Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-24

kerS.
1t was explained to them that the
breeders would sell purebred pigs at
special price as an inducement
and the county agent would assist
in securing the breed they wanted.
He would also cal on them as his
time PERMITTED and advise them in
the feeding and managing.
Four Breeds Selected
1t was thought prudent to ad-
vocate but four breeds of hogs,
and Poland Chinas, Berkshires,
Hampshires and Duroc-Jerseys were
selectcl A member was left to his
own choice of any one of these
breeds.
Boys were encourag ed to get a
registered pig if circumstances
would permit, but no one would be
denied membership or attention if
he was for any reason unable to
do So If he could not get a pure
bred, he was persuaded to get a
grade and grow it for meat pur-
poses with the idea that in this
way he would secure money enough
from the sale of it in the fall to
buy a purebred with funds all his
own The boys who raised purebred
hogs were urged to do SO with a
view of exhibiting them at the
fairs for prizes. The boys who
raised grade hogs were encouraged
to do likewise as the experience
gained in feeding, management and
showing would be quite as valuable
in one as the other. The former
were known as pig club members,
and the latter as ham and bacon
members, that being the designation
given to those with grade hogs.
Although several years have
passed since this plan was inaugu-
rated, the general principles obtain
in the work today. County agents
have slightly different methods but
in the main, the enrollmentS are
obtained by visits to the schools in
tho small towns and rural districts
where, through the cooperation of
the teachers, the boys are en-
rolled and the details made known.
Some one has said that "The man
who evolved boys pig clubs applied
a practical psychology which is max
ing many a stockman." This may be
the correct view of it, but not all
of the teachers of rural schools in
Georgia at first looked at it in Just
that way. After some years of per-
sistent effort, it is becoming apparent
to superintendent that pig clubs
should be correlated so as to become
part of the school work, and the
boys record books graded the same
as examination papers. Some coun-
ties already have this plan in prac-
tice.
Like all other efforts to build a
permanent institution, pig clubs have
been slow to get under way in some
sections. They were regarded as a
fad that would soon fade away; but
as it became better known that it
was school in which the boy pass
ed through all the trials of an ex-
perienced breeder on somewhat
smaller scale, they became more pop
u1ar.
Unlike his city cousin the bow in
the country has but little to enter.
tain him. No Boy Scouts, no tennis,
no motoring, no golf, no party dances
or CLUBS. He is an unknown guam
tity. Endowed with a natural love for
animals, he took kindly to pig clubs
and the word prize" was a further
1nducement for him to try the work.
These boys are the farmers of to-
morrow, and the agricultural advance
ment made by a state will be largely
measured by the opportunities of
training provided by the men of to-
day. The pig clubs constitute a
school of training.
The Rule for Success
Notwithstanding discourage0ents
that have been met with, a barn
yard is still regarded as better place
TO raise boy than a pooIroom. It
has been pointed out to the boys
that success frequently comes to the
one who let's the other fellow do the
waiting. Or, as some one has put
it:
Success is made up of "cans."
While failure is made up Of "can'ts."
The boys who get purebred pigs
are advised to get gifts, so they will
be large enough to be mated with a
purebred male in the fall and farrow
the following spring. In other words
IN one year after the boy has bought
his pig he will be the owner of a sow
and litter. He is then ENCOURAGED to
select four of the best at WEAVING
time. The remainder of the litter
II good individuals, may be disclosed
OF to pig club boys in his countv
10 encourage this, the record assoc
citation have granted a special rate
for registering
with the sow and four pigs he
begins to shape his plans for ey-
hloltlng i've head at the fair dur
Ing the fall of his second year as a..
pig club member. The class is called
SOW and litter class" and is for
second-year boys showing exhibits of
their own raising. At the state fair
this fall a $1,000 tractor outfit will
be awarded to the boy showing tina
best registered herd of his own rails
ing in this class.
Thus a boy who joins this spring
EXHIBITS his pig this fall in the in
olV1dual classes provided for his par
tlcular breed. A year later he can
snow the results of his efforts as a
breeder in a class provided for that
purpose. In the brief period of two
years, he has embarked as a breeder
OF purebred swine from the modest
output of about $40 and has twice
exhibited the result of his labors.
1t has been necessary to go some
what into detail that the plan of
operation may be understood, and to
further show the far-reaching effect
OF such plan must necessarily have
on a state industry where the mem
bership runs over 10000, as it does
IN Georgia. AS a means of intensi
Tying exhibits, the breeders over the
state were asked to select one or
more boys in their county, and, after
seeing to it that he had a good
individual to start with, coach him
to win. Men who never exhibited
hoof themselves grew enthusiastic
over the prospects of showing a bow
how to feed out a blue-ribbon win
ner as though it was their own.
The winning of a blue ribbon