Middletown transcript., 1915-06-12
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS

The primary object of the boys and
girls clubs, which are being organized
throughout the country with the assis.
tance of the Department but in cooper
ation with the state colleges of agricul-
ture, to aid young people to become
more efficient and more contented far
mers and home builders. BY cultiva-
ting in boys and girls habits of indus
try 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 cooperation in family and
community is developed, and the dig
nifty of the farmers 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 instruction
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 addresses of the boys and
girls included in the clubs are collected
and sent to the state agent, who will
furnish organization and cultural in.
structions upon request.
Experience has shown, however, that
the difficulty is not in originating club
with large enrolment of members,
but in inducing these members to com
plete their work and to report on the
results. The test of efficiency is not so
much the organization of new clubs as
continuing interest in those already
formed. The leaders, duty therefore
is to keep in touch with the members
of the club, encourage those who need
encouragement, and to see that once a
project has been started it is carried on
to completion.
To assure this continuity of interest
various schemes have been evolved to
q make the club work progressive. Thus
' in the case of the boys clubs a number
, of rotation systems have been devised.
In the South, for example, there is a
two-year rotation, in which is followed
by a winter cover crop of oats or rye
! with clover or vetch to be turned under.
d The second year cowpeas or soy beans
or peanuts are grown, followed by a
winter cover crop which is turnedunder
and followed by corn the third year. In
n Alabama and Georgia there is a three
S year rotation which consists of seed
q cotton, corn and oats, and cowpeas. In
the North, corn is followed by forage
crops, alfalfa, and clover, and a club
j project in poultry, pigs, or baby beef is
added.
Such systems as these, however are
n not practicable in every locality, and
State agents sometimes have to resort
to unusual methods to interest the
y youngsters i'll useful work. The State
d club agent in Washington, for example
was, confronted with a rather diff
. cult problem in the vicinity of Belllng-
ham, north of Puget Sound. Much of
: that country is owned by the Fedora!
e Government and by large landholders,
], and is mostly covered with large for
e ests. Here the problem of giving the
+, boys interesting and educational work
was solved by means of the angora
goat. The large estate owners are
pleased to have goats forage in the for
+ ests, as they clean up the underground
- and the State agent contends that this
:, kind of club is the most practical fol
Il that part of the country.
o Another example of agents adapting
r their plans to circumstances is the can
It ming of salmon in Washington and Ore
gon mainly along the Columbia River
There thousands of tons of salmon have
II gone to waste annually, At present q
II clubs of about 20 members each are
g canning salmon, turning what has here
It tofore been wasted into we'll preserv
ed article of food.
In the girls clubs new member.
II grow tomatoes only. During the sec
ond year they divide their garden in hall
II and grow tomatoes and few othel
10 crops. The third year they have more
! crops. Some of the combinations are
tomatoes, beans, and beets; and eoma,
. toes, peppers, and okrs. After these
have been mastered, the girls begin tc