DIGGING MUSSEL MUD IN GRAND, OR ELLIS. RIVER

Mussel mud was dug in the winter, usually by groups of five or six farmers working one mud digger, but some farmers made a living in the winter by building their own mud digger and selling mud for 25C 0 sleigh load. First a hole was cut in the ice and the scoop of the digger dropped in; then horses were hitched to a capstan and as they walked around in a circle they pulled up the scoop loaded with mud. This mussel mud was dropped into sleighs which were used to haul the mud to the fields where it was spread with a shovel. Mussel mud increased the yields of grain, but when the potato industry became prominent the mussel mud industry declined, since it caused scabs on the potatoes. The mussel mud industry died out completely around 1940.

4-H

The original name of 4-H was developed in Canada in March, 1952, but Farm and Youth Organizations flourished in Canada and in our own District thirty‘fiv'e years before this. The first known organization of any club in Lot 16 was in 1917, part of the Rural Youth Fairs of Prince Edward Island, started by local citizens, and lasting three years. '

Sewing and Knitting classes for the young girls of the community were begun in 1949, under the leadership of Mrs. Lottie MacFadden and Mrs. Helen Lyle, probably under the sponsorship of the Women’s Institute. The classes continued until 1956, when the Lot 16 Calf Club was organized. First Leader of the Lot 16 4—H Calf Club was Eddie Clark, and the club’s sponsors were Wilfred Lyle, Frank MacLaren and Erskine Forbes. Assisting Eddie Clark in Leadership was Garth MacLean, and that year the membership was 40 boys and girls. In 1957 the Club had a membership of 20, and the first ahcievement day was held at the farm of Kenneth MacLean, with a large attendance. From the first, many awards were won by this active club, and in 1959 Darrell Lyle attended the 13th National 4—H Conference in Washington. Norma Yeo was a winner in,‘Pub|ic Speaking contests that year. In 1961 the Club placed 5th for Projects, iudged by Don Wood.

in 1962 Kay Forbes won top honors at Prince County Exhibition for Showmanship. Allan Forbes won Grand Reserve Holstein Champion at the Summerside Lobster Carnival and Joyce MacFadden was a senior class winner in Public Speaking. At the Achievement Day that year, Allan Palmer, Provincial Representative, remarked that this Club showed promise of becoming the best club in the County and that much credit, for it’s high standing should go to the Leader, Eddie Clark. In 1963 Christine Campbell won a Trophy at the Prince .County Exhibition for Showmanship, and Freddy Barrett one for Judging. In that year Allan Forbes was awarded a trip to Nova Scotia on Interprovincial Exchange, part of a 4-H Program celebrating 50 years of Club work across Canada. In 1964 Kay Forbes went

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