STATES EELATIOXS SERVICE. 383 



fects of Till increased use of milk in the diet of iindernoiirislied chil- 

 dren. Milk talks were given in factories and milk sales increased 

 from 5 to 35 per cent, factor^' managers permitting distribution of 

 milk at cost to employees during working hours. Stations for the 

 distribution of whole and skimmed milk were also established. The 

 board of health of Xew Haven, Conn., states that infant mortality 

 decreased 50 per cent in the last year in one factory district in which 

 such a station was established. 



IMPRO\'EU HOirSKHOLD EQUIPMENT. 



Rapid progress was made in introducing homemade and commer- 

 cial labor savers, including tireless cookers, pressure cookers, and 

 iceless refrigerators. On December 1, 1918, the State leaders re- 

 ported 228 water systems and 198 lighting systems installed, 4,281 

 houses screened, 1,002 kitchens remodeled, and 9.563 pieces of im- 

 proved equipment installed as a result of the work of the home 

 demonstration airents. 



\ INFLrEXZA SEKVICE. 



During the influenza epidemic, home demonstration agents were 

 called on to assist in important emergenc}'- work, such as organizing 

 soup kitchens (49 reported), emergency hospitals, and voiuritcer 

 nursing services, or to act as hospital cooks and dietitians. Many 

 agents organized classes in home nursing, in connection with State 

 home nursing sioecialists, local nurses, or doctors, or the Red Cross 

 nursing service. 



POl'T.TRY. 



In Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, and Vermont 

 home demonstration agents played a prominent part in intensive 

 culling campaigns inaugurated by Federal and State poultry spe- 

 cialists. In one county 250 women culled flocks totaling 23,550' birds, 

 discarding about 40 per cent and saving $19,000 on feed. Canning of 

 surplus culls and preservation of eggs in watergiass were widely dem- 

 onstrated. Agents also took up other phases of poultrj- work. "^ 



SPECIALISTS. 



A member of the Washington staff delegated to study the work of 

 home economics extension specialists visited 14 States and held con- 

 ferences with State leaders and specialists and reported upon the 

 work. Fifty home economics extension specialists were employed in 

 15 States to give instruction and demonstrations in foods and nutri- 

 tion, clothing, home hygiene and sanitation, household management 

 and conveniences, home decoration, and other subjects. An almost 

 equal number of women who were virtually specialists assisted in 

 •such work in the 18 other States. 



BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB WORK. 



The boys' and girls' club work continued in charge of O. H. Ben- 

 son. Marked progress was made during the year in the employment" 

 of paid club leadership. Twenty-eight State, 131 assistant State, 

 57 district, and 736 county club leaders were employed, in addition 

 to which there were 13,988 volunteer club leaders in charo-c of local 



