The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-28
POULTRY RAISING
IN OLD VIRGINIA
Work of Chicken Grow
ing Clubs During Year
Just Closing.
UNCLE SAM HELPS
! BOYS AND GIRLS
Government Agent, With Head
quarters at Burkeville, Has
Done Much to Add to Values
in. Rural Virginia-Good
Work Fully Described
by One Who Knows.
ny JOSEPH w. KINGMoRNE.
Burcnu of Animal Industry. United
Stntcs Department of Agriculture.

\
states Department of Agriculture.
The girls and boys poultry clubs,
which were started last year. Noverl-
Der. 1912. by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture. in connection with
tho well-known girls canning clubs
OF Virginia. have about completed
their first years work. In starting
this now feature in rural development
no effort was made by those in charge
10 secure great number Of members
the first year, but to secure enough
children IN a few counties to sec how
the departments instructions were
carried out, and to determine the popu-
larity which the work would receive
and maintain. AS the result of this
the clubs wero formed in three coun-
tries, namely, Nottoway Dinwiddie
and Halifax, with Il few clubs formed
in other counties where children werc
impatient to start the work. The 200
girls and boys that are enrolled as
members of the poultry clubs were not
Instructed to believe that hundreds OF
dollars could be made out OF a few
fowls on n small area rs some exag-
Bcrated advertisements try to convoy,
but they were taught that pure bred
birds, managed and fed properly, would
pay them far better than they would
expect in comparison to the usual
farm flock and AFFORD them pleasant
employment in the most popular
branch OF agriculture. The object or
this work is not only TO instruct the
farmer and his wife Of the future the
proper way TO handle poultry so as
TO afford means or income. but to
have them produce such results as will
arouse the attention and interest of
the parent. There arc still many
farmers that regard the raising OF
poultry as a, necessary nuisance. and
the fowls themselves are the property
Of the '.old woman" but this idea is
not 50 prevalent as It was formally.
An instance is recalled where farm
or in one of our counties laughed and
teaEed his son when he found out that
the boy was going to Join poultry
club thatrwas formed at his school. but
the boy has since proven TO his father
that IL properly handled, poultry rais-
ing will prove valuable asset to any
farm. And 1t can be said In this con-
nection that shis same father has Civ
en- his boy an acre of ground, inclosed
u for him With a good wire fence and
give him enough lumber TO build n
poultry-house thirty feet long. Sew
have shown themselves, not only In the
poultry club work. but In ever.
branch OF cooperative agriculture aid
rural extension that has ever been un-
dcrraken.
Influence Good aud Had.
The encouragement on the part of
the parent is one OF the principal fac
tors with which we have TO encounter.
Many children have become Very en-
ttTusiastic over the opportunity TO raise
poultry and have joined the clubs with
every good intention to follow out our
plans and make an income for them
selves. only to meet encouragement
when their plans were placed before
their parents. Under such conditions
as these IL takes child OF unusual
ability and great persistency. laboring
under adverse circumstances to make
a success of anything.
Many patrons Of the schools where
poultry clubs have been formed do en-
courage their children in any under
taking that tends TO stimulate the |
child with a spirit of industry and a
love and deeper understanding for
those things we have around us. Many
of the parents have bought their chill
dren settings of eggs, have helped them
in attending to the eggs while they
were being Matched, have helped them
In attending to the growing chicks, |
and a number OF fathers have advanced
money to the members to buy lumber
TO remodel or build a new poultry
House. So it can be readily seen that
we are confronted by parents OF two
natures: those that take little interest
in the welfare and development of
their children and those that assist
them In every possible way. Fortu-
nateiy, however, those that have the |
interest of their children's develop
ment at heart arc in the majority, and
cooperate with us to their utmost.
: The question has frequently been
asked, why are all these canning, |
corn, poultry, and good roads clubs be-
ing formed?" Aside from the reasons |
given above the principal reason is as
follows: Heretofore great fault with |
cur rural schools has been an inclina-
ton to think that anything close at |
hand was too mean and common and
llomely to be considered as subject |
fnf u inatrlIntinn
mas usually been that the school would |
prepare the child for some brilliant |
calling away off in the cities, where |
things are supposed to be better and |
life Is easier and more beautiful
This method was TO some degree fill
ing the demand twenty or thirty years |
ago. but now we find tho cities full of |
lawyers. doctors and the so-called COL
lar and cuff positions" The cities are |
crowded. congested, and the much her |
aided high cost OF living" is but cry |
from our cities for more food. Conse-
auently, to meet the law Of supply and |
demand, tile government, the States and
counties are trying to educate the
farmers of the present and the future
in a better way of supplying food for
the tables of our city cousins This
new method is trying to educate the
children on the farm to appreciate the
opportunities they have ut home, the
beauty and happiness Of rural home
life.
What of the Methodist
!; tbs a tragic story that OF the coun-
try youth leaving tie farm and home |
and going to town to face ,undreamed |
difficulties and problems. The SIS or
$40 II week looks mighty good to the
boy or the girl on the farm; but when
the many expenses have to be met in
tho cities, which they did not have at |
home. they have little or nothing left
to Jay aside to- help build the vast for
tune they SO windy pictured before
Continued on Third Pagel