The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-01-15
BY JOS. w. klNeHoRNE.


States Department of Agriculture.)
g L HAS been In compara-
J; !: !: ! ! !
bA lively recent years only
III Ia that poultry production has
NI ~ been recognized as a valu-
KX able national asset and
I10 ~ likewise, as a very impOr-
Nh tant part of the opera
tons of the farm. One of
the Important factors. which has been
instrumental In bringing about the
realization Of the Importance Of the
poultry industry, is the establishment
OF poultry clubs among the boys and
girls. Just as poultry-keeping was
formerly considered a minor branch
OF farm work. so 1t was formerly
thought that the keeping of fowls was
purely an activity for adults. With
the development Of other forms Of
agricultural clubs among children. 1t
was found that there was very def
mite place for such clubs, having for
their object the production of poultry.
In 1912 this project was formally
launched by the Federal Department
of Agriculture In the state Of vir-
ginia.
The poultry club work was founded
on a very small and conservative
scale; In other words, 1t was launched
very largely as an experiment to ascer-
tain Its popularity and practicable
lily. Thus, at the end of 1913. with
the success Of the work as 1t was
. carried on in Virginia In three coun-
ties with $50 members, those who
were In position to know, and to
observe the results, concluded that this
form Of club work had wide POSSIBLE
tiles for effective results. 1t was found,
as a result Of this. first years work.
that the project wassnot only highly
practicable In accomplishing Its prin-
cipal object. namely, to interest the
boys and girls In rural sections In
raising poultry. but 1t was likewise
demonstrated that the people, in those
sections where the clubs were formed.
realized the Importance of the work.
In view Of this success, poultry club
work was extended during the year
Of 1914 to Georgia, Kentucky, North
and South Carolina and Tennessee.
The results that were obtained In
those states were practically a repeti-
tion Of the accomplishment of the idea
and purpose of this form of organize
ton.
How the Clubs Were Organized.
The object Of this work being to i'm
prove farm poultry and to place the
Industry on higher plane IN rural
communities, such improvement was
invariably started by organizing clubs
among the children In the schools. and
educating them as to the proper and
most practical methods Of poultry
management. best suited to local copdi-
tions. Standardized poultry was, and
still II. the basic fundamental princi-
pie upon which these organizations
were founded; that Is, 1t was the uIti-
mate Idea so to interest and encour-
age the members that they would be
able to dispose Of their mongrel fiocks,
which were by far in the majority.
and raise only standardized poultry,
and thus secure the increased returns
and benefits that such stock would I
Dfmgi Furthermore, the members
we're sncoursged to Improve their poul- |
Try equipment to such an extent ms
could Be accomplished without the
expenditure Of any great amount OF
money. Consequently. practically the
on'y investment that the members Of
Ihese clubs had to make was In pur-
'haslnR one or more settings Of egxs
y pure-bred stock. Through the CO.
'peration of local pouitrymen reduced |
,rices for such eggs are usually OBJ i
mined. thereby reducing the initial ex- /