No. 4.] BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB WORK. 471 



after all their hard luck they would have something to show at the 

 school exhibit in the fall. 



My work in supervising these club members is growing more difficult 

 each year in many ways. In 1912 1 had about 112 members; in 1913 

 about 263; while this year, 1914, I have 336 members. I am certain 

 of a club of 500 within two years, and all this without any great 

 amount of advertising for new membei-s. They come in of their own 

 volition, and up to date I have cared for each and every member (Rus- 

 sellville excepted) from seed time to harvest, and then again through 

 exhibiting time. During the summer my visits per member will vary 

 from two to four visits. Some I see six times, others but once. I keep 

 an accurate record of every gardener and garden as to care and crops, 

 and as to whether the boy or girl exhibits in the fall, and then again 

 note the premiums won at regular agi'icultural fairs. I have a similar 

 record of all club members in Hadley since my coming three years ago. 

 These data tell many tales, and every time I glance through any part 

 of them I learn something new about the work. 



The Hadley exhibit, combined with the North Hadley exhibit, was 

 held in the Hopkins Gymnasium on Friday, October 2. I was pleased 

 with the showing, for it was easily the best attempt of the three years. 

 It was interesting to compare the crops of the two sections of the town. 

 The Hadley schools were excused at 2 p.m., and all came to see, for 

 many of them, their first exhibit. Last year an epidemic broke out, 

 and schools were closed on the afternoon of our exhibit, so all were 

 sent home with sad hearts and accompanying tears. This year they all 

 made up for lost time by coming in the afternoon and bringing their 

 parents in the evening. 



The townspeople turned out in large numbers at both exhibits. I 

 know their eyes were opened in many cases. They never grew better 

 com or potatoes than they saw at these shows. The farmers admitted 

 this point. 



Hadley exhibited at the Amherst and again at the Northampton Fair. 

 At Amherst, through the generosity of Professor Hart, we had enough 

 room to display about three-quarters of our total products, while at 

 Northampton we had room for but one-half of our exhibit, the other 

 half going under the display table. At this latter fair we experienced 

 a stroke of hard luck. Through an error in the secretary's office our 

 entry blanks were lost and our goods were practically excluded from 

 competition and premiums as well. The judges felt badly over this 

 point. Our exhibits Avould have won the premiums in many cases had 

 it not been for this mistake. Mr. Clapp of the Smith School was a 

 judge, and his letter to me which I am forwarding with the other ma- 

 terial will let you see how we lost out, or rather why we did not re- 

 ceive more premiums at the Northampton Fair. I hope that blow will 



