Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-26
What Some Georgia Girls Are Doing

Canning clubs were first organized
in Georgia about two years ago. Very
little could be done the first year be-
cause Of the limited funds available
for the prosecution Of this particular
line OF work. The legislature which
met in the summer Of 1911 made q
sma4. appropriation available on the
first OF January 1912. for the inaugu-
ration Of work OF this character. With
the cooperation OF local agencies and
under the direction OF Miss Mary E
Creswell clubs were organized IN
something like twenty-five counties OF
G~orEia The work had Of necessity
70 be limited in its scope because Of
the small amount Of money appro-
priated This Is naturally a matter OF
regret 70 all those who are concerned
with its development, for many cOun-
ties have been denied the benefits
which such an organization Of girls IS
bound TO confer and the prospects OF
extending the work in 1918 are not en-
couraEfug at the present time To do
this more workers must be placed in
the field and more money made avail
able.
Anyone who viii read this short pa
Der viii be convinced of the advisa-
ollity OF extending the work OF the
canning clubs as rapidly as possible,
for the results 20 date show that a
new power has been brought into the
lives OF the girls who are members OF
the club through which they made,
not only Improvement from a finan-
ciai standpoint, but because more use
ful and progressive citizens Some
concrete illustrations setting forth
Succinctly what has been accomplished
IN several OF the counties which have
already reported are. therefore, in or
der. In Decatur county eighteen
girls who completed their work and
submitted reports produced garden
products worth sso4. This represented
the value Of the crops raised by the
eighteen girls on their tenth-acre gar
dens. In other words. this large sum
OF money was made from the products
on less than two, acres OF land Guilt
waited. fertaIzed and handled according
70 the directions furnished the girls
through the agency OF tne college OF
agriculture and its staff OF extension
workers. These girls put up 5.s66 No
cans OF tomatoes. The average cost
Of growing the crop and canning IL
was s19.66 for each Of the tenth-acre
gardens The average profit per gar
zen was $3.50 and the average num-
Der OF cans per garden. 459. The high
sst profit from a tenth-acre garden
vas sss.15, and the largest number OF
cans put up by a single girl was
LOCO.
Surely this is a most interesting and
gratifying statement and ii reflects
great credit on the ability SHOWN by
these eighteen Decatur county girls
who had the faitn and belief in them
selves 70 carry te garden project which
they had undertaken to completion
How much better IL was for them to
devote their energies to work OF this
aharaoter than to fritter away the sum-
mer season in idle pleasure and without
Improvement 10 themselves or their
community. These girls have achieved
something worth while. They nave
demonstrated their ability TO take the
ground about their homes and utilize IL
20 advantage in the production OF a
crop which can be preserved and sold
to advantage. and which adds at the
same time a desirable variety to the
home dietary. These girls have learned
something about the great outdoors sur
rounding them and have had a glimpse
81 the power which comes to those who
learn something OF the relation Of soil.
sunshine, rain and fertilizer as applied
70 the production OF plants Of a type
much above the average These girls
have had the great pleasure and priv
1ege OF working out in Natures gar
den surrounded by the beauty and in
spiration OF Gods universe. They nave
added materially 20 their knowledge.
they have cultivated their minds and
broadened their intellectual conception
81 life Tney have learned that a small
area OF land may be made TO produce
the choicest Of food products. They
have been made strong because they
have achieved and overcome difficulties.