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School Fairs and Home Garden Contests Ontario-1922 Addreaa communications to Agronomist, 73 Adelaide St. West. Toronto Cheaper Haying and Harvesting. | must be put on, the canvases must be There are three ways in which any put in place, and the tying machinery | farmer can do his haying, harvesting must be adjusted. My, what a waste nd threshing cheaper. He can use of time, on a day when grain is ready better methods, do away with poor . to be cut! management, and use the right im- Shocking grain is a job for extra plements or machinery. nel P- In the last few years, though, To hitch those generalities to hard facts, take the matter of waste labor. Much labor is absolutely wasted in haying, harvesting and threshing. Many farmers believe that at haying School fairs have had a wonderful development in Ontario during the past few years. Their popularity does not seem to be waning In the least and it is a particularly encouraging sign to see the deep interest that is developing from year to year amongst the local people. The growth of the movement can best be gleaned from the following figures given in approximately seven- year periods: time it is necessary to hire a bunch of extra men to get the hay Into the barn. This may bo true on some farms, but not always. The moat suc- cessful farmer in our neighborhood never hires extra help at haying time, and he and his fifteen-year-old boy because of a shocking attachment for the binder, which does the shocking. Twine for binding grain is quite an item of expense, and it is getting more common for farmers to put their orders together and buy at wholesale, at a saving. One thing to remember In such buying is to give the local twine dealer a chance to bid on the order. Stacking grain, ordinarily, cuts put up fifteen or twenty acres of ^ ' the f 1 of f labor d te "' timothy and clover every year. Some- 1 ? eeded a thrcshln * tlme - The stack- times hay-making is saddled on to the! '"* ean * 8prcad V6r 8eV6ral nd of corn plowing, but that never! eems to make any difference. Here's how he manages: In the morning he cuts down sevens' loads of hay. An hour or so later he to lar hired man, or a boy. Stacking also leaves the stubble clear for plowing right after harvest, which not only By R. S. Duncan, B.S.A., Director, Agricultural Representative Branch. 1909 1916 1921 Number of School Fairs held 1 234 449 Number of schools included 3 2,291 3,847 Number of children taking part 58 48,386 95,307 Number of home plots 58 51,243 114,216 Number of entries made at the fairs . . 174 116,236 193,545 Number of children attending fairs 80 72,860 154,831 Number of adults attending fairs 170 84,406 188,728 Total attendance at fairs 250 157,266 343,259 This is truly a phenomenal growth, and it is the desire of the department to extend from time to time this form of education to all the rural schools in the province in order that all school children may enjoy its benefits. During the past season, the Ontario Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Representatives, dis- tributed to the boys and girls enrolled in the School Fair movement the fol- lowing qauntities of seeds and eggs: saves moisture, but helps to control | Potatoes 1,039 bags Hessian fly. Wheat threshed from! the hay with a tedder] 8tacks lg generally of better quality, water out of It. By the: w^ threshing from the fleld. B afternoon the hay is| C08to <., ^ cut by UBing one . man HvL .K ha 5 r ; loader '; hltched i bundle wagons. By use of these, one behind the wagon, the boy drives, a man is able to haul a laad ^ , n load is soon put on, and it is put into from the fleld ln almost M short a the barn with a hay-fork. The boy |time a . two men ordinari i y require. dr.ves the t*am to the fork while , Temporary wide-end ladders and side father sticks the fork and trips lfence9 are put on the ^ y . nt3a be _ the load in the barn. A little head-| fow threshing tme, and these do wort nables them to put up In the away with an extra man to place the afternoon a] the hay cut In the morn-' bun(lles on the load . ^ e community Sf , 1, , C rn ,,'. 8 filled ' * same use of the one-man rack, coupled with , V" A miil ?* 8nd teddin K' ! tho co-operative threshing ring, seems but hay is drawn to the stack with a to mako ideal combi n atlon for re _ and thrown on the stack ducing the worries an with a ricker. The boy runs the rake threshing from the field. ^""K i ^ Cklng - If ; In threshing, there seems to be quite must be left open at night, a saving in the is covered with waterproof duck. lng machines for the use of single lowng machines that cut a wider farms, or for two or three farms. The wath win cut the cost of hay-making use of these smaller machines, which K>me farms. The five-foot cut is a can be run by a gas engine, electric ommon size, but six. seven or even motor or tractor, does away with no eight-foot mowers may be used to end of teams and hands, exchange of good advantage, if time Is any item, labor, and days of cooking and stew- instance, under average condl- ing for the women folks. Moreover, ns, a five-foot mower will cut ten the time of threshing can be arranged i ten hours; a six-foot mower more nearly to suit the farmer's con- cut twelve acres; a seven-foot vcnience. In a large threshing ring lower, fourteen acres; an eight-foot of twenty-five members, the first o>wer about sixteen acres. More J man's grain is pretty likely to bo jx>w is required for the wider cuts^ threshed before it is ready, and the i^f/ZT . K 1 " * re using the | last one, when the season is rainy, eight-foot cut with good success, and is likely to have a great deal of wake a practice of mowing onrly in' sprouted or mouldy grain, e morning before the dew is off, or It does not take an expert thresher- tring a light rain. It is not man to run a small threshing machine ^saary to wait until the dew is off, Tho thing to do is to follow instruc- tor* starting the mower, if the ted-| tions in the manufacturer's book The size of mower used! Each man who has a share in a small the time of day It is started are thresher should have a copy of the important especially when hauling Is book, and not make adjustments un- done only In the afternoon. The tedded wisely and rake are big helps in making hay | Finally, watch the straw-stack CTew - I Often more than one man's profits go In harvesting, as in haying, a great, into the stack because of a poor dea of abor ,. often lost The big- separator, or a good one improper generally comes because adjusted. See that the threshing ma- a'Vv P I^ re P'r until chine is equipped to put ull the grain Into the field Then every bear- into the grain wagon, and only the Ing must he oiled, the sprocket chains straw and chaff in tho stack. milk should be fed per day, in three feeds at first, but this number may later be reduced to two. The skim-milk is then introduced gradually and a period of about two weeks should be required before the calf is placed entirely upon its new feed. The skim-milk should be sweet and warm when fed. Cold sour milk is the greatest cause of scours. Con- tinue the skim :ni)k for at least five months and It may be fed for six or seven months, dcpendling upon the supply. As soon as the calf! la old enough to eat substitute feeds they should be given. What Tree, to Plant. For Ontario conditions the follow- ing tree-planting guide is offered as regards selection of trees to suit local soil and moisture conditions: Good sandy loams Sugar maple, black walnut, pin oak, white ash, red oak. Good medium loams White ash, white elm, sugar maple, black locust, black walnut, butternut, soft or silver maple, white oak, native plane, Orien- tal plane, native basawood, Norway maple, red oak. Good cluy loams Soft or silver mapl<>, white elm, white ash. Low-lying wet soils-Soft maple, pin oak, native basswood, white ch!\ native plane. Swampy conditions Native willows and native poplars, pin oak, if con- dition is notHoo bad. A good ration for young ducklings la a mash made of two parts cornmeal nd one part bran, to which is added a sprinkling of frit and five per cent. beef scrap. They should have plenty ot green food, such as lawn clippings or vegetable.,-, and given a ran^o Where they can ggther green food. Give fresh water in dishes deep enough so they can cover their nos- trils with water when drinking. Shade should be provided for duck- rings. A lack of protection from the hot sun causes severe losses during the summer. The old ducks can be riven a ration of equal parts of bran, cornmeal and boiled vegetables, and ton per cent. Ix-ef icrap. The mash is usually given at night and morning. A scratch grain of either cracked corn or wheat and oats can be given at noon. During the laying se*son a flood ration for breeding ducks con- sists 'if equal parts of low-grade flour, bran, cornmeaJ, vegetables and twelve' per rent. b*f scrap. A ,'<<( range U rutlier essential If ducks are raiaed at a moderate cost. A small body of water is helpful be- cause of the natural food of ducks, uoh as grasses and insects which will hr- found In such u place. Water Is not necessary, however.^xcept that it must be supplied abundantly for drinking purposes. Oata, barley and wheat. . 252 bush. Peas and corn (sweet and fleld) 24,100 pkgs. Beets, carrots, onions and parsnips 42,000 Mangels and turnips . . . 12,800 Asters, phlox, sweet peas and cosmos 30,750 Eggs, bred-to-lay Barred Plymouth Rock 10,852 Each School Fair is carried on by a board of directors composed of repre- sentatives from the school, the Agri- cultural Representative acting as manager. In most cases the Repre- sentative is assisted by a local com- mittee representing the teachers, trustees and parents, and where we have an active committee all pulling together, there is no weak link in the chain. One of the greatest handicaps to better work la the annual change of teachers, but this ia gradually being overcome because many teachers have had more or less experience with school fairs even before they graduate from the Normal schools. It is very gratifying to report that the quality of the exhibits is improv- ing from year to year. The pupils are gradually learning that it does not pay to bring anything but "good stuff" to the fair. The judges are requested to point out by comparison the differ- ence between the exhibits awarded first prize and those awarded second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth prizes. Besides giving reasons for their plac- ings, the judges try to point out to the exhibitors and others the desirable type, what constitutes quality in the various classes called for on the prize list, and to offer hints or suggestions ns to tho preparation of exhibits. To my mind this is one of the greatest educational features of the school fair. District championship School Fairs the fall fairs held under the auspices of the agricultural societies and the school fairs are conducted jointly the following conditions must be com- plied with: 1. Prize List That the liat of class- es for the Rural School Fair, prepared by the Agricultural Representative and the Rural School Fair Association, be included in the regular prize liat of the Agricultural Society. That on copy of this prize list be distributed to each pupil or one copy to each family or household In the Rural School Fair Association. That the prize list be issued not later than June 1. Where it is im- possible to issue the regular Agricul- tural Society Prize List by this date the Society should issue a separate School Fair prize list for early dis- tribution. 2. Finances. That the Agricultural Society supply half the prize money, such sum not to exceed $75, for these classes and that the sum be paid in cash to the manager or secretary of the Rural School Fair Association prior to the fair. 8. Accommodation. That the Agri- cultural Society supply suitable building or tent accommodation for displaying the pupilsf exihibits, to- gether with tables and poultry coops, and have same in readiness the day previous to the fatr. Where this equipment is supplied by the Depart- ment of Agriculture, the Agricultural Society must pay transportation and] cartage charges, and furnish help to erect the tents. That suitable field accommodation, properly enclosed, be definitely as- signed to tho Rural School Fair for the purpose of holding sports, parades, judging of live stock. That a program for the day be de- cided upon by the Agricultural Society officials and Agricultural Represen- tative to avoid clashing of events. 4. Admission. That all pupils and; teachers in the schools taking part in the Rural School Fair be given free admission to the fair. 5. Judges. That the Agricultural Society supply judges for exhibits such as poultry, live stock, vegetables, grains, etc., satisfactory to the De- partment. 6. Protection. (Constables). That the Agricultural Society supply pro- tection for Rural School Fair exhibits. SMOKE OLD CHUN TneTobacoo of Quality /2LB.TINS and in packages New Features. A successful school fair must have were hold during the past season in the following counties: Frontenac, Halton. Norfolk, Oxford. Welland, and, somcthi new and worth whjle each Won worth, and Rainy River and, ^ M 7 i IK- 1 , ,' e , , ' Ti r<1 " to I*P 5 interest. Sports are ond and third prize exhibits from the vari ius school fairs in the county or district were eligible for competition, mepe , y an attraction year many Representatives conducted ; some competition that was entirely the agricultural society supplying! ' V V/ T -T" . , new to the children, such as judging practically all the prize money. Championship fairs are feasible only where it is possible to conduct j tho school fairs sufficiently early in the season to allow prize exhibits to competitions for teams of three boys in live stock, and for three girls in seeing or darning; individual compe-. titions in naming weeds, apples, vege-j ino season HI iu>w prize eiuiiuiis ui *_ui_ i i 11. i i t , , tables, and live stock, the latter from compete ut the place where the cham- _ . , . . . ._ -V . , . . . , , , p'cturea; chicken pluckmp, boys rid- p.onship fair Is held and where trans- f ... ,' , ... , .^ . > * ! unship portation facilities are sufficient. Boys ing, girls' hitching and driving, public speaking and singing competitions and girl* take a great pride in win- T<3 ,v, n i A C * : . . , , land Strathcona Drill and school fair nlng a championship ribbon, and the; _ . XT . ,. , .. .. . .i j-l parade. Not all of these contests can quality of the exhibits is reflected in {, . , i . " A. i , u , e mi. i i be carried out at any one fair but a the local school fair. The champion- . _ . . , ... ju, i x. t ,, ,'few new "stunts' each year add m- ship goal seems to be an added stimulus. The exhibits staged at these, , n<> children championship fairs wero not only a credit to the pupils but also to the district from which they came. The terest and keep up the enthusiasm of pupils are "broadening out," and they are gaining a wonderful experience which will have its effect upon the larger fairs in the future. The Home Garden Contents. The Home Garden contest is prim- arily intended for the teen-age boys and girls on the farm. Sufficient seed; thus able to thoroughly enjoy spend- ing a little money earned by the exer- cise of their own skill. These early lessons in finance should stand them in good stead. * Tested New Kinds of Grain. Sixty-nine new varieties of grain have been tried out at the farms and stations of the Dominion Experiment- al Farms system. These are briefly described in Pamphlet No. 11, of the Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, by Dr. C. E. Saunders, the Dominion Gerealist. The varieties include three of winter wheat; fifteen of spring wheat, late and early ripening; twelve of oats, main crop sorts, early and hulless varieties; seventeen of barley, six-row kinds, two-row kinds, hooded kinds, and hulless; two of winter rye; two of emmer and spelt; nine of field peas; four of field beans; three of flax for seed, two of flax for fibre, and three of buckwheat. In addition, recommendations are given to var- ieties best suited for the different provinces, thus greatly enhancing its value. In his introduction, Dr. Saunders points out that while, as a rule, it is wise for growers to leave the testing of new varieties to tho government farms and stations, those who have a liking for the work will find it ex- tremely interesting, though expensive. Apart from that, there will always be plenty of scope among recommended sorts for interesting comparative trials, and these can be made at little or no loss of time or money. No recommendations are made by the Dominion Experimental Farms and Stations until after thorough and complete tests, and until the varieties have shown some superiority over the older and better-known ones. Not only is it necessary, in order to secure profitable crops, to maintain the fer- tility and tilth of the soil by rotation and the application of manure or fer- tilizers, but thoroughly clean seed adapted both to the soil and climatic conditions on each farm must be sown. Growers are therefore advised not only to study the pampWlet but also to consult as to the choice of varieties with the superintendent of the nearest Dominion Experimental Farm. THE CHILDREN'S HOUR A Good Set of Rules. Here is a set of rules which every girl would do well to fallow: Be brave. Courage is the noblest of all gifts. Be silent while your elders are speaking, and otherwise show them deference. Obey. Obedience is the first duty of every girl. Be clean. Both yourself and the place you live in. Be the friend of all harmless wild life. Conserve the woods and flowers and especially be ready to fighl wild fire in forest or town. Word of honor is sacred. Play fair. Foul play is treachery. Be reverent. Be kind. Do at least one act of un- bargaining service every day. Be helpful. Do your share of the work. Be joyful. Seek the Joy of being alive. During Vacation Days. You will doubtless have an oppor- tunity during vacation days to scat- ter seeds of kindness while on your vacation by showing your interest in all animal life. Interest others in this cause of mercy, justice and kindness to every living creature. Protect dogs and cats from ill- treatment. Give them food and watei and a comfortable place to sleep. Discourage nest-robbing boy* among your companions. Horses and cows will enjoy better health and do better work if they ar groomed every day. It is cruel to carry fowls with theit heads downward and their feet tied together. Fish should be killed as goon ai taken out of the water by a .sharp blow on the back of the head. Such fish keep better and are better to eat Honor and humility belong together, The vain girl, who thinks always of herself, misses the path of leadership. Parents as Educators is given each contestant to plant a plot 30x40 ft. The crops grown are as I Hungry Children By Lydia Lion Roberts The < MriMt way to raise a calf is by feeding it whole milk. This prob- dbly will produce the best calf, but not necessarily the best dairy cow. Feeding ikim-milk to the calf after it has secured -a proper start may give i (rood a oow as th feeding of whole milk, but the i ;....- requires greater earo. ; For the tlr.-t fxw days, the calf v ,i,| run with Ita mother, after It should be removed and fed win in fresh whole milk by hand. This Mould be coijtinued for ten days or two weeks at least. The length of tlm it should bo continued depend* upon the vigor of the young animal. '-..I to tn.'lvn pounda of this Milting. "Children" said the Sunday school teacher, "thl* picture illustrates to- day's lesson: hot was warned to take his wife and daughters and fine out ot Hodom. Here nre Ix>t and his (laufth- tera, with hU wlfo Juat behind them; and there Is Hodom In the background. Now, hae any girl or boy a question to .i.-k before we take the study of the lson? Well. Susie?" "Pleathe, thlr," lls-ped th* youngest in the I'liujs. "where itti the flea?" During the past two or three years, follows: tomatoes, corn, cabbage, peas, there has been an agitation on tho beans, onions, radish, lettuce, par- part of the officers of some agricul- snips, beets, carrots, Swiss chard, cu- tural societies to have the school fairs \ cumbers, squash, citron, and spinach, linked up with fairs held under so-i A special pamphlet, showing the ciety auspices. Those favoring the cr P arrangement, plan of garden, and holding of joint fairs put forth the'K iv 'ng cultural instructions is handed argument that there would be iess' eac h contestant. Each contest com-j duplication of work and effort and the Poises 25 gardens. During the past season the competitors paid the cost price of the seeds, namely 75 cents, combined fair would be more success- ful. This scheme has had a fair trial, and about the only thing to commend 1 anri '" a' 1 there were 75 Home Garden itself is the fact that the gate re- j contests, including 1,875 pupils, ceipts are greatly increased. The! During the months of July and greatest objection to holding joint fairs is the fact that in the great majority of cases there are too many August, the Agricultural Representa- tives inspected the gardens and awarded prizes for the best gardens. counter-attractions and difficulty is In addition, special prizes were offer found in carrying out the well-arrang- *& 8t the school fair and local fall Some conception of the magnitude of the canning imlustry in British Columbia may be obtained from tho fact that 10,000 tons of Welsh tin- plat o has just been received for the tradv. si program for the entertainment and especially the education of the chil- dren. With this plan, the school fair would more or less lose its identity and defeat some of the objects for which it was originally formed, name- ly, to give inspiration and create greater interest, broadly speaking, in agriculture. The department feels that school fairs should be held separately and distinct from county or township fairs. In some communities, however, the local people feel that the two can be combined quite nicely, and in order to guard against the objections raisol, fair for exhibits of vegetables from the home gardens. Last year compe- titors were required to can products from their gardens and exhibit these at the fairs along with the fresh vege- tables. This year it is planned to make canning optional. The object of these Home Gardens is to interest boys and girls in better agriculture, and encourage the use of more vegetables in the farm home. It is truly surpris'ng what can be grown in a small garden, and after allowing the family free use of the vegetables grown many of the boys managed to dU~o?e of the surplus products and Ut| department insisted thnt where nmde a little "pin money." They were. A mother was looking over a box of old photographs and her little boy was an interested watcher by her side. As one picture* came into view the boy exclaimed, "Whenever I see a pic- ture of Auntie Gertrude it makes me feel hungry." Afterwards he explain- ed that it was because she brought him so many good things to eat. The Aunt referred to was a very busy womar., yet she always manmged to find time to slip a gingerbread man, or a popcorn bvll, or a surprise pack- age into her bag for the children where she vi?ited. Another child never forgot a basket trimmed with colored tissue paper, holding some baked cookies, that her aunt brought to her after she had been sick. Fowl plays an important part in a child's life and n mother may teach by it as well as by other things. All children love surprises, and little faces brighten on stormy days when a raisin cake baked in their own little, pan appears, or a lunch-ibox danner is- place*! on the playroom table with dainty sandwiches and fruit, and maybe a bit of candy or a few nuts. Any little boy or girl likes to learn to cook when mother is cooking and though that is not an especially good time for mother in one way, yet in another way it is the best time, for children ave happy when busy and learn quickly when interested. When mother makes bread the little tot should have a ball of dough and * raisin or a bit of jam to make a bis- cuit. If the child ha dishes big enough, and this is important, for there should be a small pan or un- breakable dish to do the cooking in. - the work can be done exactly a mother does it and therefrom com* the first lessons In cooking. "I could turn those doughnuts," suggested a small boy to hi* grand- mother, who was making- th tooth- some goodies. She started to turn him away as she was busy aad a bit nervous, but thought better of It and showed the child just how carefully it must be done. Consequently he turned every single one In a most gron-up way and informed the fam- ily proudly that night. "Grandma and 1 made doughnuts to -day.'* The ten cent store has many a small tin 'i,i er.amel pun that would make a start towards a little girl's cooking set, and would give her much pleasure and profit if she learned to take car* of tin' pans and to cook simple thing* in them. The best way of all it to auggc.H to a child that a biscuit to made for daddy's cupper, or a tiny cskr as a surprise for a playniv.*. Thiu t)v- lessons in cooking and glv- inic, r''''- r ' : " nid unsc!fishneaa - . v ., ., ,