The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-05-16
MRS. J. r. MooRHEAD ON IONA.
TO CLUBS

iport Of the Marion county tomato
clubs was made by Mrs. J. r. Moor
head on her recent visit to Tallahas-
see, and We are sure will be read with
much interest by her friends and CO.
workers Of Naturalization Banner)
1t is my pleasure TO bring to you the
first report of tomato club work from
Marion county. In doing so I only
wish it were possible that I could say
I have carried your message into ey-
cry home within the borders OF my
territory. Fortunately, the spirit OF
enthusiasm that has filed my being
since employed in the work has some
what overbalanced the fact that I
really knew so little Of this great sub
jecr, and encouraged desire to be-
come student in the field
With but the very slightest concep-
ton OF just how or where to begin,
and with but little idea OF the great
possibilities contained in the subject
I was to place before the people, de-
itermined to do my very best within
these simple rules First to study the
Isubject I was to teach, to impart it as
a friend, rather than as an agent or
a teacher: second, to talk for work as
la salesman does his wares, and never
to show disbursement; third, to in
still new thoughts in regard 10 bet
torment in the home life. and to ere
ate a closer connection between the
people OF the city and OF the coun-
try.
Ny very first weeks work brought
discouraged in the fact that the
schools visited were being taught by
young girls of but little more age or
experience than the school girls them
selves. AS a rule they knew absolute
ly nothing of the great strides being
made in the agricultural world, and
while a few will display much inter
est for the time being at least, others
are rather Indifferent on the subject.
had done my best in these schools
to interest the children, placing be-
fore them the great possibilities and
the prizes to be worked for But l
realized that unless their teachers
We're interested, it was all, in a meas
ure, lost. Therefore on returning
from one of my trips l decided 10 do
some work in behalf Of the teachers. 1
phOned to the superintendent Of
fee and learned that our county
school board was in session; I made |
an appointment to meet with them |
the next day TO discuss an education
al matter. At this meeting l proceed |
ed at once to first convince them that |
my subject was educational, and that |
our little. underpaid, disinterested |
teachers were first in consideration |
Believing that some mark of encour- |
agement coming directly from the
school board would stimulate in them
the thought of at least keeping apace
with that part of the worlds progress
which means most to the rural homes, |
l recommended that the board offer a |
prize to the teacher out of the city
who championed the best tomato club. |
They responded to my appeal with ut
most courtesy. Offering two prizes, |
$40 in gold for the first, and S. for the /
second. This, however, is only an ex-
pertinent, as a number of cur teach |
ers leave their respective schools be- |
fore the club members have their !
gardens under way When one takes |
up work Of this nature, there are
many ideas that suggest themselves. |
Therefore, to create in the child the |
spirit Of agricultural pride, l have
made a pennant for each club mem
Der with which to mark her tenth
acre plot. The pennants are red with
Tomato Club" printed on them.
There are seventy-three schools in
our county; of these [ have visited
thirty-four In some cases my efforts
seem to all appearances fruitless; yet
when one considers the fact that good
seed sown in fertile soil must sooner
or later bring results, We must bel
hopeful
Ny last field report showed four
teen Withdrawals from a membership
which still lists 119 members Of the
reuired age for this contest I have
also thirty-two names Of girls who
are under the age limit; they are I'M
der age, but were anxious to become
club members, and l have made what
II term a junior club. My idea in do
ing so is, first, to scatter the work
into more homes than would other
wise be the case, and prepare the
child for better work when she reach
es the proper age. The prizes, how
ever, do not come from the same
source as the regular club prizes, and
tho TINA eyivop +bor, dOog NOT non n 5o+