Part I.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 51 



worthy of commendation. The Board can well encourage such 

 tendencies, and continue to emphasize the desirability of placing 

 State money on best birds only of utility breeds. 



Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Club Work. 



The agricultural clubs were conducted along established lines 

 with success in spite of the handicap of a slender appropria- 

 tion. The "Home and School Garden Club," "Market-garden 

 Club," "Corn Club," "Potato Club," "Pig Club," "Home Eco- 

 nomics Club," "Canning and Marketing Club," "Poultry Club" 

 and "Calf Club" comprise the activities of the year. The total 

 membership of these clubs reached 90,000, with workers in nearly 

 every town and city. 



The greater interest in the work is manifest in the more 

 effective organization of local units, the zeal of the contestants, 

 and the high standard and quantity of products shown at 

 agricultural fairs and local exhibitions, the whole crystallized 

 and reflected in the unparalleled exposition of garden products, 

 live stock, canned goods, clothing and skill in judging, staged 

 at the National Dairy Show in Springfield in October. The 

 originators and promoters of this vast assemblage of products 

 of the club boys and girls of all the eastern States deserve un- 

 bounded credit. It goes without saying that the impetus there 

 given many a young pig raiser, gardener or canner will show in 

 the results attained by the next generation of farmers. No 

 more fundamentally sound moveraent in support of agriculture 

 has ever been launched than that having for its object the 

 education of our youths in agriculture and the domestic arts for 

 life on the farm, as producers of real wealth to the Nation. 



The agricultural societies with a yearly grant of $200 each 

 from the State, as reimbursement for premiums paid to children 

 and youths, should take the leadership themselves and co- 

 operate with local workers for the purpose of improving the 

 quality and quantity of products exhibited. Judging contests 

 at our fairs, under competent supervisors, will accomplish 

 more in this direction in one year than will result in ten years 

 of mere exhibiting. The losers wonder why they did not win, 

 and they ought to be shown; and the winners should be im- 

 pressed with the points of excellence or near excellence of their 



