Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-01
ENCOURAGING HOME INDUSTRIES

The readers of the agricultural col
umns of The Journal viii be glad TO
know that progress is being made in the
matter of encouraging home industries
in Georgia. To this end Miss Mary Z.
CresweIi, who has had wide experience
in school affairs. has been appointed
assistant in school extension in the
state College of Agriculture, and will
devote her time and effort to working
with the girls of the state. Her efforts
for the present will be principally d.
rected toward encouraging the organiza-
ton OF girls canning clubs in co-opera-
ton with the rural schools. The plans
she has in mind are set forth in the
following article which has been prepared
especially for the information OF our
readers. 1t is quite as necessary that
we improve and advance the interests
of the home as to redirect the practice
on our farms, and 1t should be crafty
ing to all interested in the welfare of
Georgia to know that work of con-
structive character is not only being
done for the boys, but for the girls as
well.
We are hearing much nowadays of the
changed nature of education Every
where the theme industrial education is
being exploited as the cure for all our
economics and social ailments. That
the traditional education has not made
for the greatest efficiency with the most
economic expenditure is not denied.
That it has constantly ignored both
tn environment and needs of the child
is equally evident. This has been espe-
cially true of the education which has
teen given to our boys and girls in the
country. The chief topics considered
in the rural school have been those of
the commercial life of the town; in
terest has been centered not upon the
economical and intelligent production OF
material wealth from the soil, but upon
the consumption of the meager products
which have been wrested from nature
by toilsome and extravagant methods of
farming. No wonder, then, that in the
past young faces have turned eagerly
and earnestly from the farm toward the
city.
But an active movement toward the
reform of these serious defects in our
rural education has begun. In this re-
form and in the construction of Inc new
order of education boys and girls club
work Is already giving practical results.
Through this phase of extension work,
the Georgia State College of Agricul-
IuTe, ana Tie GtlLCQ DAdLCS ADkiNA~
of agriculture are carrying instructions
to a most hopeful and alert part of our
population. the boys and girls OF our
rural schools who are thus getting the
best knowledge attainable in agricultural
subjects, and at the same time having
practical experience in growing good
crops and in increasing the productivity
Of the farm.
The girls club work has for its aim
the definite Improvement of home life
and the training of girls to be better
homemakers. 1t also aims to encour-
age home industries which will result
In greater prosperity and increased ma
terial wealth. In accomplishing these
things a gain in personal efficiency and
increased happiness for farm homes may
be developed. To give the work for girls
a tangaple and concrete basis, the most
fundamental activities of the home are
used. No arts of more vital Importance
than gardening and cooking can be
found are there, nor any which In town
and country. need more Improvement
than .aese Upon right selection Of food
and good cooking depend health, efficien-
cy and happiness. One of the greatest
needs of the ordinary diet is greater
| abundance and variety of wholesome
vegetables To increase the production
of vegetables, to teach better ways of
cooAang these, and give instructions in
canning for home and market, the girls
canning clubs have been organized.
Each girls club member cultivates
garden of one-tenth acre in which, by
! selecting only a few vegetables at a
time. successful results are insured. To-
matoes. beans and cucumbers were Sc
Iected for the first year In the few
counties where girls canning clubs have
been organized for the season of 1911
notable increase in the home coRsump-
ton of fresh vegetables has existed.
Parents, proud of the achievements of
the young gardeners, are telling of the
pleasure given to the Iamily by this
increased supply of vegetables.
Nor Is this advantage confined to the
summer season; having larger crops
than can be easily disposed of, the girls
are taught the best ways of canning
vegetables. This gives a supply for the
home during the winter and means of
profitably marketing surplus crops.
Some yields made by girls have been
very encouraging; several having had
crops Of tomatoes of 1000 pounds to the
tenth acre. The profits in some cases
have Appropriated SIS per tenth acre,
and even those of smaller yield have
been means of income not to be ignored.
relatively small proportion of the
canned products this year will be put
on the market Since the demand for
fresh vegetables has made the sale of
the surplus crop easy, little canning for
market has been done. The few thou
sand pounds ready for sale will find
ready market at good retail prices, since
no effort is lost to make these girls
products of fine standard Of excel
lence.
1t is planned to have these products
supplant much of the canned fruits and
vegetables now brought in from other
states We use yearly in Georgia sew
eral millions worth of canned goods
practically all of which should be pro-
duced within our borders. Further than
this, we should send our products to
other states; the canning of sweet po-
tatoes for northern and western markets
| is an industry worthy of our consider
alton. The cultivation of small fruits
will be later added to girls club work.
and poultry clubs will be organized
among the girls who have become pro-
ficient gardeners.
The girls canning clubs are introduce
ing a fine sort of cooperative industry
which have picturesque and delightful
features of a social nature.
In every county where clubs are or
ganized the girls receive special instruc-
tions during the canning season.
Trained teachers receiving appointment
-.