The citizen., 1914-12-25
DIVERSIFICATION OF CROPS
URGED.

Washington, ID. c., Dec. 21-Crop di-
versification, as exemplified by daugh-
ters of southern farmers who have
been members of the Department of
Agricultures garden and canning
clubs, is proving an invaluable asset
in many farmhouses.
Fifteen woman agents, each repre-
senting state, are now in confer
ence in the south. These agents sup
ervise the work of 1863 county agents,
who direct the work of 33,420 girls.
The department mentions the work
of many of the girls as an example
of what others may do.
Madge Farrar has proved the possi-
bilities of growing crops all the year
round in Tennessee. By raising and
selling vegetables throughout the year
she made net profit of $131.62, while
the second best girl, who also did good
work but did not diversity, made
$96.20 profit. The girl with the Sec
ond average grew only beans and to-
matoes during the fall and summer
Miss Farrar, however, having grown
these crops, put in onions during the
winter, which she sold at a good
profit early in February. She then
proceeded to plant cabbages, which
brought her an income during April
and May, while peas were her main
crop in June. This brought her back
to the tomato and bean season and
rounded out year of profitable veg
etable growing.
Another young woman found a peach
orchard into which hogs had been
turned. She took her Gamer with
her and established herself in the or
chard to save what was left from the
hogs, and made $50 in one week from
her work. Similar instances have
demonstrated the possibilities of
saving waste in that section, and there
has been a more general interest ex-
hibited not only by the farmers
daughters, but by many of their wives.
Annie Davis, who was last year the
grand champion girl of Texas, and
came to Washington with the other
champions, has this year come to the
aid of her father, who raised a cotton
crop and couldn't sell it. She had saw
ed up her money to take course at
an industrial school, but the cotton
crisis came along and her money was
given to help the family. This young
woman, from the funds which she
earned last year, has purchased her
father a team of horses and a wagon.
The Texas girls have shown an un-
usual interest in poultry in addition to
their canning and garden work. This
is only the first year of the poultry
work, but already $50 young women
have accomplished actual results, and
in not a single case did the girls fail
to make profit. The result has been
that in many cases the whole flock of
poultry on farm has been turned ov-
er to the daughter. The marketable
value of infertile eggs has been en-
phasiZed.
Two sisters in North Carolina have
established such reputation for their
canned fruits and vegetables that they
cannot fill the demand. The rules Of
the agent in charge of the North Caro-
lima work make it necessary that the
name and address of every club mem
ber go on every can she puts on the
market. "Give me can of Mabel Nor
IFS tOudlOSS, OF OlNe me u cdu OIL
Agnes Norris peaches requests the
housewife of the grocer in the section
where these two sisters sell their pro-
ducts. These young women no long
er put up their product in glass, but
n tins, their name on the outside be-
ing sufficient guarantee for the ap-
pearance of the product.
The total profit of all the South
Carolina club girls for the past year
vas more than $4,000. Every agent
Who assists the girls is a college grad
ate who has received special domes-
tic science training. Home demonstra-
tion work is a feature, the motto being
"Do one thing at time" There was,
for instance, a homemade fireless-
cooker campaign, which lasted for
three days in one section and result
ed in hundred homemade cookers be-
ng put into use. A fly-trap campaign
is to be next in order, and after that a
butter-making campaign.