The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-01-14
PoNE9Y 3A5E KHZRL7AT
OAA3QZz4 NAzT EzZ7S
BY JOS. w. kINGHoRNE.

tAnimal Husbandry Division, United
States Department of AgTiculture)
g L HAS been in compare
!: !: !: ! !: ! :: :: !:
Rib lively recent years only
III n, that poultry production has
LNI k@ been recognized as yalu-
E<S able national asset and,
E%I 81 likewise, as very impOr-
NtAfsl tant part Of the opera |
tons of the farm. One Of |
the important factors, which has been
instrumental In bringing about the
poultry industry. is the establishment
OF poultry clubs among the boys and
girls. Just as poutry-keeping was
formerly considered a minor branch
OF farm work, so it 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
ity. Thus, at the end of 1913, with
tie 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 was not only highly
practicable In accomplishing its prin-
cipal object, namely, to interest the
boys and girls In rural sections In
raising poultry. but it 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 repeti
tiOn of the accomplishment Of the ides
and purpose Of this form OF organixa
ton.
How the Clubs Were Organized.
The object of this work being to i'm
prove farm poultry and to place tn
industry on a higher plane in rura
communities, such improvement wa
invariably started by organizing club
among the children In the schools an
educating them as to the proper an
most practical methods Of poultr
management, best suited to local cond
lions. Standardized poultry was. an
still is, the basic fundamental prime
pie upon which these organization
were founded; that Is, It was the ult
mate idea so to interest and encOu
age the members that they would b
able to dispose Of their mongrel flock
which were by far In the maiorit,
and raise only standardized poultr
and thus secure the increased return
and benefits that such stock woul
bring. Furthermore, the member
were encouraged to improve their pou
try equipment to such an extent ,
could be accomplished without Il
expenditure Of any great amount
money. Consequently, practically Il
only investment that the members
these clubs had to make was In pu
chasing one or more settings Of eg
of pure-bred stock. Through the {
operation OF local poultrymen reduc,
prices for such eggs are usually o
tanned, thereby reducing the initial e