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Juvenile Corn Growers BY WMOON FAWCtTT HE United States govern­ ment 1B now at work upon one of the most am­ bitious and, by the by, one of the most interest­ ing projects It baa ever undertaken. It is noth­ ing short of a scheme for moving the "corn belt." Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a crusade for extending the " corn belt." for there is no de­ sire to interfere with the growing of our greatest agricultural staple in that broad section of the country where corn u&b long been the princi­ pal standby of the farmer. The new plan of the department of agricul ture--for of course that is the branch of our government machinery that has charge of this new activity--is simply in effect to make two blades of grass grow where only one grew before. Although all the world has been gasping in astonishment these many years past at the bumper crops of corn this country tarns out each year, the experts of the government some time since came to the conclusion that great as was the national corn yield it was not as big as it ought to be. Furthermore, they thought they foresaw a time when, with our rapidly growing population, the corn crop would not be any too big for our own American appetite and, of course, if that came to pass, we would lose more or less of our foreign trade, for a vast Quantity of Yankee corn products now find their way to dinner tables over­ seas. On the theory of a stitch in time fhe agricultural sharps proceeded to get busy over this Impending prob­ lem. First they set about increasing the yield of corn per acre and latterly they have entered upon the even more significant mission of extending the corn growing area. As our readers are aware most of the corn crop has been grown heretofore in the middle - 1 ' - 1 A ; , ; * NQVLV s as s i"*** Wx, > r mm vv * A I'm*--" • •m* - ?MMP/OA 'ZMaif 6ffOUf-E& WOUNn rÔ raRy WL*QH <M0 o* y# VMewcn'J /wjr „ fCONOMiCRL COff At QffOWtR West--in states such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska. But the government experts scouting around soon fame to the conclusion that as., good or better corn than America had ever known could be raised in prolific quantity In the south if only the people south of Mason and Dixon's line could be aroused to the pos­ sibilities lying dormant at their doors. Waking up these southern farmers to their neglected opportunities Is the present work of one of the most efficient organizations in Uncle Sam's agricultural corps, it was nothing short Of an Inspiration that the experts hit upon the jplan of proving that their corn "fairy tales" dould come true through the medium of the fanner boys of the south. The lads were enlisted in this country wide "demonstration work" and 46,000 of them have lately been giving their fa­ thers object lessons right at home. What is more, ifkany of the fathers have taken the lessons to ftteart and after seeing with their own eyes what phenomenal yields can be made if corn be cul­ tivated as the "book chaps" at the agricultural department prescribe they have become converts to the new ideas and have announced that hence­ forth they will cultivate corn the way their sons have been doing these past few months. It will mean only a fraction more time and work and It means production doubled or trebled or quad­ rupled. Of course the government gave instructions to these lads as to how to till the soil in the most advantageous manner, but the enthusiasm which resulted in corn harvests that have made the whole world sit up and take notice was inspired by competitive contests for the winners in which all sorts of prizes were offered--township prizes, village prizes, county prizes, state prizes, and goodness knows what, ail In the way of trophies culminating in each state in a "grand prize" in the form of a sightseeing trip to Washington, all expenses paid, for one boy. Of course, the gov­ ernment did not offer these prizes. Uncle Sam has no money available for such purposes, but the department of agriculture engineered the whole scheme and got the public-spirited citizens of more than a dozen states so'interested that they put up the prizes mentioned. Individuals such as bankers and merchants and organlza Mop* such as boards of trade, county superin­ tendents of education, chambers of commerce, etc., contributed to the list of prizes which in the grand total footed up to more than $40,000 ThiB whole movement, alike to other similar educational crusades, has been under the direc­ tion of the division of farmers' co-operative dem­ onstration work of the department of agriculture and the field officers of this institution have brought about systematic effort on the part of the youthful com growers by organizing what are known as corn c l u b s . T h e r e a r e great numbers of township clubs all over the land--the township being the standard unit of organization--and there are county clubs in about 600 different counties. Circulars of instruction, prepared by Dr. S. A. Knapp, the government expert, who is the Sol­ omon of this movement, *are prepared and Bent several times during the year to each in­ dividual boy who is enrolled in this work. Seed selection and the preparation of the soil are taken up first in these courses of in- , struction by ijaa.il (supplemented by the advice of the field workers of the department who are continually traveling about to supervise and give practical instruction.) All the boys who won the biggest prizes paid very careful attention to the Instructions on this score and plowed their acres from eight to sixteen inches deep and thoroughly pulverized their seed beds. Even more careful advice is given the boys on the very vital subject of fertilization and one rea­ son why so many of these lads have at the first* go off gotten better corn crops than their fathers have ever been able to produce with all their ex­ perience back of them is that the youngsters have none of the contempt of the old fogies for new-fangled ideas and have been not duly willing but eager to master a general knowledge of nitro­ gen, potash, phosphorus, etc., as agricultural aids and the effect of leaves, wood mold, barnyard manure, etc. * The whole plan of computing and comparing yields in this country-wide corn-growing competi­ tion is done in the most systematic and business­ like manner. With swarms of keenly interested boys watching each other's crops like% hawks there Is not much opportunity for deception of any kind, but in addition to this insurance of pub­ licity of methods and yields the department of agriculture has its own officers In the field all the while and they rigidly investigate any sus­ picious reports Just as the field workers of the United States census have been probing Into the enumeration in any town or city that seemed to show an undue Increase in population since the last census. Be it said to the credit of the boy corn growers that almost none of them have fallen under suspicion on any score. In making up the records of the young corn growers and awarding the prizes that are offered the government officials take into consideration other things than the mere crop yield, regardless of cost of cultivation and every other factor. Indeed, In making awards there are considered in addition to yield, the cost per bushel, the best ten ears of corn raised ? the written history of the crop prepared by tne boy who raised it. Not all the boys who won the big prizes and were personally congratulated by President Taft in the White House at Washington made the largest yields in their states. The economical side was ayways taken into consideration in giving out the prizes and in apportioning the diplomas of merit which Secretary Wilson personally pre­ sented to the boys who called on him at Wash­ ington. The boys who have won rank as Uncle Sam's champion corn growers in every instance "made good" by exhibiting their prise products at their respective county fairs where their neighbors could see with their own eyes what they accom­ plished by the new method of tilling the soil. In many counties the distribution of the county prizes for corn growing was made a red-letter event this past autumn and as many as 1,000 to 1,500 persons have assembled at a county seat to see prizes awarded to, lads who are pointing the way to increased averages of corn produc­ tion in the south, and Incidentally to a partial solution of the increased cost of living. And no old-time farmer can sneer that the showings made in this twentieth-century corn growing are spurts of no practical significance. On the con­ trary the government officials have applied mod­ ern bookkeeping methods to the business side of the proposition and the reported costs of prodijc- tion can be accepted as fair actual costs. The yields made during the past season by these young corn growers have been truly aston­ ishing and some of them are almost past the belief of farmers who have been getting an aver­ age of, say, 32 to 40 bushels of corn per acre in choice corn country in the middle west. In one Mississippi county 48 boys averaged 92 bushels per acre. In one South Carolina county 20 boys produced 1,700 bushels of corn on 20 acres.- In another county in that same state 142 boys averaged 62 bushels per acre. One lad made $1,000 from a single acre of corn. Jerry Moore of Winona, S. C„ the champion corn grower of the world, got the amazing yield of 228 bushels to the acre. Steve Henry of Ix>ulsl- ana carried off the highest honors for economical farming, producing on his acre nearly 140 bushels at a cost of only 13 cents per bushel. Joe Stone of Georgia, youhgest and smallest of the national prize winners, is only eleven years of age, but he produced 102 bushels to the acre at a cost of 29 cents per bushel. Next season the scope of the corn-growing competition 1b to be greatly extended and the government may also strive to" get the country girls of the United States Into a similar competition, only, of course, it will not be corn growing but vegetable gardening with canning and preserving as a "side line." IE LED MEMBERS OP THE ILLINOIS 8TATE BAR ASSOCIATION ARE PRE8ENT AT EXERCISES. HELD \H SUPKtMt CHAMBtuS Portraits of Former Chief Justices of the Court Are Uncovered--Many Speeches Appropriate for the Occasion Were Made. Spflngfleld.--The members of the Illinois State Bar association were present at the ceremonies attendant upon the unveiling of the portraits of the former Justices of the supreme court of Illinois, and assisted in the same. Speeches appropriate for the occasion were made by several of the members. The portraits are hung in the reception room adjoining the su­ preme courtroom, in the new temple of Justice. All the chief justices are repre­ sented with the single exception of Chief Justice Phillips, whose picture could not be procured. The portraits are worked out by hand with sepia -as a base, and were made from paintings, lithographs and photographs as the same could be found. They are 19x24 inches In size, framed in natural wood, corre­ sponding to the finishings in the room, and at the bottom of each fratee a metal plate containing the name of the Justice Is placed. The portraits were hung under the per­ sonal direction of J. Ellsworth Grosfe, who also prepared the pictures for hanging. A brass plate bearing the name, years which he served and other inscriptions, marks the place where Judge Phillips' picture should have been. Tells How to W*r on Scarlet Fever. The Illinois state board of health has prepared for general distribution a pamphlet on *the subject of the pre­ vention, restriction and suppression of scarlet fever. The purpose is to «amlliarize the the public with the disease that prompt and effective measures to combat it will be taken when it appears in a community. "Scarlet fever is a preventable dis­ ease," says the publication, "notwith­ standing its widespread character and the ease with which the infection ad­ heres to articles which may pass from one person to another. Carefulness can keep the infection from being scattered abroad, and disinfection can destroy its power to do harm. ' "Keep children away from the^ dis­ ease and from all persons and things that have been where the disease is. Keep also all persons who have re­ cently been sick with the disease and all who have been where it is, away from your children. If children from an infected family are allowed to at­ tend school, withdraw your children from that school and notify the state board of health. If scarlet fever has occurred in a school and the same school has not been disinfected, take your children out of the school and notify the state board of the facts. "Be careful of books, toys and all articles which have been handled by a scarlet fever patient. The disease haB been spread by circulating li­ braries, picture books having been taken therefrom to amuse patients and returned without being disinfec­ ted. See that your house and prem­ ises are perfectly clean. Look to your cellars, sewers, cess-ooolB, sinks and water closets, and allow no de­ caying animal or vegetable matter to poison the atmosphere of your dwell- -ng». Use disinfectants freely; burn all rubbish. Annual Meeting of Grain Dealers. The eighth annual convention of the Farmers' Grain Dealers' asso­ ciation jof Illinois will be held in Arlon hall in Springfield Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 7, 8 and 9. The committee rooms will be in the St. Nicholas hotel. It Is expected that this session will be both enjoyable and instructive. The fact that the legislature is in session and that several bills In which the members are interested are pending lends interest to the affair. One en­ tire day will be devoted to the dis­ cussion by the delegates of every d^y questions and half a day to the speak­ ers who have been invited to address the convention. The programme committee has al­ ready secured E. M. Tousley of Min­ neapolis. editor of "Co-Operation" Magazine and president of the Right Relationship league; C. S. Barrett, Union City, Ga., president of the Farmers' Educational and Co-Opera- tive Union of America; C. O. Dray­ ton, Greenville, III., president Amer­ ican Society of Equity; Father J. T. Toahy, chairman educational commit­ tee American Co-Operative Union, will deliver his illustrated lecture on co-operation in Europe; E. G. Dunn, Mason City, la., secretary of the Farmers' Grain Dealers' association of Iowa; Hon. Charles Adkins, speak­ er Illinois house of representatives; Hon. L. Y. Sherman of Springfield, and Gov. Charles S. Deneen. "The officers intend that this con­ vention shall be the most interesting and Instructive of any ihe state or­ ganization ever held." said President Thomas Lamb. Jr . of Bement. "They expect and are striving to make it the beginning of a new epoch in co­ operative work in Illinois.- The soil here is ready for the planting and the people ready and willing to take a hand in boosting practical and effi­ cient co-operation." Besides President Lamb, the offi­ cers of the association are as follows: Vice-president, J. C. Sailor, Cisna Park; secretary. J. A. McCreery, Ma­ son City; directors, A. Tomlin, Easton: E. M. Johnson, Pontiac; J. R. McCabe, Henry Shafer, Illiooolis; Fred Walburn Ludlow, Ashland; D. Brumback, Danforth; John Miller, Galva; official auditor, Don M. Baker, Pontiac. A REASON FOR BEIN8 Carnegie Elicited Information Asked for, but it Is Doubtful if He Appreciated It. At a recent dinner given by An­ drew Carnegie, an eminent lawyer, seated half-way down the table, waa. deeply immersed in conversation with his neighbor when the hoBt opened up tbe subject of the British coinage system, and showed signs of wishing undivided attention. ' "Every other civilised nation," he declared, "has the decimal Bystein, while England adheres to the absurd and cumbersome table of pounds, shil­ lings and pence." Rap-rap-rap. The raps were for the lawyer, who remained absorbed In his own conver­ sation. "And even farthings," con­ tinued the iron-master. "Ib there any­ thing else in finance So ridiculous as the farthing?" Rap-rap. The lawyer glanced around ^aome- what impatiently. "Judge G ," Mr. Carnegie called out, "why do the British continue their coinage of farthings?" "To enable the Scotch to practice benevolence, Mr. Carnegie," returned the lawyer. Those Church Suppers! Church sales, dinners, teas and the like are not only means for promoting social enjoyment and Incidentally of replenishing the treasuries of the organizations which provide them. These functions serve a real and valuable economic purpoBe, as is indicated by the lady whom Edna K. Wooley quotes in the Toledo Blade. This lady, weary of the work of providing three meals a day for her family, consisting of herself, her husband and her daughter, finds a new joy in living at this time of year, and explains why: "Last night we went to a roast beef dinner. To­ night we are going to a Methodist progressive supper. My husband hates those progressive suppers, because we start with soup at the church, you know, then go to sonie house for the meat course and finish up at Bome other house for the dessert. He says when he sits down to a meal he likes to finish the job on the spot, in­ stead of getting up every little wuile, putting on his hat and coat and galloping out into the cold and cruel world to resume his eats at some other stand. But I think it's fun. It's a blessed change. Tomorrow night we go to a Prep^terian church supper. That's only 25 cents, too, and I don't see how they do it for the money. The next one after that is an Episcopal turkey supper, and the next is also a turkey supper at the Unitarian church. Then come the Disciple and Congrega­ tion church suppers, and by that time you'll see my cheeks sticking out with rich living. What would we poor home cooks do if it wasn't for the church suppers? They give us a rest from the eternal routine of pfenning and cooking the daily meals. Nobody that hasn't tried that three-meal- a-day business knows what a grind it gets to be. I don't believe there's a man on earth would stand for it. Italians in New York City American Students Have Referred to Their Settlements/as Cities Within a City. four-fifths of the Italians of New York come from centers of less than 10,000 population, and are therefore entirely new to the active exciting life of a great city. American students of social conditions have referred to the jfcaiiaQ settlements of New York aa cities within a city. As a matter of fact, they are a collection of small vil­ lages, with all the characteristics of village life. In one street will be found peasants from one Italian vil­ lage; in the next street the place of origin Is different and distinct, anft different and distinct are manner*, customs and sympathies. Entire vil laces have been transplanted from Italy to one New York street, and with the other have come the doctor, the grocer, the priest and the annual celebration of the local patron saint. The acute rivalry between village peo­ ple, who have not developed and can scarcely be expected to develop in a short period what may be called "city consciousness," is perhaps the most Important cause of the lack of coher­ ence in the Italian mass, which makes impossible united and persistent effort on its part in any direction, economic, social or political. In the 'Italian quarters the life is that of the tenement. The families are usually large, and ift most of them boarders are taken with a view eking out the payment of the rent. There are tenements occupied by Ital ians in New York in which eight and ten sleep in one room, with not more than 1,500 cubic feet of air to breathe for eight or nine hours. Very often a whole family occupies a single sleep­ ing room, children over fourteen years of age sleeping with their parents Of with smaller brothers and sisters. Deneen's Measure Passed by Senate. The first of Governor Deneen's ad­ ministration measures went through when the senate unanimously passed the bill placing express companies under the control of the railroad and warehouse commission. The bill was Introduced by Senator Hearn in the second week of the ses­ sion and recommended favorably by the committee. It was on third read­ ing, and when called up by Senator Hearn, was adopted on a roll call. Un­ der this bill rates, schedules and prac­ tically all business of the companies will be under the commission. It goes to the lower house for action. Another bill affecting express com­ panies came from Senator Clark of Chicago, requiring them to deliver packages in all towns or cities with a population of 2,500 or more. It went to the judiciary committee. The salary loan agents' bi1! of Sen­ ator* MacLean, which would give salaried men the same household ex­ emption of $15 a week that wage earners are entitled to in case of gar­ nishment, was also passed by the sen­ ate and sent to the house. Firearms Bill Hss Chance. The idea of Chief of Police Stew­ ard of Chicago that the carrying of concealed weapons should be made a penitentiary offense bids fair to get through tbe senate in amended form. When the firearms bill came up on second reading a motion to kill it by striking out the enacMng clause was defeated by a vote of ten to twenty. "I am for a bill of this kind if it can be amended to reach the right class," said Senator Mackenzie. "As It stands, the measure Is in tbe Interests of the criminal cless." Insurance Bills Reported. After a series of verbal clashes, the senate Insurance committee reported favorably on two administration bills, lone granting Illinois companies the Isame privileges as foreign companies lin the matter of accident or health policies, and the other duplicating the Massachusetts and New York laws on accident policies. Senate bill 101. aimed at concerns belonging to tariff associations, was sent to a subcommittee composed of Senators Ettelson, Potter, Helm, Juul and Ball. / Game Wardens Cut Off. The state game warden and his 800 or more deputies throughout the state were amputated from the pay roll by an opinion which William H. Stead, attorney general, sent to the senate at the request of Senator Henson. The game protectors may hold their offices, but action will be necessary if they are to continue drawing the salaries which go with the title. The opinion is taken to apply also to the fire marshal, the barber examiners and numerous similar commissions. Under the opinion it will be neces­ sary for each general assembly to ap> propriate for the maintenance of ths offices, which are filled by appointees of the governor. Hitherto they have been paid under a continuing appro­ priation from the contingent funds of the state. Another state board is contem­ plated, to examine auctioneers, test their voices and put them through other stunts, in a document from Sen­ ator Bailey, which went to the senate license committee. The senator ex­ plained that it is presented at the re­ quest of the Illinois Association of Auctioneers. Teachers Will Meet. At the annual meeting of the Cen­ tral Illinois Teachers' association which will be held in Peoria March 17 and 18. Professor Suzzale of Col­ umbia university will make the prin­ cipal address. Prof. C. A. Prosser of the Massachusetts state board of edu­ cation, Dr. W. S. Hall and Prof. W. C. Bagley will alsc make addresses. The officers of tjie association are: President--Charles Mcintosh, Mon- ticello. Vice-President--H. L. Kessler Chatsworth. Secretary--Emily Sunderland, Dela van. Railroad Secretary--Warren Tay­ lor, Springfield. Executive Committee--H. B. Wil­ son, chairman; William C. Herbert, Pontiac; J. G. Moore, Lexington. Local Committee--Gerard T. Smith, Superintendent Peoria city schools; T. C. Burgess, Bradley Polytechnic in­ stitute; J. A. Hayes, superintendent of schools, Peoria county. 8tate Offers $200 for Slayer. The state of Illinois took a hand in the attempt to apprehend the slayer of John ZeigleK the grocer, who on January 2. of this year, was murdered as he was about to leave his store at 1700 South First street. Governor Deneen proclaimed a reward of $200 for the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons, still un­ identified, who took Zeigler's life. The grocer was killed toy a man. masked, who it is thought surprised him at his desk with the purpose of robbing him. To Call yman and Burke- States Attorneys Burke of Spring­ field and Wayman of Chicago will be the first witnesses summoned before the Helm commitl ee when it starts its Investigation into the scandals of last session. At a meeting the icom- mittee* set February 24 as the date for starting its hearings. They will be held at the stat«house and the two state's attorneys will be asked to furnish the names of every witness taken before the giand juries of Cook ai.d Sangamon cc unties and before the courts in the trials. Farmers Score Scheme. Robert Eaton Jackson, master of the Illinois State Grange, issued a detailed statement opposing the Cana­ dian reciprocity b'll. He declared it to be inimical to larmers while bene- cial to manufacturers. He asserts the bill means the loss of the slight protection farmers products have had while leaving ma aufaetured articles practically unchanged. He claims the bill will lower tbe value of United States farm lands while Increasing the value of Canadian lands- SUCCESSFUL. TREATMENT OF PIMPLES AND BLACKHEADS A speedy and economical treatment for disfiguring pimples is the follow­ ing; Gently smear the face with Cuti- cura Ointment, but do not rub. Wash off the ointment in five minutes with Cuticura Soap and hot water and bathe freely for some minutes. Re­ peat morning and evening. At other times use hot water and Cuticura Soap for bathing the face as often as agreeable. Cuticura soap and oint­ ment are equally successful for itch­ ing, burning, scaly and crusted hu­ mors of the skin and scalp, with loss of hair, from infancy to age, usually affording instant relief, when all else fails. Send to PottCT Drug & Chem. Corp., Boston, Mass., for the latest Cuticura book on the care and treat* ment of tbe skin and scalp. COMING EVENT He--Do you think your father would offer me personal violence if ( were to ask him for you? She--I think be will if you don't pretty soon! .And It Was All Imagination "f wonder how much imagination governs some persons' senses?" re­ marked a visitor at the St. Regis yes­ terday. "For a Christmas present 1 sent to a young woman of my ac­ quaintance one of the most elaborate sachet cases I could find. It was such a beautiful thing that I didn't put per­ fume in it, for some women prefer to use a certain kind all the time, and 1 thought 1 would leave it to the re­ cipient to put her own particular sach­ et powder in the case. You may im­ agine 1 was somewhat amazed to read this in her enthusiastic letter ol thanks: "It's perfume has pervaded the whole room.' "--New York Press. Queen Mary's Trousseau. Queen Mary is following the ex­ ample set by her mother, the duchess of Teck, who at the time of her daugh­ ter's wedding with the present king declared that for the trousseau "not a yard of cambric or linen, of flannel or tweed, of lace or ribbon should b« bought outside the kingdom," and who kept to her word. Queen Mary is hav­ ing her coronation robes and gowns for court functions as well as the opening of parliament gown made by a British firm of all British material. She has ordered eight dresses so far, and work on them has commenced.-- London-correspondence New York Sun. IT'S FOOD That Restores and Makes Health Possible. There are stomach specialists as well as eye and ear and other special­ ists. One of these told a young lady, of New Brunswick, N. J., to quit medi­ cines and eat Grape-Nuts. She says: "For about 12 months I suffered se­ verely with gastritis. I was unable to retain much of anything on my stomach, and consequently was com­ pelled to give up my occupation. "I took quantities of medicine, and had an idea I was dieting, but I con­ tinued to suffer, and soon lost 15 pounds in weight. I was depressed In spirits and lost interest in every­ thing generally. My mind was so af­ fected that it was impossible to be­ come interested in even the lightest reading matter. "After suffering for months I de­ cided to go to a stomach specialist. He put me on Grape-Nuts and my health began to Improve Immediately. It was the keynote of a new life. "I found that I had been eating too much starchy food which I did not di­ gest, and that the cereals which I had tried had been too heavy. I soon proved that it is not the quantity of food that one eats, but tbe quality. "In a few weeks 1 was able to go back to my old business of doing cler­ ical work. I have continued to eat Grape-Nuts, for both the morning and evening meal. I wake in the morning with a clear mind and feel rested. 1 regained my lost weight in a short time. I am well and happy again and owe It to Grape-Nuts." %Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. Read "The Road to Wellvllle," in pkgs. "There's a Reason." Ejrr read tke above lettert A m*rm one appears fiooi time to <!•*• Tfctj •i* criiulac, trae, ut tall of knui latcmt