1928 - Annual Convention

              36 A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
advantages to be gained by raising pedigreed stock and pure blood poultry,
c u l l i n g poultry for profit and marketing of same to advantage, turkey raising,
Saskatoon as a hedge, Alberta's wild flowers, profit in curing pork, why
cream tests vary, raising geese profitably, corn- growing in Alberta,, the
culture of roses, how A l b e r t a compares with other countries i n agriculture.
These subjects, together with other matter, have rounded out many a
fine and inspiring programme.
F r om the north to the south of the province our Institute workers are
t a k i n g a lively interest in community improvement. Besides the school f a ir
work, in which a large percentage of the branches are active assistants, the
cemetery work, tree planting and civic improvements of various orders are
undertaken. These include maintaining of rest rooms for the use of country
women and children, caring for gardens on vacant lots, making small parks,
cutting weeds from roadsides, and inaugurating " Clean U p " and " Paint U p "
campaigns. Big things have been undertaken by many of the Institutes
where large sums of money are required to accomplish the undertakings.
Several hundred dollars have been expended on many a project. Although
there is a lack of interest in some localities, considerable headway is being
made, and every year shows a marked improvement.
Our Institute body is keeping abreast of the times in exhibition work
aside from helping to finance fairs of different sorts. It is also cap­t
u r i n g its share of the prizes at these contests. Perfection of quality
rather than quantity is the standard, and our W. I. women are fast becoming
observers and hard earnest workers. Last f a l l several of the constituencies
planned flower shows in connection with their conferences, but the late
dates of the conferences prevented several putting their plans into effect. It
is expected that this year the conferences will be held a month earlier so
that flower and horticultural shows may be planned without fear of frost.
As nothing promotes any branch of work like public competition, a great
deal of good should result from promoting these enterprises.
The growing of fruit is receiving more attention every year. A great
many are producing this article of food quite satisfactorily, and in many
instances in commercial quantities. This home- grown fruit supplements
the wild fruit which is an asset to Alberta, and which is used a great deal
for canning, preserves and jellies.
P o u l t r y - r a i s i n g is on the increase, baby chicks being shipped a l l over the
province. The marketing of poultry products has improved greatly through
the pools. Turkey- raising is a coming industry in Alberta. Several W . I.
members are already members of the Bronze Turkey Breeders' Association,
which has recently been formed.
Vegetable gardening is receiving more attention every year, and more
and more of the tender vegetables are being grown successfully. Alberta
vegetables will hold their own anywhere both in quality and flavor. There
is no limit to the quantity that can be produced.
The following is a testimony that work brings results. At the Royal
Show at Toronto, when 80 entries captured S7 awards, everything en­tered
from A l b e r t a took a prize. Butter won 14 prizes out of 14 entries.
A l b e r t a honey took both f i r s t and second prizes. The records of the Chicago
International Show record similar successes. Wheat, oats, peas, alfalfa,
timothy and cattle all captured long lists of prizes, and for the most part
were products of breeders throughout the province.
This year agriculture in A l b e r t a w i l l be represented bv a team of three
members of the Alberta Women's Institute Girls' Club" at the Canadian
National E x h i b i t i o n in Toronto.
As home builders our women are outstanding, and they are adding their
share of work i n a g r i c u l t u r a l pursuits, and when linked together as a whole
their influence is widely felt. Alberta is wealthier bv thousands of dollars
annually by reason of the work that is done by the A g r i c u l t u r a l Committee
of the Women's Institutes of Alberta. Further, we have found from ex­perience
that pleasant home surroundings, coupled with community interest,
good r u r a l schools and diversion i n clean and healthy recreation sufficient
to keep young hearts- content are the contributing factors which w i l l satisfy
the young people with rural life.