The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-02-05
IDAHO CHILDREN GET RE-
SUITS IN AGRICULTURE
More Than Seven Thousand of Them
Enrolled in Boys and Girls Clubs.
Learn Practical Farming, Keep
Books and "a Tell What Their
Expenses and Profits are.

During the past year there we're
wen thousand, five hundred school
children interested in agriculture and
allied matters through the boys and
girls school clubs. Six hundred of
these clubs were organized over the
state by T. w. Potter, agent of the
United States department of agricul-
ure, with the cooperation of the
state and county school superintend-
ents. The work now, at the sugges-
ton of Miss Shepherd, retiring state
superintendent Of education has been
taken over by the state university and
is being handled by Mr.. Potter under
the direction of the extension depart
ment Of the state university.
Interest is increasing everywhere
in the boys and girls club work."
said Mr.. Potter, why shouldn't it?
We live in an agricultural country.
Our soil is fertile-climate perfect
people aggressive. The schools of
Idaho need take no back seat from
those of any state. The commissioner
of education is urging that agricul-
ture be taught in all the schools.
Keep up Interest
1.-THE boys and girls clubs starts
the ball a~-rolling-get youngsters in
terested. They organize their clubs
in the winter and early spring
months; study, read and fit them
selves for spring work from the books
and literature sent to each by ex-
tension partments. They do the work
at home on their garden plots. They
are striving to raise the best potatoes,
corn, tomatoes, pigs, poultry, etc., at
he leas possible expense.
"They keep careful records of
their work, cost of labor performed,
methods used in cultivation, ETC.,
yields, market values, ETC., and enter
their products and records in the
county and state fair contests. They
are after the valuable prizes offered
by prominent public-spirited citizens,
who are anxious and willing to help
encourage this practical, educational
work.
"They have thus acquired an inA
terest in the study of agriculture,
and performed their own demonstra-
ton work at their homes. They
have combined theory and practice
learned to be bookkeepers and practi-
cal business men and women.
Future Producers
"These same boys and girls will
become the future producers and
homo makers which Idaho needs. Is
this education worth while? It is not
more necessary and valuable than fill
ing their heads with Latin, algebra,
ancient history, etc. They have be-
come interested in rural pursuits and
prefer to live in the country. Do our
cities need more clerks and profess
sional men? If so, the club work
should be discouraged. 1t helps ed
ucate boys and girls to become intel
ligent, successful farmers and
healthy, contented home-makers. 1t
emphasizes the opportunities, advant-
ages and resources awaiting intelli-
gent effort and good management in
rural communities.
"The club work teaches boys and,
girls to be workers-producers and
home builders. Every teacher and
superintendent in Idaho is urged to
organize clubs and carry on the
work"
Increases Production
> More corn, potatoes and such
products was raised during 1914 in
the counties which have taken up this
work than ever before, according to
Mr.. Potter. Corn production has
been as high as 120 bushels an acre
and potatoes to the amount of eight
hundred pounds an acre. Following
of a club, George Mason of Rigby,
telling of his experience and results:
"The reason l enrolled as a cub
member vas to find out what my
success would be along this line of
work as I was interested in agricul-
tural work. The object of the boys
and girls club is to promote enthus-
iasm along the line of agriculture.
Story of Crop
"The following Is the history Of
my potato crop. I selected seed of a
good variety and quality and careful
in cutting the potatoes for seed so
that they would make strong plants.
"The soil should be a strong, sandy
loan, well fortified.
II planted my potatoes from nine
to 10 inches apart in rows which ran
engthwise of the piece and had my
rows from % to 80 inches apart.
Learns Right Methods
"As soon as the potato plants