Stockbreeders' Associations are organized to improve the 

 breed of cattle and horses ; but they serve also as a means of 

 education to the farmer, giving him renewed interest in farm- 

 ing and a different point of view. 



Organizations of Women are often among the most effec- 

 tive in improving conditions making for better homes and 

 schools. 



One of the chief educational organizations is the farmers' 

 institute. The institute is a one, two, or three day school for 

 farmers and farmers' wives, maintained and organized usual- 

 ly by some state agency, the agricultural college, experiment 

 station, or state department of agriculture. About 8,000 far- 

 mers institutes were held in the United States in 1913 with a 

 total attendance of nearly three million. In the institutes 

 problems related to the farm, the home, and the school are tak- 

 en up and discussed by local people and by paid lecturers. 



Boys' and Girls' Clubs. One of the most successful move- 

 ments to interest young people in farm life has been the or- 

 ganizations of boys' and girls' clubs. These clubs have vari- 

 ous aims depending upon local conditions. The corn club may 

 be taken as an example. The boys and sometimes the girls of 

 a community are interested in the production of better corn 

 and organized into clubs the members of which are to plant a 

 small piece of corn, carefully selecting the seed and following 

 directions as to the manner of cultivation. Prizes are given 

 to the one who produces the best corn or the largest yield. 

 The advantages of these clubs may be summarized as follows : 



1. To teach the principles of agriculture in a practical 

 manner. 



2. To teach facts of the soil and of plant life and show 

 communities the value of their land. 



3. To dignify labor and make it intelligent and effective. 



4. To give purpose and direction to youthful lives at the 

 opportune time. 



5. To impress the value of individual ownership and earn- 

 ing. 



6. To help the family by having all of its members con- 

 tribute to its support. 



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