BuBEATj OF Ageictjlttjbe. 453 



est, altliougli some did tlie work inferiorly. Some who 

 started out poorly suddenly aroused to action, and really 

 did most creditable work. 



Bad weather conditions have been mostly to blame 

 for poor results. Some girls were forced to drop out 

 because the plants were entirely destroyed by the heavy 

 rains. They had planted in low ground as the instruc- 

 tions said. The rains also damaged the quality. 



Few have confines for their chickens, nor can you in- 

 duce them to pen them up. Many bushels of tomatoes 

 have been lost by the chickens eating them. 



But, with all of our difficulties, our season's work 

 has not been lost. Our county fair exhibit aroused such 

 enthusiasm that I am looking to the agent in charge hav- 

 ing a large enrollment next year. Many girls have vol- 

 untarily given me their names for next year. Mothers 

 have given me their daughters' names, fathers have 

 come promising me unasked what they will do next 

 year. It does make me feel that after all the lethargy 

 that ha^ bound these people hand and foot for many gen- 

 erations is loosening, and that a glorious dawn is about 

 to break. I hope to be the first one up to see the first 

 gleam above the horizon. 



Upon one occasion two of the girls and myself gave 

 a public demonstration of canning tomatoes and beans. 

 About a thousand people had assembled to have a pic- 

 nic on one of the large farms. People were there from 

 miles around. Much interest was evinced, questions 

 asked, notes taken of my talk, and discussions aroused. 



The interest and co-operation of several prominent 

 club women has been given. Donations of money, visits 

 made, vehicles loaned, orders given, etc., have each 

 helped the cause. 



My one idea in the beginning was to make myself 

 acquainted with these people with whom I was to work. 

 With this in view, I started out visiting them, and care- 

 fully studying the way to their hearts. I found them 

 sensitive to a degree to any comparison to their way 

 of doing things and mine. They would not hear to my 

 helping with the cooking. I had to content myself with 

 giving recipes. 



