The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-06-18
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS.
Objects and Methods of Movement to
Make Rural Life Fuller and More
Appealing-Infuence Upon the
Parents-Agriculture and
Home Economics.

The primary object of the boys and |
girls clubs, which are being organ
lied throughout the country with the
assistance of the Department but in
cooperation with the state colleges of |
agriculture, is to aid young people to
become more efficient and more con-
tented farmers and home builders. By
cultivating in boys and girls habits
of industry and thrift, the possibilities
of farm and country life are revealed
not only to them but to their elders.
The best methods of handling farm
products and preventing waste are
demonstrated the spirit of coopera-
ton in family and community is de-
velcped, and the dignity of the farm
er's vocation enhanced by presenting
it as a skilled occupation, capable Of
returning adequate rewards to the
competent. Finally, the school life
and the home life Of boys and girls
are brought into closer relationship,
and the rural school teacher aided in
the task of making agricultural in
struction a vital thing.
The clubs may be organized under
the leadership of the county superin-
tendent Of schools or any of the teach
ers under him. If the educational au'
thorities of the county are not yet
alive to the possibilities of these clubs,
the county demonstration agent may
take charge of the movement, or if
there is no demonstration agent in the
county such organizations as local
chambers of commerce, the Grange,
Women's clubs, ETC., may assume the
leadership. The names and address
es of the boys and girls included i'll
the clubs are collected and sent to
the state agent, who will furnish or
ganization and cultural instructions
upon request.
Experience has shown, however,
that the difficulty is not in organi-
zing a club with large enrolment Of
members, but in inducing these mem
bers to complete their work and to
report on the results. The test of
| efficiency is not so much the organiza-
tor of new clubs as continuing inter
est in those already formed. The
leaders duty therefore is to keep in
touch with the members of the club,
encourage those who need encourage
ment, and to see that once project
has been started it is carried on to
completion.
To assure this continuity of interest
various schemes have been evolved to
make the club work progressive. Thus
in the case of the boys clubs a num-
ber Of rotation systems have beer
e devised. In the South, for example
there is two-year rotation, in which
corn is followed by a winter cover
n crop of oats or rye with clover OF
e vetch to be turned under. The sec
y ond year cowpeas or soy beans or pea
g nuts are grown, followed by winter
= cover crop which is turned under anC
e followed by corn the third year. II
= Alabama and Georgia there is three
: year rotation which consists of seet
e cotton, corn and oats, and cowpeas
In the North, corn is followed by for
). age crops, alfalfa, and clover, and ;
club project in poultry, pigs, or bab!
\ beef is added. -.
Such systems as these, however, arr
not practicable in every locality, ant
f State agents sometimes have to resor
l. to unusual methods to interest th
i ycungsers in useful work. The Stat
y Clup dSeHC III w N"oiiitS S0ii' ~ y. :
pie, was confronted with a rather q an
a ficult problem IN the vicinity OF BEL
1t lirgham, north OF Puget SOUND Muc, ~
Y Of that country is owned by the fed
s. eral Government and by large land
holders, and Is mostly covered wiz
It large forests. Here the problem o
n giving the boys interesting and ecu
# cational work was solved by means o
J. the angora goat. Inc large eStat
IT owners are pleased to have goats Tor
ID age in the forests, as they clean u
= the undergroWth, ana the state ageh
ls contends that this KIND OF cIuo IS IN
er most practical for that part OF tn
Jc country
p Another example OF agents adapt
)f ing their plans to clrcumStanceS
\ the canning Of salmon in Washlngto
II and Oregon, manly along the ColuH
# bia River. There thousands oI ION
'd OF salmon have gone to waste annua
II ly At present % CLUBS OF ABOUT
1t members each are canning salmon
G. turning what has. heretofore pee
e. wasted into well-preserVed article
i food.
n. In the girls clubs new member
n grow tomatoes only. During the Set