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' <Chas. S. Jones, Assistant.

W. E. Hinds, Entomologist J. E. Buck, Assistant. J. A. Dew, Field Agent.
ANIMAL INDUSTRY:

G. S. Templeton. An'l Husbandman. S. Girton, Assistant.

E.

S. S. Jeraan, Assistant.* A. R. Gissendanner, Assistanit. J. A. McLeod.

~In

connection with United States Department of Agriculture.

INTRODUCTION The growth of the Canning Club movement in Alabama has reached such proportions during the past twelve months and the demand for literature, bearing on the methods of organizing and conducting clubs, has become so great, that we deem it expedient to publish a bulletin as a guide and help to those interested in furthering the cause in their respective counties. As a basis of this publication we have used Circular No. 12, December, 1911. The Canning Club work was introduced in Walker and Pike counties in the spring of 1911 and during the year a membership of 261 was reached. As a result of the work accomplished twelve other counties were organized in 1912, with an enrollment of 2610 members. However, the membership of a number of clubs in unorganized counties is included in this number. In the organized counties there is a local agent employed jointly by the County Board of Revenue, Extension Department of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute and the Farmers' Co-Operative Demonstration Work of the United It is the duty of said agent, working under States. the direction of the State Agent in Charge of Girls' Work, to visit the club members from time to time, to conduct canning demonstrations for their instruction, to collect, compile and submit reports to the state agent at the end of the season. Such an urgent demand for the work has come from interested teachers in a number of those counties in which organizations have not been perfected, that those in charge of the state office have adopted the policy of giving encouragement to them in their efforts' to organize and conduct clubs. Without the instruction, received from a county supervisor, however, these teachers will be greatly handicapped. For their instruction and encouragement this revision is made. OBJECTS 1. To teach the best methods of growing tomatoes and to increase interest in home gardening. 2. To teach the best methods of canning and to stimulate interest and wholesome co-operation among the members of the family in the home. 3. To assist the mothers in always having a supply of

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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

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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 <afclv catch(. . . . .. .O each

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All w-dcr, f, r emuhici shouild bte accolflhafic(l bx- cashi and miail to 'The ChIristian Etaulc \--ociatt t, w> 1,0 Mlaidlen I-mc, New Yo rk C itex, N. Y. (1R1 :1.:1IN \\ ()RIK
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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."

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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<rect us oif L lih and renters the 1r raruriar hiuglicar" a thin;g if iriterc-t arid da;ily practice, which join its rrr-teriil o4f a jurril% of techical, artitri arc, as a rule, fit. fAr hear lest onily, and niot food fur boys arid girl. .i_ It trirn' fir Ia tier perrnnripi, Ix- gixinig (definite

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14
pendence, in their educational training. (Property rights are also incidentally taught). 8. It trains for economy by encouraging the child to use Waste papers, farm journals, catalogs, and material making up the neat and attractive booklet for local, county, or state exhibits. 9. It brings the home, school and farm into closer cooperation. Note. The booklet work in the hands of a wide-awake teacher will do more to make for an intelligent and selfexpressive school of boys and girls than any other method of instruction. In selecting the subject for booklet work the teacher must first of all know the child and his environments, and assign the subject "cow," "dog," "corn," "breadmaking," etc., along the line of his greatest interest and information. Make the first step easy. Do not flaunt before the child that he shall write an "essay," or "composition;" there is some danger in naming the "composition" effort; simply ask them to find out all they can about "tomatoes" in writing; then again to organize their subject matter and illustrate "cover design" and pages as they proceed. Do not overdo and allow the child to overwork in this line. Keep a sensible balance on this effort. The illustrated booklet work is correct from every rational, historical, pedagogical point of view, true to the doctrine of Pestolozzi, Froebel, Herbert, Mann, Colonel Parker and others of world-wide distinction. ESSENTIALS TO SUCCESS We are impressed with the fact that those teachers who have carefully read the thoughts outlined in this bulletin are interested in the movement and will profit by the following suggestions which are absolutely essential for successful work: 1. Have a list of prizes ready to announce to club on day of organization. 2. See to it that every club member is visited in her home. 3. A visit to the plot of the club member will afford an opportunity for encouragement and instruction. 4. Be diligent to see that each member sets out her plants. 5. The teacher should sow seed in order to supply plants to those who lose theirs. 6. So many children are not aware of the size of on.

15 tenth of an acre, consequently it would be well for the teacher to explain that such a size plot contains 435t square feet. Require the girls to measure the length of ground to be planted by them and calculate with them its width. 7. Encourage the purchase of canning outfits and during the canning season have the president of the club arrange a canning party. 8. Impress upon the club members the importance of filling the cans well. The cans that have a commercial value are those that have not only been filled but well packed before sealing. 9. Encourage the club as an organization to make an exhibit at the county fair. If there is no fair in the county it would be an excellent idea to make an exhibit in the school building. 10. The most esential feature of the work is the securing of reports from each club member, and a faithful teacher will stress this feature. ADDRESSES OF COMPANIES FROM WHOM CANNING GOODS, LABELS AND FRUIT JARS MAY BE PURCHASED (Ask for catalogues and quotations before you buy).
HOME CANNERY OUTFITS.

Home Canner Co., Hickory, N. C. Hot water and steam canners, cans and all supplies. Farm Canning Machine Co., Meridian, Miss. Hot water canners, cans, etc. Geo. L. Eubanks, Union City, Ga. HIlot water canners, cans, etc. The Royal Canner Co., Chattanooga, Tenn. Hot water canner. The Raney Canner Co., Chapel H-ill, N. C. (Also Texarkana, Ark.-Tex.) Hot water canners and cans. Griffith & Turner Co., 205-207 N. Paca St., Baltimore, Md. Steam canners, cans and supplies. Northwestern Steel & Iron Works, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Steam pressure canners, etc. American Can Co., Atlanta, Ga. (Marietta St. and Jones Ave). Home canners, cans, etc. Modern Canner Mfg. Co., Chattanooga, Tenn. Home canners, cans, etc.

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