The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-26
GIRL GAMERS in
THE OLD DOMINION
Interesting and Valu-
able Report of Good
Years Work.
SPLENDID RESULTS;
MUCH ENTHUSIASM
Virginia Girl Clubs Won Out at
National Show in Knoxville.
Fine Layout at Virginia
State Fair-Prize-Wi
Girls in Evidence at
County Fairs.
BY ELLA g. AGNEW
nte Agent Girls Canning Club work

state Agent Girls Canning Club work
Jack Frost has come. the summer is
spver, and hundreds of girls in Virginia
have put away Gamers, pulled UP and
burned tomato plants. pea -vincs and
string-b vines. lined and fortified
tho land and, some few, at least, have
put in either clover some other win
ter cover crop hoping TO have better
land for their gardens mex, year.
IN spite OF the many difficulties en-
countcred. the year whole has
been success. About 700 girls were
busy most Of the summer. either grow
ing tomatoes, string beans or peas
in many cases all three--selling them
fresh or putting them up for winter
use. either in the home for market.
Some were busy with their poultry
work, and all had "A fairly successful
year--that is. II we take into consid-
Grafton the development OF character
and the enthusiasm for another years
work
Each year finds the work spreading;
more girls in the counties already
worked are Interested and want TO
join; more OF the parents are ready to
give larger service for the new year.
more friends are interested in the sell
ing as we'll As the cultivnting. Every
year finds new counties calling for II
Many people look In vain for their
counties in the exhibit a. the State
Fair, and finding none. they go home to
the people the Board OF Supervi-
3ors or school boards to produce the
money. to pay for worker
Meeting the Counties Hnif-Wny.
And we are always ready. SO long
the money holds out, TO meet these
counties halfway. For every dollar
tho county puts up the Department OF
Agriculture and the United Agricultu-
raj Board puts up Il dollar; the work
err Is secured. the work goes on and
xI..l,- In,
country life and kept AT home.
1t may !nteres, many to know Of the
difficulties the girls have had TO en-
counter and the brave way In which
they have been met.
The spring season was a bit late. the
tomatoes were not ransplanted until
June. Iii many parts or Virginia. one
cold morning about two or three wecies
after the transplnnting, the girls ran
out to their gardens TO find their TO-
inato plants cut down by hard frost
TO some. of course, this meant failure
for the year. TO the girl OF strength,
IL meant II test OF character. and many
stood the test ANA bought plants for
replanting. These grew and were well
developed, having ola them fairly
good crop OF green fruit when about
the middle OF July a severe hail storm
swept over a large part OF Eastern
Virginia and many plants were beaten
TO the ground. Some that withstood
the blast were found with all fruit
ruined. some OF IL with holes through
the tomato-all OF this green fruit had
TO be pulled and thrown away, Nothing
daunted. many girls bought string
beans and rcplanted. determined TO
raise n crop Of some Kind IN their
garden.
The Girl Worth While.
The tomatoes left were nourishinG
August the blight struck them. and
many plants loaded with green to-
matoes We're killed in rHenty-four
hours One plot visited had several
plants with as many as nifty toflatoes
on each, entirely dead. SOME girls
the very strongest pulled up the vines.
burned them lined the ground well,
and planted string beans. Ii seems
that these string beans have been the
salvation of many crops this year. Is
not girl worth while who can meet
all these difficulties with such daunt-
less courage? The spirit OF 20 is still
with us. So long rs our state can
produce such evidence OF strength Of
chafacter among our Young folks. We
need not fear for the future.
The cultivation AMI care OF the crops
when things seem slow: does not APP
peal to some girls; but when the can
ming season comes and things are go
ing so rapidly 1t IS almost Impossible
TO keep up with them. and the panlry
begins to look like young grocery
store exhibits are being collected.
friends and neighbors are having "a
new standard set for this side OF the
home culture. and everybody grows
enthusiastic together
Virginia In the Lead.
This year our exhibit season began
early when the National Conservation
Exposition in Knoxville asked for AN
exhibit II went off on August IS. and
was rather early for the best stuff.
the girls gave gladly, not expecting
anything from il, for they had decided
that they would give this TO be sold
and the money to go TO the Seaman y.
Knapp Memorial School for Country
Life Their surprise and delight was
great when they learned that Virginia
had won the first prize.
The Board OF Directors OF this Ma
tional Exposition recognized the value
of the girls work In definite way;
they erected on the grounds a special
building for them. the building was In
the shape OF n tomato. the porch was
made OF the green leaf and stems. it
was said TO be n most attractive and
popular gathering place during the
whole Exposition
This winning OF the first prize there
served as an incentive to better work
for the county district and State Fairs
for which the girls we're preparing. At
the State Fair many ADMIRED the eX-
hibit which was great Improvement
on last year. Mr. Edward Schmidt
who very kindly acted as Judge this
year as well as last year. pronounced
the work Of much better quality than
last year.
winners at State Fair.
The counties receiving the three
prizes are Halifax, the first; Nottoway,
tho second, and Henrico. the third The
first two have had work longest. and
therefore. should take first place. We
want some Of the other counties to
lead next year; and we believe that
they Will try hard to do 80.
Tho girls receiving the Individual