one colt for a period of eight months. Complete records and an essay on ''How I Raised My Colt." 25. Sheep Bearing. — The care and feeding of at least two lambs for a period of at least three months. Complete records and an essay on "How I Raised My Lambs." Special contests-, such as stock-judging, plowing, budding, grafting, pruning, etc., may be worked up for Saturday ''hikes" and field trips. Of the above list of contests only a little over half have actually been used during the past four years. Of these six appear to be the most successful. The following table shows the distribution of con- tests over four vears of club work. 1914 1915 1 1916 1917 Four-year total 1 1 1 4 6 11 26 47 1 4 5 1 1 .... 1 1 2 7 8 11 28 3 3 3 5 14 3 2 17 31 53 1 1 2 1 1 .... 9 11 1 .... 1 1 1 2 18 33 39 92 9 23 23 70 125 1 1 14 16 2 1 3 7 .... 1 8 20 Kind of contest Alfalfa Baby Beef Beans Canning (girls) .. Cantaloupes Celery Corn Mixed Vegetables Grain Sorghums .. Nursery Trees Onions Peas Peanuts Pig Feeding Potatoes Poultry Sugar Beets Tomatoes . Total 34 65 103 208 410 It will be noted that Beans, Corn, Mixed Vegetables, Grain Sor- ghums, Pig Feeding, and Potatoes are the contests that have been selected with repeated and growing success. The rules for these six contests follow : EULES FOR THE BeAN GROWING CONTEST 1. Members of agriculture clubs only shall be eligible to compete in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall grow one-half acre of beans. 3. Each contestant shall prepare his ground; select and plant his seed; per- form his cultural operations ; harvest his crop. 4. Each contestant shall keep a complete tabulated record of expense and procedure. This record shall accompany the exhibit. In addition, each con- testant shall write an essay of between 500 and 1000 words on ''How I Grew My Bean Crop." 5. Each contestant, after the harvest, shall exhibit at the school show, at the district or county fair, or other place designated by the principal of the school and by the president of the club, ten plants chosen from the crop as good seed beans. The winner of the contest shall be named during the show or fair. 6. The prize or certificate of merit shall be awarded to the winner on the following basis: Per cent Greatest yield on one-quarter acre 30 Best showing of profit on investment 50 Best exhibits of ten plants for seed beans 10 Best history of ''How I Grew My Bean Crop" 10 100 21 BibHcgraphy: U. S. D. A. Farmers ' Bulletin No. 289, Beans; No. 561, Bean Growing; No. 318, CoAvpeas. U. S. D. A. Prof. Bulletin No. 119, Bean JSpecies; Cal. Exp. Sta. Leaflet, Bean Culture. EULES FOR THE COKN GROWING CONTEST 1. Members of agriculture clubs only will be eligible to compete in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall grow at least one acre of field corn. 3. Each contestant shall prepare his ground; select, test, and plant his seed; cultivate, irrigate, and harvest his crop. He may have assistance in plowing, weighing, and hauling his crop. 4. Each contestant shall keep a complete record of expense and procedure, according to the accompanying record blank. This complete tabulated record shall accompany the exhibit. In addition, each contestant shall write an essay of from 500 to 1000 words on ' ' How I Grew My Corn Crop. ' ' 5. Each contestant shall, after the harvest, exhibit at tlie school show, at the district or county fair, or other place designated by the principal of the school and the president of the club, ten ears of corn selected as good seed. ^ The winner of the contest shall be named during the shoAv or fair. 6. The prize or certificate of merit shall be awarded to the winner on the following basis: Per cent Greatest yield from one acre 30 Best showing of profit on investment 50 Best exhibit of ten ears 10 Best history of * * How I Grew My Corn Crop" 10 100 BihlicgrapJiy : U. S. D. A. Farmeis' Bulletin No. 537, How to Grow an Acre of Corn; No. 199, Corn Growing; No. 414, Corn Cultivation; No, 229, Good Seed Corn; No. 415, Seed Corn; No, 253, Germination of Seed Corn. Cal. Exp. Sta. Cir. No. 70, Corn Growing in California. Rules for the Mixed Vegetable Growing Contest 1. Members of agriculture clubs only will be eligible to compete in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall grow one-quarter acre of vegetables, in any one of the following combinations: Group 1 Potatoes Celery Radishes Parsnips Lettuce Carrots Group 2 Spinach Cauliflower Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Kale Onions Group 3 Beets Cucumbers String Beans Squash Peas Lima Beans It is suggested that the clubs limit their contest to only one group in any one year. 3. Each contestant shall prepare his ground; select, treat (when necessary), and plant his seed; cultivate, irrigate, and harvest his cr,ops. He may have assistance in plowing, harvesting, and hauling. He should grow about an equal area of each vegetable. 22 4. Each contestant shall keep a complete record of expense and procedure, according to the accompanying record blank. He shall sell produce as it becomes available, reserving the best for exhibit. This complete tabulated record shall accompany the exhibit. In addition, each contestant shall write an essay of from 500 to 1000 words on ' ' How I Grew My Vegetable Crop. ' ' 5. Each contestant shall, during or after the harvest, exhibit at the school show, at the district or county fair, or other place designated by the principal of the school and the president of the club, the best product of each crop gi-own, in quantities to be decided by the school principal and the club adviser. 6. The prize or certificate of merit shall be awarded to the winner on the following basis: Per cent Best yield on plot 30 Best showing of profit on investment 50 Best exhibits 10 Best essay on ''How I Grew My Vegetable Crop" 10 100 Bibliography : U. S. D. A. Farmers ' Bulletin No. 255, Home Vegetable Gar- den; No. 881, Small Vegetable Garden; No. 324, Sweet Potatoes; No. 433, Cab- bage; No. 254, Cucumbers; No. 354, Onion Culture. U. S. D. A., B. P. I. Bulletin No. 833, Tomato Growing. Cal. Exp. Sta. Cir. No. 147, Tomato Grovnng. EULES FOR THE PlG FEEDING CONTEST 1. Members of agriculture clubs only will be eligible to compete in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall raise at least two pigs from the age of eight weeks to eight months (may vary). 3. If the contestant is bringing his pigs from a neighboring or distant ranch, he should first give them a thorough scrubbing in a good disinfectant and should keep them separate from any other pigs on his place for at least three weeks. This is important, as it is to prevent the spread of disease. 4. Each contestant shall act independently as to the tending and care of his pigs and shall do aU the work necessary during the contest. Help may be obtained for hauling and weighing. 5. Each contestant shall keep complete record of expenses of feeding and of the value of his time put in at taking care of his pigs. (The value of time shall be estimated at 15 cents per hour.) These records shall be given careful consider- ation by the parties judging the merits of the pigs at the end of the contest. Each contestant shall write an essay giving in detail the methods of feeding and rearing his pigs, 6. The judges for the contest shall be elected by the club. 7. The prize or certificate of merit shall be aAvarded on the following basis: Per cent Value of the pigs with regard to weight and stock 30 Profit made by contestant judging from record of cost of production 50 Essay on "How I Eaised My Pigs" 10 System and accuracy of keeping records 10 100 23 Bibliography: U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 879, Cholera; No. 781, Tuber- culosis of Swdne; No. 411, Feeding; No. 438, Housing; No. 566, Pig Clubs; No. 205, Pig Management. U. S. D. A. Bureau of Animal Industry Leaflet, Crates. Cal. Exp. Sta. Cir. No. 151, Feeding and Management; Cal. Exp. Sta. Leaflet, Feeding. Rules for Grain Sorghum Growing Contest 1. Members of agriculture clubs only will be eligible to compete in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall grow at least one acre of grain sorghum. 3. Each contestant shall prepare his ground ; select, test, and plant his seed ; cultivate, irrigate, and harvest his crop. He may have assistance in plowing, weighing, and hauling. 4. Each contestant shall keep a complete record of expense and procedure, according to the accompanying record blank. This complete tabulated record shall accompany the exhibit. In addition, each contestant shall write an essay of from 500 to 1000 words on ' ' How I Grew My Grain Sorghum Crop. ' ' 5. Each contestant shall, after the harvest, exhibit at the school show, at the district or county fair, or other place designated by the principal of the school and president of the club, ten heads of grain. The winner of the contest shall be named during the show or fair. 6. The prize or certificate of merit shall be awarded to the winner on the following basis: Per cent Greatest yield from one acre 30 Best showing of profit on investment 50 Best exhibit of ten heads 10 Best history of "How I Grew My Grain Sorghum Crop" 10 100 Bibliography: U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 537, How to Grow an Acre of Corn ; No. 448, Better Grain Sorghum Crops ; No. 414, Corn Cultivation ; No. 686, Uses of Sorghum Grains ; No. 724, Feeding Grain Sorghums. Cal. Exp. Sta. Bui. No. 278, Grain Sorghums; Cal. Exp. Sta. leaflet, when to Choose Certain Crops; Cal. Exp. Sta. Leaflet, Sorghums. EuLEs for the Potato Growing Contest 1. Members of agi-iculture clubs only shall be eligible to compete in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall grow at least one-quarter acre of potatoes. 3. Each contestant shall prepare his ground; select, treat, and cut his seed; plant, cultivate, spray, and irrigate (when necessary), dig and sack his crop. Ho may have assistance in plowing, weighing, and hauling. 4. Each contestant shall keep a complete record of expenses and procedure, according to the accompanying record blank. This complete tabulated record shall accompany the exhibit. In addition, each contestant shall write an essay of from 500 to 1000 words on ''How I Grew My Potato Crop." 5. Each contestant shall, after the harvest, exhibit at the school show, at the district or county fair, or other place designated by the principal of the school and president of the club, the product of ten hills of potatoes, chosen from the crop as good seed potatoes. It is required that one other member of the club be present Avhen the seed potatoes are dug. 24 The Avinner of the contest shall be named during the show or fair. 6. The prize, or certificate of merit, shall be awarded to the winner on, the following basis: Per cent Greatest yield from plot of potatoes 30 Best showing of profit on investment 50 Best exhibit of ten hills of seed potatoes 10 Best history of "How I Grew My Potato Crop" 10 100 7. All exhibits shall be the property of the member exhibiting at the close of the show. Bihlicgrophy ; Gal. Exp. Sta. Leaflet, Potato Culture; Cal. Exp. Sta. Cir. No. 161, Potatoes in California. U. S. D. A. Farmers ' Bulletin No. 533, Seed Potatoes ; No. 544, Diseases. U. S. D. A. Prof. Bulletin No. 195, Breeding. U. S. D. A. B. P. I. Bulletin No. 884, Potato Growing. CONTESTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLUBS The contests for the elementarj^ schools are practically identical with those for the high schools, except that the minimum area is one- half the size. These are as follows : Bean Growing Contests. — Pink Beans, one-quarter acre; Wliite Beans, one-quarter acre; Blackeye Beans, one-quarter acre; Tepary Beans, one-quarter acre; Lima Beans, one-quarter acre; String Beans, one-eighth acre. Corn Growing Contests. — Field Corn, one-half acre ; Grain Sorghums, one-half acre; Pop-corn, one-quarter acre; Sweet Corn, one-quarter acre. Potato Growing Contests. — Wliite (Irish) Potatoes, one-eighth acre; Sweet Po- tatoes, one-eighth acre. Miscellaneous Contests. — Celery, one-sixteenth acre ; Mixed Vegetables, one-eighth acre; Nursery Trees, 500 seedling trees, to be budded eight months; Onions, one-sixteenth acre; Peanuts, one-eighth acre. Animal Contests Pig Contests. — Fattening one or more pigs for at least four months; Litter Eais- ing, care of one sow through breeding and farrowing and care of litter until four months old. Poultry Contests. — Egg Production, one dozen hens for four months; Raising Young Chickens, hatching and rearing twenty pullets and two cockerels to eight months of age (all of the same breed). Miscellaneous Contests. — Beekeeping, care of three hives of bees for eight months; Calf Rearing, care and feeding one calf for eight months; Colt Rearing, care and feeding of one colt for eight months; Sheep Rearing, care and feeding of one lamb for three months.