ALABAMA
Agricultural Experiment Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
AUBURN
CIRCULAR No. 11
September, 1911
THE RELATION OF THE TEACHER TO THE
BOYS' CORN CLUB WORK
HOW TO ORGANIZE A CLUB
BY
L. N. DUNCAN
J. B. HOBDY
Opelika, Ala.
Post Publishing Company
1911
COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION
HON. H. L. MARTIN
HON. A. W. BELL
HON R. F. KOLB
C. C. THACH
J. F. DUGGAR
B. . R Eoss
C. A. CARY --
J, T. ANDERSON -
C. L. HARE
DAN T. GRAY -
W. E. HINDS
F. E. LLOYD
L. N. DUNCAN*
P. F. WILLIAMS
C. S. \W'ILLIAMSON - -
T. BRAGG-
J.B HOBDY*-
B. F CAUTHEN
W. F. WARD*
I. S. MCADORY
W F. TURNER-
M. J. FUNCHESS_-__
C. S. RIDGWAY---_
J. C. C. PRICE --- -
L. WV. SHOOK-----
E. R. EUDALY*---
J. T. W1LLIAMsoN---
L. L GLOVER----
H. M. CONOLLY ---
0. H. SELLERS-- --
B. HODSON -- ----
J. COHEN - -- -- -
I. W. CARPENTER --. __
L. WV. SUMMERS----
S. S. JERDAN*____
A. R. GISSEN DANNER.-.
C. D. ALLIS -- - --
- ------ Ozark
.____Anuniston
Montgomery
STATION STAFF
--- - - - - - - --- -- - - - - -- President
_______ - Director and Agriculturist
---------- ----- Chemist and State Chemist
_ _ _ Veterinarian and Director of Farmers' Institutes
ChmsSoil and Crop Investigations
ERSON~~ Chemist ,_____Cem
-------- __ _ -__ __________ _ _ __ _ I -- - - C h m s
-- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- --- A nim al Industry
-- -- -- - -- - -- - -- ---- Entom ologist
---------- --- --- ---- --- --- --- ---B o ta n ist
--__- Agricultural Extension ork
---- ---- --- ---- ---- --- ---- ---H orticulturist
--- -- -- --- -- -- --- -- -- A ssociate Chem ist
__-__---___--First Assistant Chemist
Agricultural Extension \Xork-
------------- Associate Agriculturist and Recorder
----------------- junior Animal Husbandman
___ ________ _____ Assistant Veterinarian
Assatin Entomology
-- _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _Assistant Agriculturist
---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ---A ssistant in Botany
Assatin Horticulture
_______________Assistant in Animal Industry
---------- Assistant in Beef and Swine Husbandry
--- --- --- --- --- ---Field Agent in Agriculture
____ ____ ___ ____ ___Field Agent in Agriculture
- FedAgent in Horticulture
Sctayto Director
Assatin Agriculture
_________Assistant in Chemistry
----------------- Field Agent in Entomology
_---------- ___Assistant in Animal industry
---- --- --- --- ------ Assistant in Beef Industry
--------------- assistant in Swine Husbandry
----- ---- --- - -- - - -- Assistant in Poultry
*In Co-operation with U. S. Department of Agriculture.
THE RELATION OF THE TEACHER TO THE
BOYS' CORN CLUB MOVEMENT
HOW TO ORGANIZE A CLUB
BY
L. N. DUNCAN AND J. B. HOBDY
TEACHER'S MOTTO
To interest at least five boys, and more if possible, in my
school and community, in the Boys' Corn Club work, and get them
to grow a prize acre of corn.
INTRODUCTORY.
'lihe Extension Department in this institution 
was
creaed and is maintained jointly by the Farmers' Co-eper-
ative Demonstration work of the United States Department
of Agriculture, and the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Au-
burn, Alabama.
OBJECTS OF THE CORN CLUB MOVEMENT.
The objects of organizing the boys under twenty-one
years of age in Alabama into Corn Clubs are to increase
the production of corn, to improve the seed, to aid the
young farmers in better methods of cultivation and a more
intelligent use of fertilizers, to increase the interest of the
farm boys in agriculture, and to encourage them to get an
education along agricultural lines and remain on the farm.
Of course arousing interest in one crop will lead to similar
lines of work with other crops, and will ultimately result
in more careful study of better methods along all lines of
farming. This will lead to increased production of the
farm and will lay the foundations for better schools, better
roads, better churches, improvement of the social life in
the rural districts and a more contented and happier people.
AN APPEAL.
This pamphlet is placed in the hands of those teachers
who are desirous of making their schools 
the centers of
community interest as an appeal for their hearty 
co-opera-
tion and assistance in carrying forward 
this very interest-
ing work. The movement which 
it would further, is peda-
gogic in character and of vital importance 
to every pupil
whose destiny the teacher; more than any 
force except the
home, is shaping. Its every tendency is 
to conserve the
best interest of farm life. From an economical standpoint,
its results cannot be over estimated.
Each teacher in the public schools of Alabama 
is an
integral factor in the great advance 
movement for better
farming. A'failure to co-operate in this practical agricul-
tural work is a failure to give efficient 
service, clogs the
wheels of agricultural progress in their respective 
commun-
ities and tends to decrease the momentum of 
a movement
which is state-wide in scope.
Past experience has convinced those in charge 
of~the
Corn Club work in Alabama, that numbers 
of teachers in
several counties in the state are indifferent to the work be-
cause of, (a) failure on their part to recognize 
its educa-
tional value, (b) an imagined inability to take hold 
of, and
maintain an organization, (c) fear of extra work 
for which
there is no compensation, and (d) general 
indifference.
(a). Any movement, which has for its ultimate 
ect
the dissemination of information which will better acquaint
the farmer with the possibilities of the soil which he 
tills
from day to day, is educational in character. 
It is no longer
a theory, but a proven fact, that the teacher 
of the rural
schools, who has become thoroughly 
aroused to the possi-
bilities of the Boys' Corn Club wotk, 
stands forward as a
factor in the revolution of farming methods 
in his commun-
ity, in that he is leading in a movement 
for dissemination of
knowledge.
(b) There are a number of earnest, progressive 
teach-
ers who are at a loss to know how to launch 
the movement
in their schools, and even some who 
have been successful
in the organization of a club, become 
discouraged and
doubtful as to their ability to further 
handle the situation.
It is the purpose of this pamphlet 
to so definitely explain
the organization and maintenance 
of the work that the
most timid may undertake it without 
misgivings.
(c) Those teachers, who fear extra 
work without
compensation, must admit that this 
is a progressive move-
ment, and one that is abreast of 
the times, and of vital im-
portance to the agricultural interest of the State. It is by
far the most popular educational movement of recent years.
Numbers of communities are demanding club work and
those teachers thoroughly imbued with its spirit, are in de-
mand, for in them, parents of the farmers of the future, see
a guiding spirit impelled by a desire to open up an avenue
which leads to independence and contentment on the farm.
The service of such a teacher is enhanced, and club work,
prompted by unselfish motives, in a short time proves of
material advantage to the co-operating teacher.
(d) Let it, be borne in mind by the indifferent teacher
that any affair of vital interest to the citizenship of his
school district is decidedly an affair of his, and the sooner
he makes inquiries into this movement, with the view of
recognizing its value, the better prepared will he be to lend
his influence and some of his efforts to encouraging it.
HOW THE TE\ CHER MAY ORGANIZE A CLUB.
To begin with, it is important to get the boys inter-
ested. Explain to them the work, ask if they would not like
to grow a prize acre of corn at their homes, and contest for
some prizes that are to be offered for the best acre. As-
sure them that it will cost nothing to join the club and all
that will be expected of them will be to exert their best ef-
forts to grow a good acre of corn, keep a record of how
they grew it, and submit a-report of the steps and results
of the work, in the fall.
In starting the work, it would be a good plan to calla
meeting of all the boys of the school and community,
letting it be well known that the pfirpose of the meeting is
to organize a Corn Club. It would be well to invite the pa-
trons of the school to this meeting, and have the Demon-
stration Agent, for your county, make a talk to the school
and visiting patrons on the Corn Club work. If .possible,
have your County Superintendent at this meeting and ask
his aid in this organization work.
In the organization of the work, the countyshould be
the unity, the County Superintendent of Education the
leader for the county, and the teacher the leader. for his or
her community.
In some cases, where there is a larger school andsev-
erthl boys who wish to enter the club, a local club may be
organized. Where this is done a simple Constitution andi
By-Laws may be adopted, officers elected, and meetings
held as often as the teacher may deem best, in the evenings
after school or at nights. A local club may be organized
and conducted about as a debating society. The debates
and discussions should be confined largely to agricultural
questions. Boys joining such a local club would also be-
come members of the main county club, and would be al-
lowed to contest for any county prizes offered. Each boy
joining the club must agree to grow a prize acre of corn.
A teacher organizing such a local club, might get up some
prizes in the community to be contested for only by the
boys in the local club.
If only a few boys are interested in the work, and it is
impossible to organize a local club, encourage the boys to
enter the county contest and forward their names at once
to your County Superintendent of Education. The names
of all the boys entering a local club should be sent to the
County Superintendent of Education in order that they
may get the literature bearing on corn growing, and that
the Superintendent may be able to determine and announce
the winners of the county and state prizes.
WHO MAY BECOME MEMBERS.
It is our desire to have every boy, not over twenty-one
years old and large enough to work on the farm, become
a member of the corn club in the county where this work is
started. We wish to have boys who live on the 
farm en-
gage in this work. If a father owns a farm and lives in
town, his son may become a member, or if a boy has no
land and has enough interest in the work to rent the land
and enter the club, we shall be glad to have him also.
SUGGESTED CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.
Constitution.
Article 1. This organization shall be known as the
................. County Boys' Corn Club of Alabama.
Article 2. Any boy of school age shall be eligible 
to
membership.
Article 3. The purpose of the club shall be to make
farm life more attractive and farming more profitable, to
assist the public schools in teaching the fundamental prin-
ciples of agriculture in a more practical way, and to assist
the State College of Agriculture and the United States'De-
partment of Agriculture in carrying information 
directly to
the farm.
5
By-Laws.
1. The members of the Club must 
agree -to read all
instructions on Demonstration Work.
2. Each boy must plan his crop and do most 
of his
own work. If necessary, he 
may have assistance in break-
ing and bedding his land and other heavy 
work.
3. No boy in a county shall be allowed to contest 
for
a prize unless he is a member of the County Corn Club.
4. The amount of yield by weight and 
measurement
of land- must be certified to by each boy and attested by at
least one disinterested witness.
5. Each member shall gather the corn on 
his acre and
weigh it all in the shuck. Weight of corn in shuck, 
......
pounds. Weigh 100 pounds of corn in the shuck; shuck,
shell and weigh the grain. Weight of grain, ...... pounds.
6. No boy shall be allowed to receive more than two
prizes.
7. Every member of the club must make an exhibit at
the annual county contest.
8. In estimating profits, $5.00 per acre shall be charg-
ed as rent of land. The work of each boy shall be esti-
mated at 10 cents per hour, and the 
work of each horse at
5 cents per hour. Manure 
shall be charged at the rate 
of
$1.00 for each one-horse wagon load, and 
$2.00 for each
two-horse wagon load.
9. The judge. or committee of judges, 
for the annual
contest shall be selected by the managers 
of the club.
10. Prize winning corn may be sent from the county
to the state contest by the club manager.
11. In awarding prizes, the following basis shall be
used:
(a) Greatest yield per acre................. 30 points
(b) Best exhibit of ten ears................. 20 points
(c) Best written account of crop............ 20 points
(d) Best showing of profit on investment.... 30 points
Total ........ . ................ ....... 100 points
PRIZES.
As a matter of stimulation and encouragement to the
boys, prizes and premiums should be offered for the boys
getting the best results on their acres. Where local 
clubs
are organized, the teacher in charge.may offer prizes 
for
the boys in the local club. These same boys, of course,
would also have a chance at the county.prizes.
If the County Superintendent will present the matter
to the business men of his community before this organiza-
tion meeting is held in the early spring, he will have a fine
list of prizes to announce to the boys.
SOME PRIZES THAT WERE OFFERED IN 1910.
A free trip to Washington, D. C., $100.00 in gold;
$50.00.; $25.00; $15.00; $10.00; $5.00; a buggy; a bicycle; a
two-horse plow.;-a gun; a suit of.clothes; a corn planter; a
pair of registered pigs; :a pair of chickens, and other val-
uable articles. Interest has been, greatly added to the work
at times by the business men giving the members of the
club a banquet.
MEANS OF AROUSING AND 'HOLDINGINTEREST.
When the club is organized and its members are ac-
tively engaged in carrying out the work which has been
outlined for them. the question, "How-am I to keep up this
interest?" may present itself to the teacher. Below are
given a few of the many method's which have been success-
fully employed ti- teachers who have succeeded admirably
with the work.
(a) Talks from the Local Demonstration Agent and
any progressive farmers who are making successes of grow-
ing corn. The teacher should extend a written invitation to
the Demonstration Agent to visit his school, and the prize
acres of the club members, as he-makes his rounds from
time to time. Those farmers who are cultivating crops
after the government plan can often be relied upon to give
their co-operation in the work.
(b) Within two weeks after the names of membersof
a club have been submitted to the County Superintendent
of Education, they should begin to receive literature direct-
ing them how to proceed with the work. This literature
will be mailed, from time to time, as instructiois are
needed by the boys. Should any club member fail to re-
ceive the literature, the teacher should notify either of the
authors of this pamphlet, who will promptly supply same.
The pamphlets once in the hands of the boys, they
should be encouraged to familiarize themselves with the
contents. These pamphlets do not come so often that the
teachers, having read tlem, could not afford to spend some
time during school hours discussing their contents. They
may be made the basis of several lessons in agriculture.
(c) Encourage the reading 
of farm jourfials, one or
more of these go to almost every home. Request your boys
to clip out* and bring to school, ?any item {df itoelst b ei'
ing on corn, which they may --findinThee-otiridals, ra
same to them, and follow the reading witbciiteddiscus-
sion by the club. Afterwards paste these clippings in
club, scrap book for future reference.!/
(d) There 
i no suer Way 
fitte: v g 
tit hot
the schol tan rhe tec ttakethe'school tth
homes 'of the patrons. iitthe homes of all cln membe s
and together with the boys-and any'members'-oftheir fam
ilies, who can be persuaded to accompany -you, -go-t ;the
prize acres. .In .going over same, with them;.do not ail to
see the:good points in-their work.-In case you. are not suf-
ficiently versed .in practical: agriculture to know the good,
just look about for somnething' that-looks=good;to.you.
There is, no better -way to encourage. and urge a boy to-ex-
Ira effort than, to drop words of praise where praise is.due.
Many teachers, especially women, do not understand .the
steps in corn growing. To these we would say, go to the
field With the idea of taking a lesson in practical agricul-
ture from the"boy, and give him to understand that he is
teaching you something. Your.especial sphere is that of
organizer and leader and a lack of kpowledge f agricul-
tural nethods shquld not be asource of embarrassment,
but a stimulus to you to learn, even at the hands of your
pupils, truths which you, have not had the opportunity of
working out for yourself.
(e) Take all or a number of your club boys on an
excursion to the prize acre of each individual composing the
party, as you visit the several, fields, have ,the owner tell
of the inethod'of prep~aring the soil, fertilizing and thus far-
cultivating the crop. Such trips will not only be interest-
ing but pleasant, and will prove. an entering wedge. to the
confidence, and friendship of boys who-have not 'been r1each-
ed in the school room', should there 'be such 'ini the .club.:
These excursions can be arranged at .no cost to either pupils,
or 'teacher. The re::ults will present, sufficient material for
one or more meeting of the club and 'will stimulate the
boys to extra effort in future- cultivation of their acres.
(f), Visits to the crops being :grown onI locale derncin-
stration farms, or the farms of 'aniy progressive farmer, will
prove of interest to the' club, and at the same time enlist,
for' the teacher, a more sym-pathetic support, from the
agents and owners 'of' such 'farms, in the Boys'. Corn Club
work.
{ (g) A corn* exhibit. at' some 'time-' during the late- fall
will prove a decidedly interesting feature of the year's
work, and put the boys in a happy frame of mind to begin
the preparation of the soil for the next year's contest.
The exhibition should be a public one, to which the en-
tire community is invited. A program might be arranged.
This to consist of short addresses by the County Superin-
tendent, the local Minister, the Demonstration Agent, and
possibly some other invited speaker; one or 
more papers on
corn production, methods of cultivation of corn, 
seed selec-
tion, or harvesting; a corn song; 
and closed with the pre-
sentation of prizes.
The exhibit should consist of individual exhibits of
club members arranged in any way that will show the pro-
ducts off to the best advantage. Corn club booklets pre-
viously prepared, or written descriptions outlining methods
of growing the crop should be placed on exhibition with
the corn. However. no member should be debarred from
exhibiting his product for not having such written mate-
rial.
SOME PESULTS OF THE WORK.
This movement has been eminently successful wher-
ever it has been undertaken with energy, and determina-
tion. In the great agricultural states of the central west,
the Boys' Corn Club work is looked to as the prime factor
in stimulating the interest in better farming and in arous-
ihg the boys on the farm to the possibilities of agriculture
as a profession.
In Alabama the work is well under way. At present,
there are about 3,800 boys listed in the work, in about 52 of
the counties. Last year there were about 2,000 boys in the
work in about 17 counties.
In these 17 counties the boys were entered for state
prizes where they competed directly with the men. In this
contest the boys won 13 out of 17 prizes. The average
yield of these boys being 86.9 bushels per acre, and the
average of the men 83.5 bushels per acre.
At a meeting of a corn club, in one of the best corn
club communities, last fall the boys reporting showed a to-
tal yield of over 2,000 bushels. The yields in this case were
from 40 to 110.5 bushels per acre, and the average yield was
over 70 bushels per acre. The average ordinary yield in
this section was about 15 bushels per acre.
Below is given a summary report of ten boys, whose
corn was sent to the National Corn Exposition, Columbus,
Ohio.
9
Bu. Cost Value Profit
Per Per Per Per*
Acre Acre Acre Acre
(1) (2) (3)
Arthur Action, Birm'h'm, Rt. 4 105. $31.45 78.75 $47.30
Lloyd Barron, Notasulga, Rt. 1 99.44 19.00 74.58 
55.58
Lofton Brock, Cuba ....... 102. 51.25 76.50 25.25
Jas. L. Elliot, Ramsey ....... 153. Not given........
Hughey Harden, Banks, Rt. 1 120. 35.65 90.00 54.35
J. J. Phillips, Jacksonville, Rt. 3 80. 20.00 60.00 40.00
Mack Sawyer, Jones Mill .... 110.5 not given... ......
H. H. Scott, Fort Payne, Rt. 3 76.5 17.21 57.38 40-17
Grover Shamblin, Dewdrop .. 80. 21.15 60.00 38.85
B. C. Smith, Evergreen ....... 109.5 30.25 82.13 51.88
Averages . ........... 103.5 28.25 72.42 44-17
In getting the cost per acre under column (1), rent of
land was charged at .$5.00 per acre, labor of the boy at 10
cents per hour, labor of a horse at 5 cents per hour, fertili-
zers, manures and other items at actual cost. In estimating
the value of the crop under column (2), 75 cents per bushel
was allowed for the corn. Column (3) is the difference be-
tween column (1) and column (2).
The average cost per bushel of this corn was slightly
more than 27 cents. While this crop was being made the
farmers of Alabama were paying about $1.00 per bushel for
corn. It certainly pays the farmer to raise his corn.
The most important lesson to learn from this table,
however, is the wonderful possibilities of our soils. If these
acres will produce such large crops at such a splendid pro-
fit, it can be done on a large scale all over Alabama.
"Many of the boys in the clubs who begin to study
agriculture in this way will continue the study in the agri-
cultural colleges; others will continue such efforts on their
farms, and all of them will make more useful and more effi-
cient citizens. Fromn the pleasant and profitable experience
of owning and managing their small plots they will develop
into independent, intelligent farmers. The country needs
such citizenship, and such a life offers and will offer, great
opportunities for the future. The professions are crowded
and the wage earners must pay high prices for the necessi-
ties of life. The wise and judicious producer can enjoy
health, wealth and contentment. Success in this work is
good training for usefulness in any line. The question is,
'How many boys can be reached and influenced thus to
succeed?' 
"
10
To have better methods of farming adopted by the
whole farming people, and to secure larger yields from our
lands at the lowest possible cost without exhausting the
soil are the most serious educational problems confronting
us today- With the active lead of the county superintend-
ents and the co-operation of the teachers and the schools,
these problems may soon be solved.
This work offers an opportunity for the county super-
intendents to take the lead in the greatest movement yet
projected, where real patriotic service is needed. It offers
the rural teachers a chance to make the school of real ser-
vice in helping to solve the many difficult problems of the
farm. It will give new life to the school and make it the
center of interest in the community.
In conclusion, we desire to express our appreciation
for the active support and co-operation of those demonstra-
tion agents, county superintendents and teachers who have
shown an interest in this great work. If the proper impres-
sion could be given to the public, the impression which we
would have to go abroad, it would be that they are doing
the work and we are merely helping, as best we can.