. a 1497 Issued May 5, 19ia U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS— BULLETIN 255. A. C. TRUE, Director. EDUCATIONAL CONTESTS IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS. FOR USE IN FARMERS' INSTITUTE AND AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK. GEORGE I. CHRISTIE, B. S. A., Superintendent of Agricultural Extension, Purdue University, La Faiiettc, Ind. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1913 Monog^ajih 1497 Issued May 5, 1913. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS— BULLETIN 255. A. C. TRUE, Director. EDUCATIONAL CONTESTS IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS. FOR USE IN FARMERS' INSTITUTE AND AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK. GEORGE I. CHRISTIE, B. S. A., Superintendent of Agricultural Extension, Purdue University , La Fayette, Ind. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1913. ^■^"^ OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. A. C. True, Ph. D., Sc. D., Director. E. W. Allen, Ph. D., Assistant Director and Editor of Experiment Station Record. John Hamilton, B. S., M. S. A., Farmers' Institute Specialist. J. M. Stedman, B. S., Assistant Fanners' Institute Specialist. 255 (2) D. OF D. ;^1AY 20 1913 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL U. S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Experiment Stations, Washington, D. C, December 6, 1912. Sir: 1 have the honor to transmit herewith for publication as Bul- letin 255 of this ofhce manuscript copy entitled "Educational Con- tests in Agriculture and Home Economics, for Use in Farmers' Institute and Agricultural Extension Work," prepared by George I. Christie, B. S. A., supermtendent of agricultural extension m Purdue University, Ijafayette, Ind. Interest hi competitions and demonstrations in agriculture and home economics has become general among agricultural-extension workers as furnishuig forms of instruction specially adapted to rural people. Until recently such competitions have been limited to com- paratively few subjects, prmcipally to the smgle one of corn, whereas the method is capable of bemg extended to cover a wide range of crops and rural operations. This bulletin outlmes forms for 28 different contests and demon- strations adapted to both sexes, to youth as well as adults with their varying degrees of experience and intelligence. Its publication, by makmg available the forms it outlines, wOl undoubtedly materially help itinerant teachers m their efforts to organize such contests and thus aid in creating among rural people a greater desire for improve- ment in their farm and household operations. Respectfully, A. C. True, Director, Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture. 255 (3) CONTENTS. Page. Introduction 5 Organization 6 Premiums 7 Purpose of the bulletin 8 Place of the contest in agricultural pedagogics 9 Basis of awards 9 Outlines of contests 9 Corn-growing contest 9 Wheat-growing contest 12 Sugar-beet-growing contest 15 Cabbage-growing contest 18 Onion-growing contest 20 Tomato-growing contest 23 Potato-growing contest 25 Melon-growing contest - 28 Pig-feeding contest 30 Egg-production contest 32 Milk-production contest 33 Stock-judging contest 36 Weed and weed-seed collection contest 37 Butter-making contest 38 Bread-making contest 39 Canned-fruit contest 40 Insect-collecting contest 41 Farm-planning contest 42 Sewing contest (girls 10 to 14 years) 42 Sewing contest (girls 15 to 18 years) 43 Sewing contest (for women) 43 Lunch-box contest 44 Home decoration and furnishing contest 44 Cellar-plan contest 45 Kitchen-plan contest 45 Household-expense-accounts contest 46 "Home " composition contest 46 Flower-garden-making contest 47 255 (4) EDUCATIONAL CONTESTS IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS. INTRODUCTION. In the furtherance of education and improvement contests have received much attention and are playing a most important part. The contest has been so readily adapted to most lines of endeavor and has offered so many opportunities for the securing of desirable and needed results that it has proved one of the most popular move- ments ever inaugurated for the interesting of people in active work for individual and community betterment. Through the contests many lines of work are being advanced and progressive principles are being applied. Lessons are learned from actual experience, and knowledge is gamed which will mean much to the individual in laying the foundation for a useful life. A desir- able atmosphere for labor is created — it is known as the means to acquire dignity through achievement and not as a burden from which one should shrink. The recognized advantages of contest are many and are worthy of consideration. The contest demands the actual doing of things, and thereby interests many in its individual importance. It is well for the youth to hear or to read of things being done by some one else. From this they may gain much of interest and value. However, when one performs a task for himself, putting into it his best thought and effort, the results are bound to be of the greatest value in the knowl- edge and the personal satisfaction gained and in the lasting respect for labor acquired. Contests develop a spirit of loyalty among the people of any com- munity. The football, baseball, or basket-ball game makes the community, school, or college a unit for the support of its team. In like manner the educational contest brings the people of all sections of township, county. State, or Nation to the support of the movement and gives to these people a deeper appreciation of the merits of those engaged in the various lines of activity. What community has not felt the influence of an educational contest of some nature? An oratorical contest may arouse a civic loyalty merely through the fact that the community is represented by an able resident in competition with representatives of other 255 (5) 6 communitips. Thf agricultural contest in the rural districts has the same logical outcome. The interest of entire communities is sud- denly and permanently affected. Every effort is extended and sup- ])ort given by all to produce the best possible results from the material in hand. Contests do much to broaden the knowledge and viewpoint of contestants. The boy who takes part in a corn contest is developing a nucleus of good citizenship. He is not alone content with the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of the crop, but secures and studies all available literature regarding corn growing; he sees the vast possibilities of his plat of ground under ideal conditions; he endeavors to secure these conditions by studying the "leaks" in corn-growing methods and strives to overcome them. He learns the requirements of the ideal seed ear and practices corn scoring. He not only tries to grow a, large number of bushels of corn, but he also tries to become more proficient in the work and to extend his knowl- edge of the various phases of corn growing. The knowledge acquired is given a practical application, and the boy is taught the value of liis individual studies in such a way that he does not fail to follow the same methods m other Imes of endeavor. Contests assist in improving methods of doing things and in secur- ing greater efficiency. Tlirough corn-growing contests it has been found that more than 227 bushels of corn may be grown on an acre of ground. Without the improvement of the ordinary methods of corn growing this never could have been accomplished. Through contests some farmers have had their attention called to the fact that they were producing eggs during the winter at a cost of about 40 cents per dozen. The results of the contests in the neighbor- hood showed that the cost of producmg eggs at that time, under the existing conditions, should not have exceeded 8 cents per dozen. As a result of this work action on the part of the people has been stmiu- lated and an attempt is being made not only to grow more and better corn to the acre and to produce eggs of better market quality at a lower cost, but to imjjrove all forms of agricultural practice. Simi- larly improved methods in housework and other Ihies are bemg de- veloped. ORGANIZATION. Contests vary so widely in their nature, conditions, and adapta- bility that no specific outline can be given for their organization. However, it might be suggested in a general way that contests which are to reach large numbers and cover a considerable period of time should be well outlined and thorouglily organized. In a large contest it is generally better to have several persons interested, each carrying a specific portion of the work under the dii'ection of the chairman or 255 leader, than to have but one individual handling all of tlie arrange- ments. Of course, one may have the utmost wilUngness and capabihty to carry on the work, but in a large majority of cases the load is too heavy and the details are too many for an individual to secure the best results. Wlienever and wherever practicable young people's contests should be organized in connection with the schools. This secures for the movement the support of the teachers and other school officials. Through these people, then, the boys and girls can be enlisted and the parents interested. The teachers will also serve as advisors to the contestants and will be of great assistance in carrying out the details of the contest. In this way the work of the contest will be made to supplement the work of the school, and thus prove of great educational value. Contests for older people should be carried on through organiza- tions of the community. This will give the contest a standing and support that it otherwise could not have. It is also found that contests have greater influence with the people if they have the direction and support of or are affiliated with some recognized educational institution. The United States Department of Agriculture, the State College of Agriculture, the experiment station, the State department of pubHc instruction, etc., are aU institutions which are to some extent interested in contests and may be appealed to for help. Those interested in organizing contest work will do well to apply, to one of these institutions for some assistance. PREMIUMS. The matter of premiums is of great importance. While the contest has for its primary objects the giving of inspiration, the creating of interest, and the disseminating of information among the members and tliroughout the community, it is found that premiums are neces- sary to secure the best results. The opportunity to win a premium appeals to people, both young and old. Therefore, the offering of desirable premiums will result in a larger number of entries and in better work among the contestants. Wliat shaU the premium be iu character and value, is a question asked by many. There is no serious objection to the offering of premiums of high value for educational contests, but it is not necessary. It is better to offer a large number of ])remiums, though small in value, than to offer a few liigh in value. The influence of the contest will be greater if 50 per cent of the contestants get premiums than if but 5 per cent get recognition. 8 Premiums should be educational in character. Cash premiums seldom mean much to the recipient. The money is loaned often to a relative or spent for clothes and is not used for educational purposes. A trip to the State fair, the International Live Stock Exposition, the National Corn Show, the farmers' week at the State agricultural college, or some other educational trip or course, with all expenses paid, means more to the contestant than a cash premium. The recipient is directly benefited as a result of the premium, and at the same time goes back into the community and schools to be an inspira- tion to all who come in contact with him. For the smaller premiums suitable books and subscriptions to maga- zines or agricultural papers may be given. PURPOSE OF THE BULLETIN. The forms outhned in this bulletin have been assembled with a view to providing directors in charge of extension work with a somewhat comprehensive collection of different items appropriate for use in con- tests in agriculture and home economics. The contests here given have been thorougUy tested and perfected by discarding that which has been found to be useless or of Httle value and retaining only the points regarded as essential. Owing to the fact that work of tliis character is comparatively new in the United States, few extension directors have had opportunity to become acquainted with the details of contest work, except with regard to a single crop — that of corn. Other contests of equal importance both in their commercial and educational vakie have been undertaken, but, owing to cUfhculties encountered in popularizing them, have not been exploited to the same extent as those for corn . There seems to be need for extending the field of contest work to include the many other items of value in agriculture and home economics that demand attention for their improvement. This bulletin therefore presents forms for contests in a variety of topics in these subjects. The bulletin is not intended for general distribution among con- testants, but is prepared for the information and use of directors of agricultural extension. It is expected that the director will select the particular form of contest that he desires to undertake, modify it if necessary to meet his particular conditions, and then print it in leaflet form for general distribution among the contestants. By havuig the forms collected in a single pubUcation it is beheved that not only will the convenience of directors be subserved, but that the difficulty at present experienced from fu'st having to discover the whereabouts of the numerous fugitive leaflets giving outhnes for conducting con- tests will be overcome. L'55 9 PLACE OF THE CONTEST IN AGRICULTURAL PEDAGOGICS. The method of teaching agriculture that the contest embodies has been found to be well adapted to reacliing and influencing persons of all classes, adults as well as youth, combining as it does study with practice, and, because it estimates the value of a method by the results secured, it appeals to rural people with far greater force than the platform lecture or the classroom demonstration. By increasing, therefore, the number of agricultural and home eco- nomics topics for presentation by this method, it is beheved that not only will agriculture be directly benefited but that new and valuable features will be thereby introduced into the system of agricultural pedagogics. The Department of Agriculture of the United States through its farmers' cooperative demonstration and farm-management work has shown the practical value of this method of instruction in stimulating boys and girls to exertion along agricultural lines and in educating them to become producers of particular crops even in districts where such crops had previously scarcely been grown. ^ BASIS OF AWARDS. In making up a "basis" for use in rating and for comparing the work of contestants in crop production, emphasis is laid both upon yields obtained and profits realized, with a view to impressing the fact that quantity produced at an actual loss is of httle value in demonstration work. OUTLINES OF CONTESTS. CORN-GROWING CONTEST. KULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — j'^ears of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of corn growing, including adaptabihty of various soils, seed selection, storing, and testing, preparation of seed bed, time and methods of planting, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting, storing, and disease and insect pests. Contestants must also agree to make a study of the selection, preparation, and scoring of corn exhibits. 3. Each contestant shall grow at least 1 acre of corn from seed furnished by the committee or from seed approved by the committee in charge. ' See U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Circs. A-74, A-75, A-79, N-3, NR-4, NR-8, R-1, R-4, R-8, and other leaflets. 74314°— Bull. 255—13 2 10 4. Each contestant shall plant, cultivate, and gather his or her own crop. 5. Each contestant shall keep a complete record, as outlined in Section IV. 6. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words on corn growing, this article to be based largely upon observations made during the contest. 7. Each contestant is required to visit at least two other corn plats entered in the contest. 8. Each contestant shall exhibit 10 cars of corn selected from the contest plat. The exhibit must conform to the rec{uirements desig- nated by the committee and will be made at the corn show which the committee will announce. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above reciuirements will not be eligible for entry in the corn show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of tlie committee in charge. lY. Contestants' record blank: (Township or county.) Coun-Growing Contest. contestant's record. (1) Name P. O. address , rural route (2) Age years mouths (3) Amount of previous experience in corn growing (4) Seed used: (o) Variety (6) Source (if home grown give method of Iiandling from gathering and planting time) (c) Vitality: How determined Per cent of germination _ (5) Plat used : (a) Size (b) Kind of soil (c) Kind of subsoil and drainage (d) Previous treatment: (1) Crops grown for three years pre\ ions to time of planting present crop: 19 19 19 (2) Fertilizers used (kind and amount): 19 19 19 255 11 (5) Plat used — Continued. (e) Kind and amount of manure or fertilizer ix=ed in 19 (present crop) (/) Preparation of seed bed : (1) Date of plowing (2) Depth of plowing (3) Cultivation: Implemenls. Times used. {g) Date of planting (h) Kind of planter used (i) Distance of planting: (1) Between rows (2) Between hills in row, if checked (3) Between stalks in row, if drilled, approximately (j) Number of kernels per hill planted {k) Cultivation: Number. Date. Depth. Implements used. (I) Number of stalks in plat: Barren tuckered. . Smutted Two-eared. (m) Stand of corn in plat: Average number of stalks per hill (n) Date the corn matures: (1) Roasting ear (2) Dented or glazed (3) Ripe (o) Date of selecting seed for following year (p) Date of harvesting (q) Yield: Bushels on plat Bushels per acre (6) Cost of producing corn: Value of labor at 12 cents per hour Value of labor of team and hand at 25 cents per hour Cost of seed Cost of manure or fertilizer Plowing hours, at per hour Preparing seed bed, hours, at per hour. Planting hours, at per hour Cultivation hours, at per hour Hoeing hours, at per hour Husking hours, at per hour Harvesting stover hours, at per hour Land rental Cost of producing 1 bushel of com Cost of producing 1 acre of ecru 255 12 V. The judging shall be according to the following score card: SCORE CARD. POINTS. Perfect score. Uniformity of exhibit 10 Shape of ears 10 Length of ears 10 Color of grain and cob 10 Tips of ears 5 Butts of ears 5 Kernel: (a) Shape 10 (6) Indentation 5 (c) Uniformity 10 Seed condition 15 Proportion of grain to cob 10 Total 100 VI. Basis of awards: Per cent. Yield 30 Essay and report 20 Cost of production and profit 30 Exhibit 20 Total 100 Note. — In corn judging, the score card adopted by the State agricultural college of the State in which the contest is held should be used. WHEAT-GROWING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of wheat groAving, including adaptability of various soils, seed selection, preparation of the seed bed, time and methods of sowing, fertiliza- tion, harvesting, and diseases and insect pests. 3. Each contestant shall grow at least one-half acre of wheat from seed furnished by the committee or from seed approved by the committee in charge. 4. Each contestant shall sow and harvest his or her own crop. 5. Each contestant shall keep a complete record, as outlined in Section IV. 6. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 words nor more than 500 words on wheat growing, this article to be based largely upon observations made during the contest. 7. Each contestant is required to visit at least two other wheat plats entered in the contest. 2D5 13 8. Each contestant shall exhibit a sheaf of wheat 5 inches in diameter and 1 peck of grain selected from the contest plat. The exhibit must conform to the requirements designated by the com- mittee and will be made at the wheat show which the committee will announce. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above require- ments will not be eligible for entry in the wheat show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of the committees in charge. IV. Contestants' record blank: (Township or County.) Wheat-Growing Contest. contestant's record. (1) Name P. O. address , rural route (2) Age years months (3) Amount of previous experience in wheat growing (4) Seed used: (a) Variety (6) Source (c) Vitality: How determined Per cent of germination (5) Plat used: (a) Size (b) Kind of soil (c) Kind of subsoil and drainage (d) Previous treatment: (1) Crops grown for three years previous to time of sowing present crop: 19 19 19 (2) Fertilizers used (kind and amount) : 19 19 19 (c) Kind and amount of manure or fertilizer used in 19 (present crop) (/) Preparation of seed bed : (1) Date of plowing (2) Depth of plowing (3) Cultivation: Implements. Times used. 255 14 (5) Plat used— Continued. (g) Date of sowing (h) Kind of drill used (i) Amount of seed sown per acre {j) Diseases and insect pests: Kind. Time of appearance. Amount, of injury. (k) Date of harvesting (/) Method of harvesting and method of handling from time of harvesting and thrashing (m) Date of thrashing (n) Yield: (1) Bushels on plat (2) Bushels per acre (3) Weight per bushel (6) Cost of producing wheat: Value of labor at 12 cents per hour Value of labor of team and hand at 25 cents per hour Cost of seed Cost of manure or fertilizer Plowing hours at per hour Preparation of seed bed hours at per hour Sowing hours at per hour Harvesting hours at per how* Thrashing hours at per hour Cost of treatment for disease prevention Land rental, one-half acre Cost of producing 1 bushel of wheat Cost of producing 1 acre of wheat V. The judging of the grain shall be according to the following score card: WHEAT SCORE CARD. Points. Perfect score. Purity 15 Size 5 Plumpness 10 Color 10 Hardness 20 Market and seed condition 20 Weight per bushel 20 Total 100 VI. Basis of awards: Per cent. Yield 30 Essay and report 20 Cost of production and profit 30 Exhibit 20 Note. — Rules and record blank for this contest may also be used in contests in oats and barley growing, by merely changing, where necessary, the name of the grain used. However, in these instances, a different score card must be used, the following 255 15 being recommended where no score card for the State has been adopted. It is alwaya desirable to use the score card in general use in the State. OATS SCORE CARD. Points. Purity 20 Quality 30 Condition 30 Weight per bushel 20 Total 100 BARLEY SCORE CARD. Points. Purity 20 Size ] Plumpness 20 Color 10 Market and seed condition 20 Weight per bushel 20 Total 100 SUGAR-BEET GROWING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants must be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of sugar- beet culture, including adaptability of various soils, preparation of seed bed, time and methods of planting, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting, marketing, and diseases and insect pests. 3. Each contestant shall grow at least one-eighth acre of sugar beets from seed furnished by the committee in charge or from seed approved by the committee. 4. Each contestant shall plant, cultivate, and gather his own crop. 5. Each contestant shall keep a complete record, as outlined in Section IV. 6. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words on sugar-beet growing, this article to be based largely upon observations made during the contest. 7. Each contestant is required to visit at least two other sugar- beet plats entered in the contest. 8. Each contestant shall make an exhibit of 10 sugar beets selected from the contest plat. The exhibit must conform to the require- ments designated by tlie committee in charge and will be made at the sugar-beet show which the committee will announce. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above requu*ements wiU not be eligible for entry in the sugar-beet show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of the committee in charge. ^t)j 16 rV. Contestants' record blank: (Township or County.) Sugar-Beet Growing Contest. contestants' record. (1) Name P. 0. address , rural route (2) Age years months (3) Amount of previous experience in sugar-beet growing (4) Seed used: (a) Variety (6) Source (c) Vitality: How determined Per cent of germination (5) Plat used: (a) Size (b) Kind of soil (c) Kind of subsoil and drainage (d) Previous treatment — (1) Crops grown for three years previous to time of planting present crop — 19 19 19 (2) Fertilizers used (kind and amount) — 19 19 19 (e) Kind and amount of manure or fertilizer used in 19 (present crop) (/) Preparation of seed bed — (1) Date of plowing (2) Depth of plowing (3) Cultivation- Implements. Times used. (g) Date of sowing seed (h) Amount of seed used on plat (i) Age and size of plants when thinned (j) Method of thinning (k) Distance of planting — (1) Between rows (2) Between plants in row when thinned (Z) Cultivation — Number. Date. Depth. Implements used. 255 17 (5) Plat used — Continued, (m) Irrigation — (1) Method used (2) Number of irrigations (date) — (n) Cultivation — Number. Date. Depth. Implements used. (o) Diseases and insect pests — Kind. Time of appearance. Amount of injury. (p) Harvesting— (1) Date (2) Methods of lifting and topping (3) Methods of marketing (q) Yield in pounds: (1) Yield of plat , . .pound.s. . . (2) Yield per acre pounds. . . (6) Cost of producing sugar beets: Value of labor at 12 cents per hour Value of labor of team and hand at 25 cents per hour Cost of seed Cost of manure or fertilizer Plowing hours at cents per hour Preparing seed bed hours at cents per hour Sowing crop hours at cents per hour Thinning hours at cents per hour Irrigating hours at cents per hour Cultivating and weeding hours at cents per hour Harvesting — Lifting and pulling hours at cents '. Topping hours at cents Hauling hours at cents Land rental Total cost of producing plat of sugar beets Cost of producing 1 acre of sugar beets V. The judging shall be according to the following score card: POINTS. Perfect score. Uniformity of exhibit 10 Weight - 25 Shape 20 Texture 20 Smoothness 15 Freedom from blemish ■ - 10 Total 100 74314°— Bull. 255—13 3 18 VI. Basis of awards: Per cent. Yield of plat 30 Essay and record 20 Cost of production and profit 30 Exhibit 20 Total 100 CABBAGE-GROWING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of cab- bage growing, including adaptability of various soils, preparation of seed bed, time and methods of sowmg seed and transplanting plants, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting, storing, and the dis- eases and insect pests. 3. Each contestant shall grow at least one-sixteenth acre of cab- bage from seed furnished by the committee in charge. 4. Each contestant shall plant, cultivate, and gather his or her own crop. 5. Each contestant shall keep a complete record as outlined in Section IV. 6. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words on cabbage growing, this article to be based largely upon observations made during the contest. 7. Each contestant is required to visit at least two other cabbage plats entered in the contest. 8. Each contestant shall exhibit four heads of cabbage selected from the contest plat. The exhibit must conform to the require- ments designated by the committee, and will be made at the cabbage show which the committee will announce. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above requirements will not be eligible for entry in the cabbage show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of the committee in charge. IV. Contestant's record blank: (Township or County.) Cabbage-Growing Contest. contestant's record. (1) Name P. O. address , rural route . . (2) Age years months. (3) Amount of previous experience in cabbage growing 255 19 (4) Seed used: (a) Variety (6) Source (c) Vitality How determined Per cent of germination (5) Plat used: (a) Size (b) Kind of soil (c) Kind of subsoil and drainage (d) Previous treatment: (1) Crops grown for three years previous to time of planting present rop: 19 19 19 (2) Fertilizers used (kind and amount): 19 19 19 (e) Kind and amount of manure or fertilizer used in 19... (present crop) (/) Preparation of seed bed: (1) Date of plowing (2) Depth of plowing (3) Cultivation: Implements. Times used. (g) Date of sowing seed (h) Age and size of plants when transplanted (i) Method of planting (j) Distance of planting: (1) Between rows (2) Between plants in row (3) Number of plants per acre (k) Cultivation: Number. Date. Depth. Implements used. (I) Diseases and insect pests: Date of Amount Kind appearance. Treatment. ofmjury. (m) Date of harvestmg. . (n) Method of storing — (o) Yield in pounds: Solid heads on plat . Solid heads per acre 255 20 (6) Cost of producing cabbage: Value of labor at 12 cents per hour Value of labor of team and hand at 25 cents per hour. Cost of seed Cost of starting plants hours at per hour. . . Cost of manure or fertilizer Plowing hours at per hour Preparation of seed bed hours at per hour. Transplanting hours at per hour Cultivation and weeding hours at per hour. Gathering and storing hours at per hour Cost of spray materials Spraying hours at per hour Land rental Total cost of producing plat of cabbage Cost of producing 1 acre of cabbage V. The judging shall be accordmg to the following score card: POINTS. Perfect score. Uniformity 15 Weight 25 Compactness 20 Shape 15 Color 15 Freedom from blemish 10 Total 100 YI. Basis of awards: Per cent. Yield 30 Record and essay 20 Cost of production and profit 30 Exhibit 20 Total 100 ONION-GROWING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1 . All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of onion growing, uicludhig adaptability of various soils, seed selection, preparation of seed bed, time and methods of planting, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting, storing, and diseases and uisect pests. 3. Each contestant shall grow at least one-sixteenth acre of onions from seed furnished by the committee in charge. 4. Each contestant shall plant, cultivate, and gather his or lier own crop. 5. Each contestant shall keep a complete record, as outlined in Section IV. 255 21 6. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words on onion growing, this article to be based largely upon observations made during the contest. 7. Each contestant is required to visit at least two other onion plats entered in the contest. 8. Each contestant shall exhibit one-half a bushel of onions grown on the contest plat. The exhibit must conform to the requirements designated by the committee, and will be made at the onion show which the committee in charge will announce. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above rules will not be eligible for entry in the onion show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of the committee in charge. IV. Contestants' record blank: (Township or County.) Onion-Growing Contest. contestant's record. (1) .Name P. 0. address , rural route (2) Age years months (3) Amount of previous experience in onion growing (4) Seed used: (a) Variety (b) Source (c) Vitality: How determined Per cent of germination (5) Plat used: (a) Size (6) Kind of soil (c) Kind of subsoil and drainage (d) PreAdous treatment: (1) Crops grown for three years previous to time of planting present crop: 19 19 19 (2) Fertilizers used (kind and amount) : 19 19 19 (e) Kind and amount of manure or fertilizers used in 19 (present crop) (/) Preparation of seed bed : (1) Date of plowing.. (2) Depth of plowing (3) Cultivation: Implements. Times used. 255 22 (5) Plat used— Continued. {g) Date of sowing seed and date of transplanting, if onions were trans- planted, also method of transplanting Qi) Amount of seed used per acre {i) Distance of sowing or transplanting: (1) Between rows (2) Between plants in row (approximately) (?) Cultivation: Number. Date. Depth. Implements used. ijc) Diseases and insect pests: Kind. Time of appearance. .\mOunt of injury. {I) Date of harvesting crop {vi) Method of harvesting crop in) Yield: (1) Bushels on plat (2) Bushels per acre (6) Cost of producing onions: Value of labor at 12 cents per hour Value of labor of team and hand at 25 cents per hour Cost of seed Cost of raising plants hours at per hour Cost of manure or fertilizer Cost of plowing hom's at per hour Cost of preparing seed bed hours at per hour Cost of marking and transplanting hours at per hour Cost of cultivation and weeding hours at per hour Cost of pulling crops hoius at per hoiu- Cost of gathering and crating hours at per hour Rental of land Cost of producing 1 bushel of onions Cost of producing 1 acre of onions V. The judging shall be accordmg to the foUowmg score card: POINTS. Perfect score. Shape 20 Size 20 Uniformity 15 Color ■ 15 Textme 20 Freedom from blemish 10 Total 100 VI. Basis of awards: ^,^^^^^^ Yield 30 Record and essay 20 Cost of production and profit 30 Exhibit 20 Total : 100 255 23 TOMATO-GROWING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST, I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of tomato growing, including adaptability of various soils, seed selection, preparation of seed bed, time and methods of sowing and trans- planting, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting, marketing, and diseases and insect pests. 3. Each contestant shall grow at least one-tenth acre of tomatoes from seed furnished by the committee in charge. 4. Each contestant shall plant, cultivate, and gather his or her own crop. 5. Each contestant shall keep a complete record as outlined in Section IV. 6. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words on tomato growing. This article must be based largely upon observations made during the contest. 7. Each contestant is required to visit at least two other tomato plats entered in the contest. 8. Each contestant shall exliibit one-half bushel of tomatoes, selected from the contest plat. The exliibit must conform to the requirements designated by the committee, and will be made at the tomato show which the committee will announce. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the foregoing rules will not be eligible for entry in the tomato show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of the committee in charge. IV. Contestants' record blank: (Township or County.) Tomato-Growing Contest. CONTESTANT S RECORD. (1) Name , post-office address (2) Age years months. (3) Amount of previous experience in tomato growing (4) Seed used: (a) Variety (6) Source (c) Vitality: How determined Per cent of germination (5) Plat used: (a) Size (6) Kind of soil (c) Kind of subsoil and drainage 255 24 (5) Plat used — Continued. (d) Previous treatment: (1) Crops grown for three years previous to time of planting present crop: 19 19 19 (2) Fertilizers used (kind and amount): 19 19 19 (e) Kind and amount of manure or fertilizer used in 19. . . . (present crop) (/) Preparation of seed lied: (1) Date of plowing (2) Depth of plowing (3) Cultivations: Implements. Times used. (g) Date of sowing seed (h) Date of transplanting, with age and size of plants when transplanted (i) Method of transplanting (j) Distance of planting: (1) Between rows (2) Between plants in row. . . (3) Number of plants in acre. (k) Cultivation: Number. Date. Depth. Implements used. (l) Diseases and insect pests: Date of Kind. appearance. Amoimt of injury. Treatment. (m) Date of first picking (71) Yield: (1) Bushels in plat (2) Bushels per acre (6) Cost of producing tomatoes: Value of labor at 12 cents per hour Value of labor of team and hand at 25 cents per hour Cost of seed Cost of starting plants, hours at. per liour. Cost of manure or fertilizer Plowing, hours at per hour Preparing seed bed, hours ;it per hour. . 255 25 (6) Cost of producing tomatoes — Continued. Marketing and planting, hours at per hour Cultivating and weeding, hours at per hour Picking and crating, hours at per hour Cost of spraying materials Spraying, hours at per hour Land rental Cost of producing 1 bushel of tomatoes Cost of producing 1 acre of tomatoes V. The judging shall be according to the following score card: POINTS. Perfect .score. Shape 15 Size 20 Color 15 Uniformity 15 Texture 20 Freedom from blemisli 15 Total 100 VI. Basis of awards: Per cent. Yield 30 Record and essay 20 Cost of production and profit 30 Exhibit 20 Total 100 POTATO-GROWING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of potato growing, including adaptability of various soils, seed selection, prepa- ration of the seed bed, time and methods of planting, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting, storing, diseases, and insect pests. 3. Each contestant shall grow at least one-fourth acre of potatoes, the seed to be furnished by the contestant. 4. Each contestant shall plant, cultivate, and gather his or her own crop. 5. Each contestant shall keep a complete record, as outlined in Section IV. 6. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words on potato growing. This article must be based largely upon observations made during the contest. 7. Each contestant is required to visit at least two other potato plats entered in the contest. 255 26 8. Each contestant shall exhibit one-half bushel of potatoes grown on the contest plat. The exhibit must conform to the requirements designated by the committee in charge, and will be made at the potato show, which the committee will announce. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above rules will not be eligible for entry in the potato show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of the committee in charge. IV. Contestants' record blank: (Township or County.) Potato-Growing Contest. contestant's record. (1) Name P. O. address , rural route (2) Age years months (3) Previous experience in potato growing (4) Seed used: (a) Variety (6) Source (c) Size of tubers used (d) Condition of seed (e) Treatment for scab : (1) Kind of treatment (2) Method used (5) Plat used : (a) Size (6) Kind of soil (c) Kind of subsoil and drainage (d) Previous treatment: (1) Crops grown for three years previous to the time of planting present crop: 19 19.... 19 (2) Fertilizers used (kind and amount): 19 19 19 (e) Kind and amount of manure or fertilizer used in 19 (present crop) (/) Preparation of seed bed : (1 ) Date of plowing (2) Depth of plowing (3) Cultivation: Implements. Times used. 255 27 (5) Plat iised— Continued. {g) Date of planting seed Qi) Amount of seed planted per acre {i) Method of planting (j) Distance of planting: (1) Between rows (2) Between hills in row ik) Depth of planting (J) Cultivation: Number. Date. Depth. ImplPmcnls used (?n) Diseases and insect pests: ^^. , rr,- I- Amount of Kmd. Time of appearance. injury. (n) Date of harvesting crop (o) Method of harvesting crop (1) Implements used (p) How stored (5) Yield: Bushels on plat Bushels per acre (6) Cost of producing potatoes: Value of labor at 12 cents per hour Value of labor of team and hand at 25 cents per hour Cost of seed Cost of fertilizers Preparation of seed hours at per hour Plowing hours at per hour Preparing seed bed hours at per hour Planting hours at per hour Cultivating hours at ... . per hour Harvesting and storing hours at per hour Spraying hours at per hour Cost of spray materials Land rental Cost of producing 1 bushel of potatoes Cost of producing 1 acre of potatoes V. The judging shall be according to the following score card: POINTS. Perfect score. Unitormitv Size ' 20 Shape ^^ Texture ^^ 20 Depth of eyes Freedom from blemish Total 100 255 28 VI. Basis of awards: Per cent. Yield 30 Record and essay 20 Cost of production and profit 30 Exhibit 20 Total 100 MELON-GROWING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I, Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — years of age, 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of melon growing (either watermelon or muskmelon, as the case may be), adaptability of various soils, seed selection, preparation of seed bed, time and methods of planting, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting, methods of marketing, and diseases and insect pests. 3. Each contestant shall grow at least one-eighth acre of melons from seed furnished by the committee in charge. 4. Each contestant shall plant, cultivate, and gather his or her own crop, 5. Each contestant shall keep a complete record as outlined in Section IV. 6. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words on melon growing, tliis article to be based largely upon observations made during the contest. 7. Each contestant is required to visit at least two other melon plats entered in the contest, 8. Each contestant shall exhibit one crate of muskmelons or five watermelons, selected from the contest plat. The exhibit must con- form to the requirements designated by the committee, and will be made at the melon show which the committee will announce, II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above rules will not be eligible for entry in the melon show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of the committee in charge. IV. Contestant's record blank: (Township or County.) Melon-Growing Contest. contestant's record. (1) Name P. O. address , rural route (2) Age years months 255 29 (3) Amount of previous experience in melon growing (4) Seed used: (a) Variety (6) Source (c) Vitality: How determined Per cent of germination (5) Plat used: (a) Size (h) Kind of soil ((") Kind of subsoil and drainage (d) Previous treatment : (1) Crops grown for three years previous to time of planting pres- ent crop : 19 19 19 (2) Fertilizers used (kind and amount): 19 19 19 (e) Kind and amount of manure or fertilizer used in 19 . . . (present crop) : (/) Preparation of seed bed : (1) Date of plowing (2) Depth of plowing (3) Cultivation: Implements. Times used. (g) Date of planting seed and date of transplanting if the plants were trans- planted; also your method of transplanting (h) Distance of planting: (1) Between rows (2) Between hills in row (i) Number of plants per hill (j) Cultivation : Number. Date. Depth. Implements. (k) Diseases and insect pests: Kind. Time of appearance. Amount of injury. Treatment. (l) Date of first picking (m) Yield: (1) Number of melons on plat . (2) Number of melons per acre 255 30 (6) Cost of producing melons: Value of labor at 12 cents per hour Value of labor of team and band at 25 cents per hour Cost of seed - Cost of fertilizer or manure Cost of starting plants Plowing hours at cents per hour Preparation of seed bed hours at cents per hour. . Transplanting hours at cents per hour Cultivation and weeding hours at cents per hour. Cost of spraying, labor Cost of spray materials Gathering and marketing hours at per hour Land rental Cost of producing plat of melons Cost of producing one acre of melons V. The judging shall be according to the following score card: POINT.?. Perfect score. Uniformity of exhibit 15 Shape 15 Size 15 Flavor 20 Texture 15 Color 10 Freedom from blemish 10 Total 100 VI. Basis of awards: Per cent. Yield 30 Essay and report 20 Cost of production and profit 30 Exhibit 20 Total 100 PIG-FEEDING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1 . All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to select and feed two pigs, each weighing not more than 50 pounds, and shall place on each pig some distinguishing mark, to insure the accuracy of his records. 3. Each contestant shall feed the pigs for a period of eight weeks, determining the ration he shall feed, and shall keep a careful, accu- rate record of the weight of the pigs and the feeds fed them. 4. Each contestant shall take the mdividual weights of his pigs every seven days. 255 31 5. Each contestant shall prepare an essay of not more than 500 words, giving the details of the feeding operations, feeds fed, weights of pigs, etc. 6. Each contestant shall agree to make an exhibit of his pigs at the time and place designated by the committee in charge. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the foregoing rules will not be eligible for entry in the exhibit. III. Contestants' record blank: (Township or County.) Pig-Feeding Contest. (1) Name P. O. address , rural route (2) Breed of pigs (3) Age of pigs: (1) (2) - (4) Weight of pigs at beginning of contest: (1) ^ (2).-. (5) Value of pigs at beginning of contest: (1) (2) '■ (6) Weight of pigs: At end of 7 days — (1) (2) At end of 14 days — (1) (2) (and so forth ) . (7) Total gain: (1) (2) (8) Kinds of feed fed (9) Amounts of feed fed each day (10) Total amount of feed fed (11) Total cost of feed (12) Cost per pound of gain (13) Value of animals at market price (14) Total profit (15) Price received per bushel for corn fed IV. Basis of awards: Percent. Rate of gain 30 Cost of gain 30 Essay and report 25 Exhibit 15 TotaL 100 255 32 EGG-PRODTJCTION CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be between the ages of 10 and 18 years. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of the feeding of laying hens. 3. Each contestant shall take six hens or pullets from some flock, the home flock preferred, place in some small poultry house, and take entire care of them for one month. 4. Each contestant shall keep an accurate record of weight and cost of feed and grit given, eggs and roost manure obtamed, and time used for labor. 5. The selection of the ration and marketing of the eggs shall be left to the best judgment of each contestant. 6. Each contestant shall be required to submit a report of all income and expenses during the contest and shall also submit an essay of not more than or less than words, describing the methods used in caring for the fowls during the contest. 7. Each contestant shall agree to do all of the work without any outside help. II. Contestants' record blanks: (Township or County.) Egg-Producing Contest. (1) Name P. 0. address , rural route. (2) Income account: Date. No. eggs sold. Price per doz. Value. Lbs. manure. Value. Total income (3) Expense account: Corn, Wheat, Oats, Bran Shorts, Milk, Beef, Grit, etc., Date. pounds, pounds, pounas. pounds, pounds, poimds. scrap. pounds. Total: Price: Cost: Total expense. (4) Total profit or loss. 255 33 III. Basis of awards: Points. Number of eggs 30 Cost of feed. . . .^ 10 Profit .' 30 Method of caring for fowls and marketing eggs 10 Essay and report 20 Total 100 Note. — It is suggested that schools, wherever it is possible, take up this contest. Ask any enthusiastic poultryman of the community to act as adviser, to tell the con- testants how to feed laying hens and the reasons why. Get him to arouse all the enthusiasm possible in order that the contest shall start with the proper spirit. The contestants should be organized into a club with the proper officers, rules, and regulations, and as far as possible should be allowed to govern themselves. MILK-PRODUCTION CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1 . All contestants shall be between the ages of — - and — years. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make a special study of the economical production of milk from two cows. 3. Each contestant shall weigh the feed consumed and milk pro- duced by each cow for 30 days. 4. The selection of the ration and cows shall be left to the judg- ment of each contestant. A study of bulletins, books, etc., should be made when deciding upon the ration to be fed. 5. Each contestant shall keep an accurate daily record of the feeds fed out and the milk produced. The price of the feed and the value of the whole milk shall be decided upon by the organization or parties in charge of the contest. 6. Each contestant shall be required to submit an essay of not less than 500 words nor more than 1,000 words, describing the methods used in caring for the cows and weighing of the feed and milk. 7. Each contestant shall agree to do all the work without help from anyone and shall submit a signed statement to that effect. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the requirements for entry will be declared meligible to participate m the contest. 255 34 III. Contestant's record blanks: (1) Milk record: (Township or County.) Milk-Production Contest. Name P. 0. address , R. F. D. No. Record of cov's. Days. Cow No. 1. Cow No. 2. Weight of milk. Value. Weight of milk. Value. A. M. P.M. A. M. p. M. 1 2 3 4 5 C 1 8 9 , 10 ! U 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21... . 22 23 ' 24 1 25 - 2:1 27 i i ! 28 29 1 1 1 30.. ! 1 1 \ Total . . ■ I j 1 1 35 (2) Feea record: (Townshii) or County.) Milk-Production Contest. Name P. 0. address , R. p. D. No. Feed record. Days. Cow No. 1. Cow No. 2. Weight of feeds. Weight of feeds. SUage. Hay. Stover. Grain. Cost. Silage. Hay. Stover. Grain. Cost. 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 t 1 .:::::x;:;:;: :::::;:; w. 1... 1 S ' . .. ■■"! 9 I lU 11 1 12 1 13 1 14 ! 15 j IG ; 17 18 1 19 20 21 1 1 1 22 [ 1 23 24 25 1 20 1 27 i -. 28 29 30 Total . . j i i i ' 1 IV. Basis of awards: points. Cost of production 35 Amount of product 20 Profit 15 Records 15 Essay 15 Total 100 36 STOCK-JUDGING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Kequirements for entry: 1. Any boy in the township (or county) of , between the ages of — and — years, who has never been regularly classified in any agricultural college, may enter this contest. 2. All contestants must report to the person in charge not later than — . 3. All entries must be made on regular forms which will be promptly supplied on application to the committee, all applications to be in the hands of the committee not later than . 4. Each contestant will be required to judge one ring each of horses, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, and sheep, of four animals each. 5. All contestants will be allowed not to exceed 20 minutes to place and write reasons substantiating their judgment on each class of stock. No additional credit will be given for papers completed before the expiration of the allotted time. 6. Printed forms will be given each contestant on which to make written reports of classes judged, and any contestant writing his name or placing any other identifying mark other than the number assigned to him on his written reports will be excluded from the contest. 7. Each contestant shall devote his time strictly to the judging of the stock and shall not refer to textbooks or other data; he shall also not converse with any other persons on any class of stock being passed upon or to be passed upon. 8. Each contestant will be required to write his decision, placing the first three animals and giving reasons substantiating same on the pr'mted forms provided by the committee. II. Any contestant failing to comply with each and every require- ment herein contained will be deemed ineligible to participate in the contest, and will be so notified by the judges. III. All contestants' reports on the different classes will be graded on the basis of 100 points for each class, to be divided as follows: Beef cattle: ^ Points. Correctness of placing , 60 Reasons substantiating placing 40 100 Dairy cattle : Correctness of placing CO Reasons substantiating placing 40 WO Horses — Draft or coach : Correctness of placing 60 Reasons substantiating placing 40 100 255 37 Swine — Lard hogs: Correctness of placing 60 Reasons substantiating placing 40 100 Sheep — Mutton : Correctness of placing 60 Reasons substantiating placing 40 100 Total points 500 Note. — The committee in charge of the judging contest should arrange to provide satisfactory classes of animals for the cont-eet. The classes selected must consist of animals that have not met in the regular competition of the show ring in a given con- test unless it is decided to use all or part of the regular class or ring of animals and pass upon it immediately following the regular show and before the animals have been returned to the barn. In such cases no contestant should be allowed to be present at the ring side or witness the judging of the class in the show ring, and awards, ribbons, etc., must be withheld until after the contestants have passed on the class. WEED AND WEED-SEED COLLECTION CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall make a special study of weeds and weed seeds, since both are of economic interest and importance to everyone. This study shall mclude weeds peculiar to certain localities, types of soils, or certain crops. For this purpose a weed sliall be defined as any plant growing wild and injurious to field, garden, or other crops, or any plant of a weedy and injurious or imsdghtly nature, growing on farms, in pastures, lawns, walks, roadsides, or vacant lots. The study of weeds shall include observations as to flower, fruit, stem, leaves, roots, etc., of time of flowering, time of seeding, rate of seeding, duration (annual, biennial, or perennial). 3. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 words and not more than 500 words on each of the following themes : a. The natural and artificial agencies making for the spread of weeds, or, in other words, how nature has fitted fruits or seeds to be spread by wind, water, etc., and how man, by using impure seed and in other ways, helps to spread weeds far and wide. h. The harm weeds do. c. Weeds that are of medicinal or other value. d. Steps farmers and others can take to lessen weed growths in the country and city. 4. Each contestant shall make as large a collection as possible of dried and mounted specimens of weeds, the family to which each plant belongs and its common name, or names, and the locality in which it is found, being printed neatly on a label to be placed on the 255 38 lower right-hand corner of the mounting sheet. This sheet should be about IH by 17 inches, four or six ply Bristol board making a good mounting paper. The label at the lower right-hand corner should be about 3 by 4 inches. Specimens can well be pressed between sheets of felt binding paper and ordinary news paper. 5. Each contestant shall submit, with each weed mounted, a few of the seeds produced by it, these to be exhibited in any neat way devised by the contestant. 6. Each contestant shall do all of the work necessary for entry in this contest without any assistance from outside. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the rules for entiy shall be declared ineligible to enter in the contest, which shall be held at the time and place designated by the committee in charge. III. Basis of awards: Per cent. ExTiibit 65 Essay 35 Total 100 BUTTER-MAKING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1 . All contestants shall be between the ages of — and — years. 2. Each contestant shall agree to make at least 5 pounds of butter and keep a record of the method of preparing the cream for churn- ing and the churning of the butter, and submit the butter for scoring. 3. Each contestant shall agree to do all of the work connected with the making of the butter submitted for scoring without help from anyone. 4. The butter shall be scored by a competent judge on the follow- ing basis: Flavor, 45 points; body, 25; color, 15; salt, 10; and pack- age, 5. 6. Each contestant shall be required to submit an essay on the subject of "Making good butter on the farm," of not less than 300 words nor more than 500 words. II. Contestants' record blank: (Township or County.) Butter-Making Contest. (1) Name P. O. address , R. F. D. No. (2) Amouat of milk used (3) Condition of mflk (4) Amount of cream separated 255 39 (5) Temperature of cream for ripening (6) Time held before churning (7) Kind and amount of starter used (8) Temperature of cream at time of churning (9) Amount of color used (10) Size of butter granules when churn stopped (11) Temperature of buttermilk (12) Tempprature of wash water (13) Amount of salt used (14) Method of working (15) Amount of butter made (16) Score Ill, Basis of awards: Points. Score of butter 60 Report blank 10 Essay 30 Total 100 BREAD-BAKING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall agree to bake at least 25 loaves of bread between the first of and the first of . 3. Each contestant shall agree to exhibit two loaves of bread at the annual show. 4. Each contestant shall do all the work without obtaining any help from the outside. 5. Each contestant shall keep a recortl of the details concerning the work done and shall write an essay of not less than 300 words nor more than 500 words, giving the record of the number of loaves baketl, kinds of flour used, sources and kinds of yeast, the manner of baking, cooling, and storing of bread, and the length of time required for each process in bread making. 6. Each contestant shall agree to write a second essay of not less than 300 words nor more than 500 words on the history of bread, bread as made in other countries, what yeast is and how it grows, the manufacture of flour, the difference between hard and soft wheat flour, the quality of a loaf of bread as affected by the wheat and the flour entering into its composition. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above requirements will not be eligible for entry in the bread show. III. The disposal of the exhibits will be left to the pleasure of the committee in charge. 255 40 IV. Contestants' record blank: (Township or County.) Bread-Baking Contest. record of experiments in bread baking. (1) Name P. O. address , R. F. D. No (2) Age years months. Date of baking. Date of baking. Date of baking. Date of baking. Date of baking. Kind of flour :::;::;:::::;::: 1 1 V. The judging of the bread shall be according to the following score card: Points. Thoroughness of baking 20 Color: (1) Shade 6 (2) Evenness 6 Shape of loaves 8 Sweetness 25 Flavor 15 Quality of crumb 8 Fineness of crumb 4 Evenness of crumb 3 Color of crumb 5 Total VI. Basis of awards: 100 Exhibit Essays and report. Per cent. 50 50 Total 100 CANNED-FRUIT CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be between the ages of — and — years. 2. Each contestant shall agree to can at least 10 varieties of fruits or vegetables. 3. Each contestant shall agree to exhibit at least ten 1-pint jars of fruit or vegetables, properly labeled, with date, name of fruit, and manner of preservation upon the label. 255 41 4. Each contestant shall present a paper of not less than 300 and not more than 500 words telling how the fruit or vegetable was gathered, cared for, canned, and stored, and shall also prepare a second paper of not less than 300 words and not more than 500 words giving reasons why foods are preserved, methods of fruit preservation, and the reasons for food fermentation and decay. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the above requirements will not be eligible for entry in the exhibit to be held at the time and place specified by the committee in charge. III. Basis of awards: Per cent. Exhibit 50 Essays 50 Total ^ 100 INSECT-COLLECTING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be under — years of age. 2. Each contestant shall make a study of noxious and beneficial insects, that is, of insects injurious to field, forest, or garden products of any sort, and of insects not known to be harmful to man in any way, but known, on the other hand, to be useful and beneficial. 3. Each contestant shall make as large a collection as possible of these noxious and beneficial insects, mounting same neatly on heavy cards, or in any substantial way devised by the contestant, and shall label same with the common name or names of the insect. 4. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words teUing the place of insects in the animal world, the different stages in the life history of insects, etc., and methods of controUing those which are noxious, and giving a full account of two insects injurious to vegetable-garden products, two insects injurious to fruits, two injurious to grain crops, and of any two beneficial insects. 5. Each contestant shall do all of the work necessary for entry in this contest without any assistance from outside. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the rules for entry shall be declared ineUgible to enter in the contest, which shall be held at the time and place designated by the committee in charge. III. Basis of awards: Per cent. Exhibit 60 Essay 40 Total 100 255 42 FARM-PLANNING CONTEST. RULES GOVEKNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. Any person between the ages of — and — years who may be interested in agricultural advancement may be eligible as a con- testant. 2. Each contestant shall be required to lay out on paper a farm plan, showing the location of buildings, fences, gates, bridges, gar- dens, orchard, etc., giving accurate measurements drawn to a defi- nite scale. 3. Each contestant shall agree to study available literature per- taining to farm plans, arrangement of buildings, fences, etc. 4. Each contestant shall accompany liis drawing with a key, if necessary, making all points clear to the judges, and shall also sub- mit an essay of not less than 300 words and not more than 500 words settmg forth the advantages of a good farm plan. 5. Each contestant shall use the drawing paper furnishetl by the committee and shall trace all drawings in ink. II. Basis of awards: Per cent. Accuracy 25 Neatness 1^5 Originality 20 Practicability 40 Total 100 SEWING CONTEST. (Girls, 10 to 14 years.) RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be between the ages of 10 and 14 years. 2. Each ghl shall agree either to darn and exhibit one pair of stockings, patch one piece of wool material and one piece of plaid cotton material, or to make by hand one plain gingham apron. Any girl may bring all these varieties of work. 3. Each contestant shall agi-ee to do all the work hei*self without any outside help. 4. Each contestant shall wi-ite an essay of not more than 400 words explaining the stitches used m the work and the methods of doing same. 5. Each contestant shall write a paper on the growth of cotton and the processes involved in making it into white cloth. 6. Each contestant shall exhibit her work at the tune and place designated by the committee in charge. L'55 43 II. Any contestant failing to comply with the foregoing rules shall be declared ineligible for entry in the exhibit. III. Basis of awards: Per cent. Evenness of seams 10 Evenness of stitch 15 General neatness 25 Essays 50 Total ~m SEWING CONTEST. (Girls, 15 to 18 years.) RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. All contestants shall be between the ages of 15 and IS years. I. Each contestant shall agree to make one shirt waist or one fancy white apron, or both of these articles. Machine work, hand sewing, and buttonhole making must all be exhibited on these pieces. 3. Each contestant shall agree to do all the work herself, without outside help. 4. Each contestant sliall agree to write an essay of not more than 400 words, explainmg all the processes employed by her in the pro- duction of the article. 5. Each contestant shall agree to write a second paper, concerning the history, use, and care of a sewing machine, and explaining the dyeing and printing of cotton fabrics. 6. Each contestant shall exhibit her work at the time and place designated by the committee in charge. II. Any contestant faiUng to compl}^ with the above rules shall be declared ineligible for entry in the exhibit. III. Basis of awards: Per cent. Pattern 30 Evenness of stitching 20 General neatness 10 Essays 40 Total 100 SEWING CONTEST. (For Women.) RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST, I. Requirements for entry: 1 . The contest is open to all women interested in the advancement of home mterests, 2, Each contestant shaU make and exhibit one or more of the following articles: 255 44 a. One dress of suitable design for use in housework. h. One gingham apron for kitchen use. c. One gmgham dress for child 2 to 5 years of age. d. One gmgham dress for child 10 to 12 years of age. , 3. All sewing shall be done with a machine. While trimmings may be used on the girls' dresses, they will not be taken into consideration in the judges' examination of the garments. 4. Each contestant shall keep an accurate record of the entire expense of making such garments, the cost and amount of material used, including time, thread, etc. 5. Each contestant shall exhibit her work at the time and place designated by the committee in charge. II. Any contestant failing to comply with the foregoing rules will not be eligible for entry in the exhibit. III. Basis of awards: Per cent. Suitability 35 Economy 25 General neatness 30 Record of expense, etc 10 Total 100 LTJNCH-BOX CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. Any woman interested in home advancement is eligible to par- ticipate in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall prepare one lunch box, suitable for the child in school, using pails or baskets only; cardboard boxes will not be accepted. 3. Each contestant shall exhibit lunch box prepared by her at the time and place designated by the committee in charge. II. Basis of awards: Per cent. Neatness in packing 30 Suitability of food to purpose '. 40 Suitability of food to season 30 Total 100 HOME DECORATION AND FURNISHING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry: 1. Any woman interested in home advancement is eligible to par- ticipate in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall either write out a scheme for home deco- ration, giving an outline of each room, its coloring and furnisliing, or 255 45 work out in colors a similar scheme, showing the application of the general scheme. 3. Each contestant shall confine written description of scheme, if this is selected, to not more than 1,000 words. II. Basis of awards: Per cent. Harmony 40 Economy 20 Essay (or plan) 10 Suitability: Use of room ] Light 10 Size 5 Height of room 5 Total 100 CELLAR-PLAN CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry : 1. Any woman interested in home advancement is eligible to participate in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall draw a plan of a cellar, noting thereon the points of compass, all dimensions, and the positions of furnace, if any, coal bins, vegetable room, and windows. Composition of walls and floors should also be noted on the plan submitted. 3. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 nor more than 500 words on the requirements of a good cellar. II. Basis of awards : Per cent. Arrangement 30 Sanitation 40 Lighting 15 Essay 15 Total 100 KITCHEN-PLAN CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry : 1. Any woman interested in home advancement is eligible to participate m this contest. 2. Each contestant shall draw a ground-floor plan of a kitchen, noting thereon the pomts of compass, all dunensions, and the posi- tions occupied by smk, stove, cupboards, doors, windows, etc. 3. Contestants shall prepare and submit a list of kitchen equip- ment necessary to facilitate properly the operation of a kitchen under the conditions of the plan submitted by the contestant. 255 46 II. Basis of awards: Per cent . Convenience of arrangement 30 Sanitation 25 Light 10 Kitchen equipment: Economy 10 Ease of cleaning 5 Suitability 10 Neatness of plan 10 Total 100 HOUSEHOLD-EXPENSE-ACCOUNTS CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for enUy: 1. Any woman interested in home advancement is eligible to participate in this contest. 2. Each contestant shall prepare a plan for the keeping of house- hold expense accounts and shall endeavor to demonstrate the prac- ticability of this by a one month's usage of the plan. 3. Each contestant shall carefully keep all account records in a definite form and shall submit same for exammation in such shape that the system may be most easily judged. 4. Each contestant shall write an essay of not less than 300 words nor more than 500 words, detailing therein the method of using her plan and the favorable and objectionable points contained therein. II. Basis of awards : Per cent. Simplicity of form 50 Practicability 30 Essay 20 Total 100 "HOME" COMPOSITION CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry : 1. All contestants shall be between the age of 12 and 18 years. 2. Each contestant shall choose a subject relative to agricultural or home life and shall prepare a composition of not less than 500 words and not more than 1,000 words, writing same neatly in a composition book, which shall be submitted to the committee in charge for examination and grading. 3. Each contestant shall illustrate the composition either by hand or by pasting in appropriate photographs or illustrations. 4. Each contestant shall do all of the work herself without any assistance from outside. 255 47 II. Any contestant failing to comply with the rules of entry shall be declared ineligible to participate in the contest. ^ III. Basis of awards: Per cent:, \ Subject matter 40 ] Neatness 25 Spelling 15 Grammatical construction 10 Rhetorical construction 10 Total 100 FLOWER-GARDEN-MAKING CONTEST. RULES GOVERNING THE CONTEST. I. Requirements for entry : 1. All contestants shall be between the age of 12 and 20 years. 2. Each contestant shall be given a plat of ground, of the size specified by the committee in charge, located at the home of the contestant, on which to grow flowers, the seeds to be furnished by the committee in charge; each contestant to plant, cultivate, and care for the plat assigned without any assistance from others. 3. Each contestant shall keep an accurate record of the time devoted to the garden, the varieties planted, the yield of each variety, the cost of seed, etc., and shall submit this record to the committee in charge. 4. Each contestant shall be requu-ed to write an essay of not more than 500 and not less than 300 words, describing the work in the garden, the time applied, and the pleasure derived from observing the growth of the flowers. These essays shall be submitted to the committee in charge not less than three days before the date of the contest awards. II. Basis of awards : Per cent. Essay and record 10 Grouping of flowers 25 Success in cultivation 40 Color scheme of flowers 25 Total 100 ADDITIONAL COPIES of this publication -L\. may be procured from the Superintend- ent OF Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. , at 5 cents per copy LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 002 744 302 3