Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05
RY OLIVER MCKEE. JR.

Now can our good luck ne'er desert US.
II we must prove II; come and wstcn U.S.
Wen always keep the clover with u.s.
Fortune it will ever bring.
"HIS is a song that visitors to
the Capital in midJune will
hear sung. by young voices, If,
i passing the Washington Mon
ument, they go exploring
through the grounds OF the Depart
+ ment of Agriculture.
For here in the Capital, from June
Is to %, will be held the first Ma
tional Farm Boys and Girls II Club
camp.
Secretary Jardine and other officials
of the Department of Agriculture are
the sponsors for the camp. and the
bows and girls who come to Washing
ton will come as selected representa-
essA OF II Club work throughout
tsA Coaniry.
JYsy as majors and colonies in the
Army are sent to the Army War Col
lege after they have graduated from
the lower Army school with honors,
so the BOYS and girls who will stand
reveille in the national II Club camp
in Washington next month Will ne
selected as the worthiest graduates OF
2.716 club camps. held far and wide
throughout the United States.
Nj
Rs reading. 'riting and 'rithmetic-
whics. every one is supposed to study
in thk old red schoolhouse on the hill.
WhaS are the 4 HIS? Head. hand,
heart Snd health are the words for
which HIS stand as the symbol,
and COG. 900 young farmers are doing
their best to build head. hand. heart
and health into their lives. To this
part of young. America. assuredly. the
HIS are rival to the traditional
three Rs.
j. The symbol of the H Club is the
four-leaf clover, containing an HI on
each ieaf1et, the clover signifying the
purpose for which the first clubs were
created-soil conservation. Appro
pirate, therefore, are the words of the
song, of which the chorus has been
given:
Sisters now. we'll tell you story.
And it's worth listening to;
It's, of the four:clover-leafed GLORY
How il will bring good luck to you.
The 4 II Club work was organ
lied as an extension movement, TO
teach young people agriculture, and
to obtain their help and cooperation
in farm and home improvement. Club
work had been carried on in a more
or less limited way for a number OF
years. but it was the Smith-Lever
act, passed by Congress TO become ef-
Tective on July /, 1914. that gave the
movement its real motive power.
In effect. the SmithLever act Gre
Ated single extension system, through
which practically all extension work
of the State agriculture colleges and
the Department of Agriculture was to
be carried on. The result of the act
was the expansion of the country eX-
tension system. The employment of
State club leaders or agents made
available competent leadership, which
brought about a marked improvement
in the method Of organization and in
the effectiveness of the work among
young people.
The principal developments of the
first three years were the adoption of
the local leader plan and the definite
organization Of boys and girls into
clubs. The movement rapidly won the
support of all interested in rural inn
provement.
Then came the war, and the plans
for the systematic improvement of
agriculture We're temporarily laid
aside. The country threw its entire
energy into food production and war
service. The farm boys and girls in
H clubs contributed, in substantial
Nation. More than a million boys and
girls were enrolled. Youngsters in
these clubs produced food for the |
family. canned the surplus, collected |
peach pits for the making of carbon |
for use in soldiers gas masks, and
took the place on farms Of elder |
brothers at the. front. 49, -
The war period emphasized the
value of organization in country life.
and the good results that could be OBJ
tanned by working shoulder to shoulder
in common task.
y y 4 4
POSTWAR readtustment was not |
an easy process, here as in other |
fields of civilian endeavor. The per- |
sonnet of the extension service had to |
be reduced. At the end Of the war. |
1902 county club agents were en- |
ployed. Economic conditions also were |
far from favorable. The rapid reduc- |
ton in. the level of farm prices af- |
fected club members as well as |
prices prevented large number Of |
boys from keeping their membership |
in the clubs.
The enrolment continued to de- |
crease until 1923. 81
The effect on the work with girls |
was somewhat different. Farm in |
come decreased, and less money was
available for food, clothing and living. |
In order to be suitably dressed, and |
maintain the standard of the home, |
the girls Joined clothing. poultry and !
nutrition clubs. Thus they helped to
increase and make the most of the |
available family income, and thus also
they helped to demonstrate the re-
Of A Tt1rh
agency to meet the needs Of farm life.