The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-18
By KENDRICK SCOFIELD.

There are sixty young girls in Arson
county. North Carolina with the
nucleus OF paying business under
their control. At least one carload OF
their products has been ordered by one
or the largest wholesale fancy grocers
in The North. and the output or their
spare time. experts declare, compares
favorably with that of firms Of long
experience. \ few years ago these
Same girls lived the rural community
existence which is the lot OF thousands
or their sisters To earn a few dollars
for themselves every year was r. work
hardly to be expected. They realized
that pears and figs and other fruits
were glut on the home market, but
these products never appealed to them
as potential revenue providers.
The reason for the glut of the Arson
county fruit market was that the farm
ers OF that vicinity. taking the advice
OF the Department OF Agriculture field
agents, had almost doubled the product
OF their orchards.
Preserve Extra Fruit.
But all the Arson COUNT girls needed
was little guidance, and when, fol-
lowing the trails of the men held
agents, there came women agents of
the department. urging the daughters
OF the farmers to preserve the surplus
fruit crop. and at the same time willing
to demonstrate how this should be done
and where the product could be mar
keted, the girls lost no time in selling
their opportunity.
Organizing themselves into a packing
club. the girls went TO work. Last year.
they sold fresh fruits valued at $751; 10.
FROM tho sale Of packed and preserved
fruit, they added TO this amount s5.gl6. %.
nat % EAg
age of S55 for each of them as a reward
for their spare time.
When the county fair was held, one
shelf In the courthouse corridor held
pickles. preserved figs, pears and other
fruits packed artistically in glass. This
display was noticed by salesman for
a big Northern concern. and without
delay he placed an order with the girls
for carload Of their products.
The experience of the Arson county
girls is but one of thousands now being
reported to the Department of Agrfcul-
ture by its State agents who are CO.
operating with rural organizations, both
agricultural and educational in the
South. These agents. representing fif-
teen Southern States. are in conference
here in the office of the Farmers CO.
operative Demonstration Bureau OF the
department. All Of these agents are
women.
Their work however. although done
lut Agriculture, Is
not confined entirely TO the organiza-
ton Of these sO-called. canning clubs
in the Southern rural districts, Of which
the club in Arson county is n fair eX-
ample. Another North Carolina club OK
fifteen members. in Alliance county.
last year marketed l0.es2 tins and glass
jars of tomatoes. and 100 gallons OF
averaging $3.50 profit TO each
member. while In a Mississippi county.
where before the advent of the women
az Ill L..
nothing about marketing any possible
products. 1000 cans of tomatoes were
sold. ms well as a cOnsideratc quantity I
Of canned soup stock /
Invests In Cotton.
Ono member Of a South Carolina club !
vas enabled through her spare time !
efforts to help along the BUY bale !
OF cotton movement She is Eva !
Bloom. Of Blackwell. Barnwcll county. !
and she Invested her savings OF three !
years from selling fresh tomatoes to |
tourists in n 54S-pound bale
Her father was among the many |
farmers who raised 4 Erood crop Of 4
cotton this year. but could not market !
It, His daughter, however, refused 10 /
purchase any Oi her fathers product. /
as she thought people might declare II /
a put up Job" 80 she purchased from .
another planter
Although the work of the womeu 1
state agents OF the department was I
planned To follow that # |
tho men agents who hHv" taught the /
farmer how To incrcasc his crop. and |
demonstrate 10 tho WIVES and daughters /
of thes" agriculturists that much ot 4
the produce whiCh was formTcly wasted /
could be turned to financial account, /
their efforts have not stopped there. 1
Where before tn" women agents /
worked for SIX OF eight or nine months |
OF the year. depending upon how long
the crop season lasted. they are now
working nine and ten months and plan
IN 1915 To work through the entire year.
This has been made possible by an
extension OF the work in seasons when
no canning OF preserving IS possibl.
and which takes the agents into the
homes OF rural communities.
If Mrs. Smith IS not quite sure why
her weeks baking has been a failure.
She is privileged to ask tho woman neld
agent Of that sect ton for an eNplaua-
ton. II Mrs. Jones Is not quite certain
how TO make her home sanitary, she.