ALABAMA Agricultural Experiment Statier OF THE Alabama Polytechnic institute AUBURN CIRCULAR No. 23 November, 1913. How to Organize and Conduct A Girls' Canning Club (Circular No. 12 Revised and Enlarged) BY MRS. BIRDIE I. ROBINSON Opeika, Ala. Post Publishing Company 1913 CCOMMTTEE OF TRUSTEES ON EXPERIMENT STATION. rfloN. R. F. KOLB HON. ------------------------------------------ Montgomery Anniton H. L. MARTIN-- ----------------------- Ozark 4oN«.A. W.,BELL---------------------------__ STATION STAFF C. C. THACH, President of the College. J. F. DUGGAR, Directcrr of Experiment Station. DEPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATION. AGICULTURE: BOTANY: F. Duggar, Agriculturist. E. F. Cauthen, Associate. fM. J. Funchess, Assistant. _J. T. Williamson, Field Agent. _L. J. Hawley, Field Agent. vH. B. Tisdale, Assistant. VETERINARY: J. J. S. Caldwell, Botanist. A. B. Massey, Assistant. PLANT PATHOLOGY: F. A. Wolf, HORTICULTURE: Pathologist. Ernest Walker, Horticulturist. C. A. Cary, Veterinarian. I. S. McAdory, Assistant. CHEMISTRY: J. C. C. Price, Associate. G. V. Stelzenuller, Field Agent. ENTOMOLOGY: B. B. Ross. Chemist. State Chemist J. T. Anderson, Chemist, Soil, Crops C. L. Hare, Physiological Chemist. 'T. Bragg, First Assistant. *S. Adler, Assistant. WXTrENS(ON: L. N. Duncan, Superintendent.* ;J. B. Hobdy, Assistant.* N. A. Negley, Assistant* M4rs. Birdie I. Robinson' HtiOct ill] I)IIItil anl~~atr~n ilhIl oin Capa~cityo oM iiitcrcto frieind a1'I oerra1ing, adl\ cr. In s~hort. the' h*,nc a, n~ 'thcr xir can. lIo. prodIocnl ot of the 1'r oluction a p'I'l ni cif thlo. hlle. a] 1 ilio* r c ii IN of th Fi i s ii i Dl~o.artincit of \ ,-iciitiic, d ) awld '111 c ]1!,n of the houme sutohe ic ;ll-iii' ortant feature _n t'-fr n, b ar 1t o(, oof thte : >iail' h.,n1.e-keeper; pagi~ n;o' ,cstablle~ for famil ~'ncd and (itinL cannaN nn~ a ltro c ;Cale is ' 'r,) -W iin ]in:)o rtanioc a-;~ a Ito iii indiirN nt I ink oon IartIl lout HnI c\la ci ithat ac1ca,i -1it'lN (4 f! 11 N4oo call hei Ult olt 1; ,! A\ ,.1. . . -tl,. 1 n celc ] ni tlto h ohl it in I1 , - tO~~~: e.It' oii i ho; oll .1 ii 0'0.A' I r otio o N"v' it aC o;( no vplace a l:tii0 the commercial canning of vegetables has developed in half a century into a very important enterprise." Hundreds of carloads of vegetables are shipped into Alabama each year from neighboring states. These are consumed by people who live in a state endowed with the greatest of possibilities for the production of vegetables and fruits, and there is no reason, with the modern conveniences accessible for canning and preserving, why surplus products should not go on the market in Alabama from the garden plots of the canning club girls. The work of growing and canning tomatoes carried on by the girls of the rural and urban schools, affords them the opportunity for a business both pleasant and remunerative and at the same time gives them the protecting influence of-home. There is unquestionably a demand for the canned products of the girls, and this demand will be a continuous one, provided the products measure up.to the standard of excellence, both in quantity and quality. It will, therefore, be the aim of those directing the work to impress upon the girls the importance of seeing that every can is well filled with ripe and sound vegetables. PLAN OF ORGANIZATION In the organized counties the school is the unit of organization. The County Agent in Charge of Canning Clubs, acting under the direction of the State Agent in Charge of the Girls' Work, is the county leader. Her success depends largely on the co-operation of the county superintendent. Before attempting an organization, it would be well to talk to the girls of the school regarding the movement, calling their attention to the results of the work in other sections and to the interest aroused in some schools; explaining the advantage it would be to the school to have an enthusiastic canning club and to them, as members, to grow and can the products from a one-tenth plot. When some degree of interest has been aroused, appoint Invite all the a time for an organization meeting. girls of school age in the district, and others who are interested. If possible, the teacher should get some one in the neighborhood of the school to talk to the girls on the purIt would also poses and advantages of club work. be well to have short talks by a number of interested patrons. However, it would not be well to extend an invitation without notifying the one invited as to the length of time he or she would be expected to talk. On such occasions. talks longer than fifteen or twenty minutes often hurt, rather than stimulate, the cause. If it is found impossible to arrange such a program, let the teacher rise to the occasion, hold a short, interesting meeting and perfect an organization. The club should be organized with a president and secretary as officers, and the teacher as club leader. Although it is not absolutely necessary for these officers t> be members of the school, such has proven the best policyin a number of schools. If the matter is handled tactfully, the club members will usually elect a competent corps of officers, but should any mistake be made in choosing such officers, then, the teacher is in position to hold the organization intact and successfully carry on the work. PRIZES. Nothing so stimulates the girls to their best efforts as prizes offered for excellence in the results from their plots, and every teacher who looks for success should see that one, or more prizes, is offered to her club. It has been found that it is better to offer a number of small prizes rather than one or two large ones. The securing of county prizes should be looked after by the county agent, and for such all club members are eligible to compete. The state agent will provide certain prizes for which all club members between the ages of 10 and 18 years may compete. Prizes may often be secured by canvassing the business men of the school district; by soliciting small contributions from others interested in school work; by interesting women's clubs and church organizations; finally, and always surely, by giving a school entertainment. SUGGESTED CONSTITUTION Article 1. Name. This organization shall be known as the .............. School Canning Club of ............ County. Article 2. Purposes. The purposes shall be to make better homes and life on the farm more attractive; to provide for the independence of the members; to afford the means of teaching agriculture in a more practical and interesting manner and to weld a link between the school and home. Article 3. Membership. Onlythe girls between the ages 8 -of ten and eighteen years, on January 1st of any given year, shall be reported as members to the Auburn office. However, school girls over eighteen years of age and others may become honorary members. Only girls of the above mentioned ages may compete for county and state prizes. Article 4. Officers. The Club shall have a president, a secretary and a leader. Article 5. Duties of Members. The duties of members are such as are outlined in rules and regulations contained in this pamphlet. Article 6. Duties of Officers. (a) It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings and further the interest of club work among the girls of the school district. (b) It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a roll of all members and the minutes of the meetings. (c) The teacher shall be the director of the club and together with the president and secretary shall constitute a committee to solicit prizes. It shall also be the duty of the teacher to visit the plot of each girl at least once during the growing season. BY-LAWS GOVERNING A CANNING CLUB 1. Girls joining clubs must be between the ages of ten and eighteen years of age on January 1st of any given year. Special classes may be organized for older girls, but they will not be allowed to compete with the younger ones. 2. Members of the club must agree to read all instruction on girls' demonstration club work. No girl shall be eligthe ible to receive a prize unless she becomes a member club and plants a garden containing one-tenth of an acre. 3. Each girl must plant her own crop and do her own work. It will be permissible to hire heavy work done, bun the time must be charged. 4. Each girl must keep a careful record of her year's work. In this way only, can the history and account, required in awarding prizes, be secured. 5. Those girls who submit their reports in the form of a written, attractive, and illustrative booklet, shall be granted credit by the committee of judges in awarding prizes. 6. In estimating profits the following uniform prices must be used: $1.00 for rent of land; 10 cents for each hour of work; $2.00 for a two-horse load of stable manure; and actual cost of commercial fertilizers and other things purchased or furnished. 7. The garden p)roducts must be carefully measured, and cf fxO di interestcll witnc -cs must attest the reports submittal at the elr,=c nl the ra nn. \%%:ild '4 1n-1/1 - nni 11 n r> -11:111 lie kf - I . n the frc-hi :ind{ (a ) ( ctiiiitd jlriWtW the gardeni attirHitg to the 21 p)oints )ialit v .................. (c ) V ariety .. i 1. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 20 p i t points 10N p i nt i,t tr 'I Oal . . . . . ..... heir fI It itkinii; financjial r eport record ntiirher of cans~ numbtiiier ot tons~ w hand for ;alet num%i. h pr oes We1 ot it cans kept for hiunt use aml ploctcd's from (IN -Ii ahicnit aclr Kla.; nad" e tw "0_ \1~ )1 10 t ietter," Makei tie Bet signilt\int- the( aim of tio- 10 CLUB PENNANT A triangular pennant of acute apex, the body of green and white with a red tomato on white field. THE DEMONSTRATION EMBLEM Parts of the Emblem. Book, four-leaf clover, tomato, and the four H's. In addition to this at the top of book appears the word "Demonstrator" and at the bottom of the book the words "Girls' C. & P. Club." The regular emblem of the Girls' Club Work will be the trade mark of the "Girls' Demonstration Clubs," and will be found upon all labels used on canned products, grown and packed by regular members of the club. MEANING AND STORY OF EMBLEM. The Boys' and Girls' Demonstration Work represents a "Four-Square" training of the members of the "FourSquare" needs of citizenship and home life. The four H's represent the equal training of the head, heart, hands and health of every child. The H's have a trinity training value: Train Hands to: Train head to: a. Be useful. a. Think, b. Be helpful. b. Plan, c. Be skillful. c. Reason. Train Heart to: Train Health to: a. Be kind. a. Resist disease. b. Be true. b. Enjoy life. c. Be sympathetic. c. Make for efficiency. Book: The book, as a background, signifies the need of education and definite knowledge on farm life and home interest in order to make for better rural life. Four-Leaf Clover: The four-leaf clover represents the principles of scientific farming,, rotation of crops, soil building, and larger productions and greater profits on less acres for the farmer. Objective Interests: The tomato, signifies the relation of the garden products to a happy and contented citizenship. "Demonstrator :" The word "demonstrator" means that every club member is a demonstrator of the best known methods in modern agriculture and that they have not only agreed to read the instructions furnished by the Department of Agriculture, but have agreed to follow them during a period of not less than one year, or not less than One- tcinth acre, ini the (girls' Canning & Poultry Club Work. 1 'hiCl OF EMB1~LEM Gold lated ............... $0.12 each Solid silver (hanl engraved) ........ 2 each Rolled gol i. .. . . . .. . . .. . . . .40 eacht Solid gr1d1 hand cn~zraNT'd.... ... 85 eac~i Sldih t;,l (%%ithi 1,0 Mlaidlen I-mc, New Yo rk C itex, N. Y. (1R1 :1.:1IN \\ ()RIK (-)r d ' rclatinm \xvaI in t heir Flihil classes, that "T atrc hcrexxith giv ing an outline for b~ookhet. 12 OUTLINE FOR ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET OR HISTORY ON GIRLS' GARDEN AND CANNING WORK (0. H. BENSON) Use good grade of drawing paper about 9 by 11 inches. Make a cover design which will, in a neat and attractive manner, indicate just what may be found within the booklet. Do not make the cover design too gaudy in color. Use water-color paints, if possible, in drawing letters, tomato, marginal lines, etc. Bind the booklet at the top with a modest colored baby-ribbon or cord. Topics to be treated in consecutive order in booklet: 1. The object of the Girls' Canning and Poultry Club work. 2. Why I enrolled as a club member. 3. Life history of tomatoes, snap beans and cucumbers. It would be well to use but one of these subjects in each booklet, beginning with the tomato. 4. Soil study, seed bed, cultivations. Tell how a garden seed-bed should be prepared. 5. Management of plants from cold frame to maturing of crop. Tell here, how to raise plants, transplant, cultivate, stake or rack up plants. 6. Management of diseases and insects. 7. Management of fruit and vegetables, ripening, picking and marketing fresh products. Tell best method to pack and crate ripe tomatoes. 8. Canning processes, labeling of cans, meaning of label and trade mark. 9. Exhibits; relation to school work. 10. Discussion of uses for tomatoes, snap beans and cucumbers. Give recipes of important and practical dishes and food values. 11. Give account of your yield, total number of pounds, how much used for home use and how much sold, number of cans, etc. 12. State briefly what your club work has done for you in interest, instruction, health and money value. EIGHT IMPORTANT REASONS (0. H. BENSON) 1. It encourages a great deal of extra and supplemen:ary reading, th is stimulating to greater efficiency "Reading." !n 1) I.lt ti ehe'-. t-cfu info rifatio in by the three most effcti e myths-is; x iz: ( a i I N gttrig the ehi] toc seek and fur I truth largely icy his- owcn effort. (b? By ilutaig their truth ini dlin rig, arid citrre. (c) B1y \writing Thou:_ stiljctt in the Chirld" on i arigii.e. A It teaclhes- tire cor