Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-01

O~RetDAC VI anu AOA-
serving enough food stuff to send q
slight chill up the Kaisers back. This
kind of an army in Connecticut is no:
an idle dream.
There are, in the state, nearly 200,-
600 boys and girls from 10 to Is years
of age inclusive. OF this number
it is quite probable that at least one
in every four can be recruited in a
food army for production or conserva-
ton.
During the year just completed, the
boys and girls in club work, under the
direction of the Connecticut Agricul-
tural College, produced or conserved
Gil the average, $40 worth of food
stuff If this average could be rails
ed 81 and $4,000 boys and girls en-
listed, food stuff to the value of ST.
600, 900 could be produced. The job
now is to get these young people en-
rolled.
At the present time, there is a
paid leader giving at least one-han
time to work with boys and girls in
each county and many communities
have already made arrangements for
paid local leadership to direct the
production and conservation efforts OF
their boys and girls for another sea-
son.
The Committee of Food Supply of
the State Council of Defense has re-
Gently approved a plan for the realiza-
ton of a Junior Food Army along
lines which are broad enough to in
clude every boy and girl in the state
who can produce or conserve fooo
products.
Every one of the 1000 boys and
girls of Connecticut will be given an
opportunity to join the Food Army
Those who sign their pledge as
member will receive instructions in
the phase of the work which they take
I'D. They will also receive a but
ton to wear which will designate them
as a member of this army. Those
who come through the season success
fully and who make the proper re-
port of their work will receive GER
tifcates of merit similar to those
given the IT'S girls for this sort OF
work last year. These certificates
were of size and shape suitable for
framing and were signed by the gov
ernor.
There are several ways in which
a boy or girl can fill the requirements
necessary for winning place in the
Junior Food Army. They can grow
one-half an acre of corn, one-elghth
acre of potatoes, one-twentieth or an
acre of garden vegetables, or care for
or vegetables, keep a flock of 10 hens,
or a pig, save 100 pounds OF tood' or
take a course of IL lessons in home
economics.
Enrolment blanks will be sent out
soon. Boys and girls may sign up
for the work Immediately. The con-
sent of parents or guardians is neces-
sary before a boy or girl may take up
the work.
A committee appointed by the Com
mittee of Food Supply is to have
charge of the work and the Connec-
sicut Agricultural College and the
Farm Bureaus will supervise it.
A State Boys and Girls exhibit win
be held in Connecticut this year Tor
the first time. This exhibit will be
| held in connection with the State Fair
and all members of the Junior Food
ARMY will be eligible to exhibit their
produce. Only club members will be
eligible to compete on judging and
| demonstration teams. Glasses Will
| also be open for group exhibits from
cities, towns and clubs.
| 1t is planned that each county will
hold an exhibit previous to the state
exhibit and, through elimination
bring the county's best to the state
exhibit. Other announcements will
be made regarding state exhibits as
plans develop. The state exhibit
promises to be one of the biggest
deveIopments in the boys and girls
work and will give each one an OPP
portunity to compete for a prize.
A total of $4,000 boys and girls
were enrolled in production and con-
servation work in Connecticut during
the past year. The activities which
were most popular were the garder
and pig club work. Of the tota
enrolment, the garden club claimed
over II, 500 and the pig club about $50
bows and girls. The other activitie:
| WnlCn AIC VI WI Al
| potatoes, tomatoes, poultry and also
bread making, canning and sewing.
At the present time, reports have
been received from about $500 clui
members who report over $3.50, 00'
worth of food stuff produced and con
served or an average production o
about $40 each. These figures ind1
cate that we'll over 100000 worth o
food stuffs were produced and con
served by the patriotic boys and girl
, of Connecticut, who attempted to d.
J their part in lighting by feeding.
Fairfield and New Haven counties ha'
the largest club enrolment as the,
rightfully should, inasmuch as owe
one-half of the boys and girls in tn
state are in these two counties. Will
: the largest enrolment was in tn
garden club, the receipts per membe
we're smallest in this activity. This
S accounted for by the large number o
D small gardens which were organize
l in the cities where extensive plantin
space was not available.
The best average profits were mad
by corn club members, who made a
average of S52.36 per acre. This &C
; tivity carried the smallest enrollmer
. of any club. The good work done b
: = a potato club at Ridgeield is typies
of many other clubs throughout tn
state. Seventeen boys enrolled in tn
= Ridgefield potato club, each boy too
the regular working unit of one
n ! eighth acre Twelve of the boys gre
their potatoes in community plo
the other five raising theirs at hom
|, All II of these boys carried the
q work through to completion and oil