124 THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE. 



works in close co-operation with the State Colleges of Agriculture, 

 through their extension departments. Arrangements are made 

 for the appointments of State leaders in club work who are paid 

 partly from Federal and partly from State funds. The State 

 leaders are thus the employees of both the Department of Agri- 

 culture and the State Colleges, and are responsible to both. 

 Working usually through the county agents and the county 

 superintendents of schools and local teachers, the State leader 

 directs the organisation of boys' and girls' clubs in communities 

 which show sufficient interest in this movement. He travels 

 throughout the State, explaining the work to boys and girls, 

 to gatherings of teachers, and to various organisations interested, 

 such as chambers of commerce, business men's associations, 

 bankers' associations, women's clubs, and granges. Whenever 

 possible, he is present at the first meeting of a group of pro- 

 spective club members, to explain the work and assist at the 

 organisation of the club. In many states the State leader has 

 one or more assistants, who devote their entire time to giving 

 out instructions, visiting club leaders, looking after the details 

 of organisation, and keeping in touch with all the projects in 

 the field. The county agricultural agent also is ready to assist 

 in the organisation of clubs within his territory and to follow 

 up their later efforts with expert advice and assistance. 



" Once every year, at Washington, or at some other central 

 place, a conference of State district club leaders is held, at 

 which the general policies and the general methods to be followed 

 in the conduct of the work are determined for the ensuing year, 

 and special instruction is given in extension work. 



"In addition to the direct advice and help of the local leader, 

 the county agent, or the State leader and his assistants, members 

 of the clubs receive complete instructions by post both from 

 the Department and from their State Colleges. Thus the corn 

 club boys learn from the authorities of the Department and the 

 College the best way of fertilising their plot of ground, preparing 

 the seed-bed, selecting their seed, planting and cultivating. The 

 canning club girls are told how to cultivate their tenth of an acre 

 of tomatoes or other vegetables, and are given full instructions 

 for the work of canning. During the canning season demon- 

 strations are given in as many localities as possible by the State 

 agent or her assistants. The State leader furnishes all club 

 members with blanks, on which they are to report from time to 

 time their method of procedure in growing their crops. At the 

 end of the season a fair, festival or contest is usually held, and 

 prizes are given for the best exhibits or the best essays on the 

 growing of the crop. The boy who has raised the most corn at 

 the lowest cost becomes the club champion and competes with 

 other club champions for the State championship. Prizes are 



