The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-10-22
FORM APPLE CLUBS.

! Now is the time to form apple clubs,
! and the department in cooperation with
the agricultural colleges of northern and
and western States is interesting the
| boys and girls of apple-growlng sections
in the possibilities of apple culture as a
profitable and pleasurable occupation.
| The organizations for the young people
on the farm are being planned and begun
in the New England States. New York,
New Jersey, Delaware. Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Ohio, Idaho, Montana, Ore
gon, and Washington. Any young peo-
pie in these States wishing to find out
| the details of the new apple-ralslng clubs
should write at once to the State agent
in charge of club work at the State col
lege of agriculture, or the United States
Department of Agriculture, Washington.
D. C.
The new clubs will be organized on
the same lines as are those for the en-
enlargement of potato, corn, ana alfalta
growing, gardening ard canning, and
poultry raising. Members must be not
under 10 nor over 10 years old. Each OF
the club members will be allotted not
less than 10 apple trees, or more years
old, in the same orchard land all in one
row or block if possible) of which he
y
Each club must have at least members,
and these will be under the instruction
of local leader who will receive instruc-
tons from the State leader in charge or
the county agent. Following these IN
structions the young member who knows
nothing about apple raising will learn
to pick, grade, crate, and market apples;
also to can and label fruit for exhibition
and for sale. The instructions will aim
to show each of these young people how
he may get the maximum results from
his 10 trees with the minimum eXpenC-
iture of labor
AS in the other clubs for boys and girls
cooperating with the department., prac-
teal prizes will be awarded by local fairs
and interested people to those who excel.
The best prize, however, will be expe-
rlence and net profit on investment to
each member
Club agents are already at work max
ing enrolments for the new apple clubs.
During October and November the plats
will be selected and assigned to the lndl-
vidual members, and the trees will be
marked to show to whom they are as
signed. AS soon as the present apple
crop is gathered, preparations Will begin
at once for the next year. Some trees
may need fall pruning, cleaning out, and
mulching. These details will be attend
ed to, and the young people may be In
structed in the best methods.
During the winter interest will be kept
up through the local club organizations
and meetings. The leaders will visit the
plats of each of the members to give
specific instruction. Early in the spring
records will be in order and each club
member will be shown how he may keep
a simple account of the progress of his
row of trees. During the next summer
vacation the work will be at its height,
and the boys and girls who are persever-
ing will not only learn much valuable in
formation but may make substantial
profit on the time and labor they have
invested.
Fall will be the occasion of apple-club
fairs and festivals. At these events
there will be exhibits of all kinds of ap-
Piles and apple machinery, devices used
for handling both fresh and cooked ap-
pies. of food products prepared from ap-
pies, of canning equipment, crates, and
barrels. Demonstrations will be given
at these festivals of how to pare and core
apples, how to can "useless" windfall
apples, how to make apple jellies, butter,
and pickles; how to grade, crate, and pack
apples. etc.
In awarding the prizes for the year
many features will be considered; how
the trees are pruned, whether they are
free from blight and plant lice, how the
soil has been worked, the size, color, and
condition of the fruit. and methods of
packing will all count in the final reckon
ing. One of the most important consid-
erations is how much profit the club
member has netted from his investment.
In the last analysis that is the final test
of his success.
1t is hoped that the organization Of
apple clubs will show the younger genera
ton how apple culture may be relieved
of much of it's drudgery. Both profit and
pleasure may be derived from such an
organization, where properly directed
| intelligence and enthusiasm and sys-
tematic study of orchard problems as
they arise will tend to secure the best
! results