The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-12
GIRLS DEMONSTRATION WORK
i"e tomato CLUBS and Something
About their Organization and Work
Help from Agent.

The Farmers Cooperative Demon
stration work of the United States
Department Of Agriculture would be
Incomplete unless some work for the
girls was inaugurated and organized
When Dr. 5. A. Knapp, the founder
OF the demonstration work, started
the active organization OF the Bows
Corn Clubs, he said that it would be
necessary to start the girls Just as
soon as the boys demonstrations had
become well advanced. ConseouentIv
in 1910, when the demand had be-
come great enough to indicate sufi-
clent interest, a limited amount Of or
ganizatiOn was undertaken. Girls
clubs were organized in South Caro-
lima and Virginia. In that year 32j
girls were enrolled.
|. 1t was decided that one-tenth of an
acre would be enough for a good
garden, and that the clubs would
specialize in the beginning, on to-
matoes just as the boys had done
with corn. In 1911 more than three
thousand girls, representing eight diff
ferent States, joined the clubs and
planted their gardens Many Of them
put up more than five hundred quart
cans Of tomatoes from their crops. be-
sides catsup, pickles, chow-chow, pre-
serves and other products. A few
got one thousand cans each and clear
ed 800, besides prizes won. In 1912
one girl in South Carolina cleared
$132.67 on ope-tenth of an acre of
tomatoes.
During the planting and growing
season your county agent will give in
structions in regard to cold frames.
hot beds, transplanting, stalking, prun-
ing, and other matters of great inter-
est. During the coming season she
will hold instruction meetings and
give canning demonstrations in diff
ferent parts Of the county. She will
give the girls information in regard
to best prices on canning outfits, labels
cans, and other supplies. The agent
will be glad to do all she can to help
club members find good markets for
all high-class products which they
desire to sell.
The objects Of the Girls Demonstra-
ton work are:
l. To stimulate interest and whole
some cooperation among members of
the family in the home,
2. To provide some means by which
the girls may earn money in the home
and at the same time get the educa-
ton and view point necessary for the
ideal farm life.
3. To encourage rural families to
provide purer and better food at a.
lower cost and to utilize the surplus
and otherwise waste products of the.
garden and orchard.
4. To furnish earnest teachers a
plan for aiding their pupils and help
ms
Each club should edopt the follow
ing general regulations and bylaws:
1. Girls Joining clubs must be be-
tween 10 and IS years of age. Special
classes may be organized for older
girls.
2. No girl shall be eligible to re-
ceive prize unless she becomes a.
member or The club and plants a gar
den con- ainirg one-tenth of an acre.
3. The members of the clubs must
agree to study the instructions Of
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture.
4. Each girl must plan her own
crop and do her own work It will
be permissible to hire heavy work
done but the time must be charged.
Many girls should join these clubs
and put forth their best efforts to-
learn and to become skillful. 1t is a
good thing to know about soil, plants,
and nature. Why can't the very -four
ishlng of the plant be made by teach
ing them the scientific and intensive
methods of bringing q living thing
from the earth, as cultural in its ef-
feet upon the mind Of the girl as the
study of Latin and Greek gods is sup
posed to be on the mind of the clas- =
Sical student?