NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
Schools

SERIES II.	BULLETIN No. 12.
GENERAL OUTLINE OF PLANS FOR THE NEBRASKA BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB. 1910

     The development of the work of the boys' and girls' clubs in Nebraska justifies us in taking a forward step toward more definite and intensive work by these who are now especially interested and who are in the position to develop some of the advanced ideas in the work. We shall continue to encourage the general work of county boys' and girls' clubs as carried out so successfully the past few years. In addition thereto we want to help a number of the most ambitious young people in each county to conduct some experimental work at home and to take up some definite work under the direction of the county superintendent and this department.

     This will be known as the Home Experiment Department. The plan is to provide for a number of young people in each county some definite work in which they are to receive instruction and on which they are to report progress each month. We want for this special work only such boys and girls as will give particular attention and will be capable of getting results. Their work will form a substantial nucleus for the general county organization which can include in addition thereto whatever phases of work the county superintendent sees fit to introduce. It will put the work on an educational basis which will be helpful alike to the school and to the home in showing what can, be accomplished by carefully directed, continuous effort.

     To the boys and girls who become members of this department our plan is to send a pamphlet each month. These pamphlets will contain something of interest to every member.

     Each month the members will be expected to report on some particular thing accomplished, depending upon the division of the work they enter. These reports are to be sent to the state superintendent

of public instruction, Lincoln, Nebraska, and to the county superintendent, if desired.

     The instructions, pamphlets, and supplies are furnished members free. Each person on becoming a member must agree to carry out fully the directions and make the required reports. Plans are subject to any changes that may be necessary to make the work effective.

     While the different lines of work are arranged especially either for boys or girls, unless otherwise specified, any boy or any girl may take up any of the work offered.

     Members will be divided into two classes: Those from 16 to 21 years of age, inclusive, will be known as Class "A"; those under 16 years of age as Class "B". This applies to both boys and girls and to any of the divisions in which distinction is made as to classes.

     Classes and a liberal premium list will be arranged at the county, state, and national corn shows, and the state fair, for work done in this department.

     The work planned in agriculture for 1910 is as follows:

1. Acre Contest-Corn:

     (a) Each contestant will grow an acre of corn. He will select the seed, prepare the land, do the planting, and cultivate corn according to his own idea.

     (b) In the fall the county superintendent will appoint a committee of three persons who will measure the acre, see the corn husked and weighed, and make affidavit to correctness of same.

     (c) The contestant must exhibit a written report of his work, together with the best ten ears of corn selected from the acre, at the county, state, and national corn shows in an acre class to which only those enrolled in the contest are eligible.

2. Ear to Row Test:

     In this test each contestant will, plant the best ten ears of corn he can secure by the "Ear to Row" plan and report monthly to this department and to the county superintendent, on blanks which will be provided from this office. Complete instructions as to how the reports are to be made will be sent to contestants each month.

     During April, a pamphlet giving directions for testing seed-corn will be sent each contestant, who will fill out and return a report card to this office. This card will ask questions as to where the corn was secured, where it was stored, etc.

     In May, the directions for planting the "Ear to Row" test will be sent. These directions will include how the corn shall be weighed, measured, numbered, etc.

     The contestant's report will consist of a report of each ear planted, giving items contained in the directions. The contestant will also be asked to tell of the kind of soil where grown, previous crops raised on the land, the location of the plot, etc.

     During June, a pamphlet giving directions for counting percent-

age of stand of corn will be sent to each person. The contestant's report will consist of filling out blank report card and finding the per cent. stand as indicated in directions.

     In July, a pamphlet containing methods of knowing and destroying such weeds as Tickle Grass, Fox Tail, and Canada Thistle will be sent to each member. The contestant will report the names of some of the most troublesome weeds in his locality and the methods commonly used to destroy them. Also, he will be asked questions concerning his corn plot.

     Sometime in August, a pamphlet telling of such insects as the Corn Root Worm, Cut Worm, Web Worm, Grub Worm, etc., will be sent from this office. The contestant's report will consist of answering questions concerning insects, weeds, condition of corn plot, etc.

     During September, directions for securing the percentage of stand, stalks without ears, "suckers" and smutted stalks of each row in the "Ear to Row" test will be sent to each contestant together with a card which is to be filled out and mailed to this office.

     The directions for harvesting the test will be forwarded in October. The contestant will report on the total weight of corn obtained on each row, the per cent. of seed ears, "nubbins", worthless ears, etc. Each term will be carefully explained in the directions.

     Each contestant is expected to show his best ten ears and best one ear at the county, state and national corn shows in classes arranged especially for boys entered in the "Ear to Row" test.

3. Husking Contest:

      Complete rules and regulations governing this contest will be sent to the county superintendent and boys who enroll in the department.

4. Judging Contest:

     We hope to arrange so that a judging contest can be held in each county in connection with the county show in the fall. The two contestants standing highest in the county judging contest will constitute the County Judging Team which it is expected will be sent to Lincoln to the state contest, with their expenses paid, where they will represent their county as a Judging Team to compete for a trophy at the state corn show. Nothing definite can be promised in this as much depends on the arrangements which each county superintendent may be able to make in his county.

     It is also hoped that the person winning First In the Ten Ear Class, arranged for the "Ear to Row" contestants, will have his expenses paid to the state show.

1. Acre Contest-Potatoes:

     (a) Each contestant will grow one-fourth of an acre of potatoes. He will select the seed, do the planting, prepare the ground and cultivate the potatoes according to his own idea.

     (b) ln the fall the county superintendent will appoint a committee

of three persons who will measure the one-fourth acre, see the potatoes dug and weighed, and make affidavit as to the correctness of same.

     (c) The contestant must exhibit a written report of his work, together with the best dozen potatoes selected from his one-fourth acre, at the county and state corn shows in an acre class to which only those enrolled in this contest are eligible.

2. Size of Seed-piece Test:

     The object of this experiment Is to demonstrate the variation in yield of potatoes, due to the size of the piece planted. The contestant will plant eight rows of potatoes, one hundred hills long. Each row will be planted to a different sized piece of seed potato. The size of piece will vary from one-eighth of a potato to a whole potato.

     Complete directions for planting and filling out reports will be sent in May. The contestant will report the slope of the plot, the previous crops, the preparation of the ground, number pounds seed planted in each row, etc.

     During June, a spraying calendar and pamphlet on insects will be sent from this office. On cards sent from this office, the contestant will report the number of sprouts in each hill of potatoes.

     A pamphlet on some of the worst weeds in the state will be sent to each contestant during July; he will be expected to report on his methods of cultivation, number of times sprayed, etc.

     During the latter part of August, directions for digging, weighing, and sorting the potatoes from each row will be forwarded. The contestants are expected to report on the weight of the potatoes gathered from each row, to figure the bushels per acre from each row, to sort the potatoes into marketable potatoes and culls. Each term used here will be carefully explained in the directions sent.

     Next fall at the county show each contestant is expected to exhibit twelve average sized potatoes from each of the eight rows planted. He is also expected to show the best peck of potatoes raised on any or all of his eight rows.

     It is understood that any person entering this contest does so with the understanding that he shall comply with all the rules and regulations.

     "Cookery means the knowledge of Medea and Circe and of Helen and of the Queen of Sheba. It means the knowledge of all herbs and fruits and balms and spices, and all that is healing and sweet in the fields and groves and savory in meats. It means carefulness and Inventiveness and willingness and readiness of appliance. It means the economy of your grandmothers and the science of the modern chemist; It means much testing and no wasting; It means English thoroughness and French art and Arabian hospitality; and, In fine, it means that you are to be perfectly and always ladles --loaf givers. " -- Ruskln.

     Those becoming members of any of the divisions of this department will be divided into two classes: Class "A," those between 16 and 21 years of age; Class "B," those under 16 years of age.

     Each member will receive each month from April to November recipes and definite instructions for carrying on the work,

1. Cookery:

     The work in cookery includes some of the best methods for the cooking and serving of nutritious foods, and the canning and preserving of some of the fruits in season each month. In connection with the instruction in canning and preserving, in June a bulletin be sent on "Bacteria and Moulds: Preservation of Foods."

     General instructions in cookery In all the work in cookery, the members of the club will be asked to conform to certain general rules in order that the measurements may be definite, and the results. uniform.

     The table of measurements is as follows:

3 teaspoonfuls (tsp) 16 tbsp 4 cups

=1 tablespoonful (tbsp) =1 cup (c) =1 quart (qt.)

     

     All measurements are taken level. With a knife scrape off all excess from a spoon or cup when measuring either dry or liquid Ingredients.

     Flour is measured after sifting.

     In preparing a recipe, as a general rule, all dry Ingredients are mixed and sifted before adding the remaining ingredients.

     In any recipe, calling for beaten eggs, care must be taken to beat the egg immediately before using, as the egg does not have the same leavening power after standing.

2. Buttermaking:

     During the season a bulletin will be sent out on the sanitation and

care of the milk and cream, churning of the cream, finishing and packing of the butter. Those entering this department will receive the bulletin and a blank report card for reporting the different items concerning the work. It is expected that classes will be provided In county contests for buttermaking.

3. Sewing:

     The work in sewing will be practical and the articles made will be those things which are necessary and useful to the girl.

     During the season instructions and materials will be sent each one who becomes a member of this department and reports will be required.

     In April, the samples of overhanding, hemming, hemming flannel, hack stitching, and running will be finished according to directions, and returned.

     In May, the stiching, overcasting, and felled seams; In, June the Dorothy seam, feather stitch, satin stitch, and French knots; in July, gathering on a band; in August, the making of a petticoat; in September, an underwaist; and in October a canvas sofa pillow.

     As these samples and questions are completed and returned to the office they will be clamped together and the complete sewing book returned to the county superintendent to be handed to its owner.

     In addition to the sewing book, there will be instructions for making those articles which will be made and used in the home. The club members will furnish their own material, and the state department the patterns and instructions necessary for hemming towels, making a sewing apron, holders, the making of a garden hat, marking of household linens, and the making of the large underwalst and petticoat after the model of the small ones.

     In addition to this there will he patterns furnished all girls In Class "A" who so desire, patterns for complete outfit for a twelve inch, doll, and the girls in Class "B" patterns for a complete outfit of infant clothes for a ten inch doll. The dolls may be entered at the county, state, and national contests, and at the state fair.

     In sewing, special care should be taken to keep the work as clean and neat as possible, to have the hands and nails clean, and a clean, apron to protect the work.

     A large towel or pillow case may be used to keep the work in when It is not being used.

---

© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller