FIRST ANNUAL REPORT ON BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB 



WORK. 



Boys' and Girls' Clubs form an important branch of the edu- 

 cational efforts of the State Board of Agriculture, perhaps the 

 most far-reaching in their results. These clubs have been under 

 the direction of the Department of Agricultural Education of 

 the Massachusetts Agricultural College since they were or- 

 ganized in 1908. Professor O. A. Morton and Miss Ethel H. 

 Nash, members of the Extension Service of the college, are in 

 charge of the field work. This consists in the promotion of 

 interest among school officials and school patrons, civic and 

 other organizations interested in the education of children and 

 young people, giving advice and assistance in the organization 

 of local clubs, training club leaders and directing their work. 

 Some time is also devoted to the guidance of individual club 

 members. This is especially true in regard to home economics, 

 and, to a large extent, in corn, potato and market-garden enter- 

 prises where the larger areas are involved. Two field inspectors 

 were employed during the latter part of the past summer who 

 made personal inspection of and reports on individual enter- 

 prises. 



Oeganization. 



The work of the Boys' and Girls' Club proceeds along two 

 fairly distinct lines, — the Massachusetts Home and School 

 Garden Club, and the Boys' and Girls' AgTicultural Club. The 

 Home and School Garden Club consists, for the most part, of 

 boys and girls in the grammar gi-ades of the schools. They cul- 

 tivate quite small areas either at home or at school. Many of 

 these children in the home gardens obtain a small quantity of 

 seed from the college free. They are encouraged to display 

 products in local competitive exhibits. These exhibits are 

 entirely under the direction of local or home leaders. Many 

 of the members display their products in the children's and 



