The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-06-11
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS
objects and Methods Of Movement to
Make Rural Life Fuller.

oAIo SiuOot "hlSil dlc Dcluk OEkduiZ-
ed 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 life are revealed not only to
them but to their elders. The best
methods of handling farm products
and preventing waste are demonstrat-
ed, the spirit of cooperation in fam
lily and community is developed, and
the dignity of the farmers vocation
enhanced by presenting it as a skilled
occupation, capable of returning ade-
quate reward to the competent FL
nally, the school life and the home
life of the boys and girls are brought
into closer relationship and the rural
school teacher aided in the task of
making agricultural instruction a vi
tai 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 included in the clubs are
collected and sent to the state agent,
who will furnish organization and
cultural instructions upon request.
Experience has shown, however, that
the difficulty is not in organizing a
club with a large enrolment of mem
bers, but in inducing these members
to complete 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 project has been start
ed it is carried on to completion.
To assure this continuity Of inter-
est various schemes have been evolv-
ed to make the club work progressive
Thus in the case of the boys clubs
number OF rotation systems have been
devised. In the south, for example,
there is two-year rotation, in which
corn is followed by winter cover
crop of oats or rye with clover or
vetch to be turned under The sec
ond year cowpeas or soy beans or pea
nuts are grown, followed by winter
cover crop which is turned under and
followed by corn the third year. In
Alabama and Georgia there is three
year rotation which consists of seed
cotton, corn and oats, or cowpeas. In
the North, cron is followed by forage
crops, alfalfa, and clover, and club
project in poultry, pigs or baby beef
is added.
Such systems as these, however, are
not practicable in every locality, and
state agents sometimes have to resort
to unusual methods to interest the
youngsters in useful work. The state
club agent in Washington, for example
was confronted with rather difficult
problem in the vicinity Of Bellingham,
north of Puget Sound. Much of that
country is owned by the federal gov
eminent and by large landholders,
and is mostly covered with large for
ests. Here the problem of giving
the boys interesting and educational
WOIh WAS SOlNtu ny lutdlo VI luS
angora goat. The large estate owners
forests as they clean out the under
growth and the state agent contends
that this kind of club is the best for
that part of the country.
Another example of agents adapting
their plans to circumstances is the
canning of Salmon in Washington and
Oregon, mainly along the Columbia
river. There thousands Of tons of
salmon have gone to waste annually.
At present rs clubs of about 20 MEM
bers each are cannig salmon, turning
what has heretofore been wasted into
well-preserved article of food.
In the girls clubs pew members
grow tomatoes only During the sec
ond year they divide their gardens in
half and grow tomatoes and a few
other crops. The third year they have
more crops. Some OF the combina-
tons are tomatoes, beans and beets,
and tomatoes, peppers and okra. At
ter these have been mastered, the girls
begin to fill their gardens with per-
ennial vegetables and fruits. In this
way by the time club girl is ready
for the high school or college she will
| have started a permanent garden or
/
orchard.
| The effect of this club work is by no
means confined to the members them
selves. Many of the county agents
have found that it is the best possible
introduction to the home of the mem
bers' parents. In practically every
club it has been noticed that some Of
the parents and neighbors OF the mem
bers invariably adopt the methods Of
the boys in their various projects. The
yields and profits that the boys obtain
are the best possible demonstration
of the value of their methods. 1t has
been said, for example, that single
corn-club boy in one community did
more for sound corn culture in his
country than five years of public lee
turing could have accomplished.
| In the same way the success of the
girls with their canned products has
paved the way for women county
/ - ~ dornOn cfrofo civ,1n1o Yoof,1I