The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-03-13
Canning Pays.

ally eXpends with firms out side the
State Eleven Million Dollars for can
ned goods. There are forty four coun-
ties in the State.
This means that Abbeville County
spends somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of two hundred and fifty thous-
and dollars each year for canned
goods.
This fact stated in cold figures abb
solutely staggers belief, at first glance
but it is nevertheless painfully true
fact.
Because a fact or condition exists,
is no reason why people or ma
ton should sit down supinely and
never attempt to better unfavorable
conditions.
Discussion and agitation are bound
to rest in good, and this is why this
scribe, setting aside personal business,
desires to discuss and agitate the ub-
iect of Abbeville County's taking up
and assisting in financing the work
of the United States Agricultural De-
partment, in the Tomato Club line.
This same United States Govern
ment does not indulge in the practice
OF picking up it's citizens and carry
ing them over their difficulties. Our
Governments motto in this case is
that God helps those who helps
themselves" and consequently makes
a practice of demanding that the peo-
by appropriating relatively small
pie receiving benefit from a govern
ment enterprise shall show their faith
amount towards paying the salary OF
the county manager.
It has very unfortunately happened
that the matter Of aprropriatlng tnr
small sum Of money necessary for
this purpose was over looked by our
county delegation. 1t will be remem-
bered that the Hon. Frank Gary was
very early in the late session OF the
legislature elected a Judge and was
thus prevented from championing this
worthy cause in which he was great
ly interested.
The U. s Government obligates it.
self to pay one third of the county
managers salary. By an unfortunate
oversight Abbeville County has no
money appropriated by the legislature
and hence the Tomato Club work can
not be organized in this county.
A goodly number Of girls, and more
to come, have expressed a wish to
Join the Tomato Club.
They are standing on the brink OF
a great industrial revolution; but
they need the friendly hand OF the
County to help them to plunge, as 1t
we're, into the cold waters OF new
industrial world which from a small
beginning, fostered by Government
and County aid may after a trial by
our girls result in capital being invest
ed by our people in establishing can
neries throughout South Carolina.
The plan of the Tomato Club is as
follows: Each girl Tor little boy) un-
dertakes to cultivate one-tenth OF an
acre in Tomatoes. This work is car
ried on by directions, as to prepara-
ton, seed culture, fertilizer, spraying,
pruning, issued in bulletins by the
Agricultural Department at Washing
ton.
The State Organizer for South Car
olina is Miss Marie S. Cromer, OF Abb
beville, who originated the Tomato
Club idea. Miss Cromer had taught
for several years in the rural schools
of the State. The girls attending these
schools needed practical industrial
training, such as is given in the Boys
Corn Clubs, as an incentive to work,
and an outlet for their energies.
The old South had left as legacy,
the idea that women could only work
in the home or rather in the house.
This in a progressive age left the girl
in the rural community with no op-
portunity to earn money unless she
left her country home for the city or
town.
Hence the Tomato Club idea, origi-
mated by an Abbeville County teach
er. and fostered by that grand old
man" Mr.. Wilson, secretary of the
u. S. Department of Agriculture, has
proved to the world that Southern
girls have the capacity to carry
through a practical enterprise and
the experimental stage. Aiken county
make of it a profitable venture.
The Tomato Club idea has passed
In the second year Of its organization
canned two thousand quart cans O
merchantable tomatoes. This was
done by schoolgirls. SpartanDure
county school girls canned two thous'
and cans of tomatoes the first year Of
organization.
Two little sisters in Aiken county
sold their canned tomatoes for on
hundred and seventy dollars. The.
each cultivated one-tenth Of an acre
Is not this worth wqile? Think ol tw'
children realizing one hundred ant