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COUNTRY CLUBS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
a ? ^ 1 m * ? — ?
Plan to Teach Young Farmers
'The hope of the future lies in the
attitude of the young rather than the
transformation of the old. The gospel
of better farming, like the gospel of
the Nazarine, must depend on indi
vidual conversion, and from the stand
point of results it is worth much more
to get a boy or girl started right than
it is to attempt to convent' a crust
hardened sinner who has spent his
early manhood in wearing out a farm
bv soil mining methods.'' Thus
spoke Dean Russell, of the University
of Wisconsin, and the aspect presented
is worthy of consideration In relation
to the proposals to establish boys and
girls' agricultural clubs in this State.
America has had lengthy experience of
institutions of this nature. Victoria and
Queensland both have adopted the idea,
and there is a unanimity of opinion
that nothing but good results.
The United States numbers the mem
bers of its boys' and girls' clubs in
hundreds of thousand^, and the official
support which the clubs receive war
rants the assumption that the State is
not without appreciation of the practi
cal value of the results. The under
Iving principle of the idea, is that there
is in the possession of the agricultural
institutions of the country a mass of
knowledge which, applied generally
throughout the farming areas, would
increase production and render farming
more profitable. Thus groups of young
persons are broug-ht tog-ether and set
to work on problems of production, each
group concentrating on some special
activitv of importance from, the point
of view of the district in which it is
working. Calf raising, pig raising, poul
try keeping, crop growing, all form de
sirable projects, according to locality..
FOR PIG PRODUCTION.
As an illustration of the nature of
the undertaking the operations of a
boys' pig club may be taken, and it Is
interesting to recall that a former South
Australian (Mr. A. E. V. Richardson,
MA.. B.Sc), now Superintendent . of
Argiculture in Victoria, after a recent
visit to the United States, quoted Mr.
W F. Ward, of the Bureau of Animal
industry, as saying that the objects of
the pig club work are to interest the
boy? in swine production, to teach
them improved methods of raising and
fattening pigs, the value of forage
crops, sanitation, good management In
handling swine, home curing of meats,
tind by means of the pig club wo* to
?»ive the boy a broader and better, view
of farm life, thus making of him a
better future citizen. *
The pig ciub work is carried on In
co-operation with the State agricul
tural coUeges, ea»;h contributing
towards the expenses. An agent who
is thoroughly acquainted with the
practical side of swine raising and has
had the benefits of animal husbandry
training ? in- Jin agricultural college, -is
placed in a State to wore under the
supervision of the director of extension
or hie representative in the organisa
tion of these clubs, and where there
is a countrv agent he is usually respon
sible for the organisation and proper
conduct of the club's work in the
county. In counties having no agent
or agricultural adviser, some teacher,
banker, or other influential person 'is
usually selected as a county leader. The
State 'pig club agent frequently visits
the county leader, and together they
visit as many of the club members as
possible
The members are required to secure
a pig and feed and care for it accord
ing to instructions, keeping complete
records of the amount of feed con
sumed, the gain in weight, cost of gain
per pound, breeding records, &c. At
the end of the year the members are
required to send reports to the State
pig1 club agent
In summarising the advantages of the
pig club work it is claimed that it
gives the boy something to do at home
that furnishes him with pleasure, is of
educational and financial benefit, and
keeps him occupied at times when he
might be in mischief or loitering in
undesirable places. It develops the
love of animals which is inherent in
all boys, and impresses on them the
necessity of regularity in habits and
prompt attention to details in the feed
ing and handling- . of live stock. He
learns valuable lessons in the feeding
and breeding of animals, sanitation, the
home curing of meats, and the business
side of farm life.
RIVALRY FOSTERED.
It often stimulates a- desire to attend
the agricultural college or to make a
closer study of fanning operations.^ It
is one of the principal means of inte
resting the boys and girls in farm life,
with the result of developing better
farming, better homes, better living,
and establishes a better rural citizen
ship.
As much can toe said of the other
multifarious projects for which clubs of
this nature could be formed. Ca^
rearing, herd recording, cereal growing,
potato, maize culture, all lend them
selves - to the educational advantage
which is the product of competition.
The desire to excel, inherent in the
average boy, dwarfs into insignificance
the drudgery associated with an other
wise irksome task, and the dub move
ment, properly conducted, should foster
this spirit. Few would hazard the
view that an institution which has
poved so valuable elsewhere would
prove leffs effective in this State, and
fewer stiil would doubt the ability or
willingness of the farm boys and girls
of this State to profit by the un
doubted advantages which the project
offers.
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