No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 161 



only by the gradual spreading of the leaven that is working in the 

 larger cities, by the steady work in that direction of those engaged in 

 ti^aching domestic science^ and by the hearty co-operation of woman's 

 clubs, farmers' institutes, and like organizations. 



The farmers' institutes can be a living force in this respect, and a 

 beginning has already been made in this State, by the setting aside 

 of one period of the institute as the "Woman's Session," or as the 

 session devoted to the Farm Home. A portion of this session can 

 well be devoted to presenting a plain statement of wheat is com- 

 prised under the head of domestic science, what portions of the sub- 

 ject can be most profitably introduced into the common schools and 

 how best to make a beginning. 



In several states the work at the institute has been carried still 

 farther, and actual demonstrations in cooking have been given at one 

 or more sessions of the institute. A few demonstration Jessons 

 given on such every-day subjects as making bread, pies, soups, broil- 

 ing meats and poultry, cooking tough beefsteak, and preparing all 

 sorts of common things properly and healthfully, would, I believe, 

 arouse such an interest in cookery that it would be demanded as 

 part of the regular course in every common school and would soon be- 

 come one of the permanent and most popular branches of study. 



The greatest objection I have heard to these cooking lessons, was 

 the complaint that the men were just as much interested in them 

 as the women and it took out so much time from what they were 

 pleased to call the serious work of the Institute. 



At present one session of the farmers' institutes in this State is 

 devoted to the schools, and much has been said at these sessions on 

 the introduction of Nature Study into the school curriculum. All 

 the arguments in favor of Nature Study apply equally well to the 

 teaching of domestic science, and, indeed, the two can be taught 

 together to the advantage of both subjects. One teacher has lately 

 tried this plan and reports a great awakening in interest and a bet- 

 ter grasp of the subject. For instance, when corn was the topic, the 

 children in their nature study work took up the history of its ori- 

 ginal use by the Indians, its manner of growth, the composition of 

 the kernel and its different parts. Then in the cooking lesson^ the 

 difference was shown between corn meal and corn starch, the 

 effect of water, both hot and cold, on the starch, and finally, a sim- 

 ple dish was cooked, with corn as its principal ingredient. Other 

 cereals and vegetables followed on succeeding days giving the schol- 

 ars a good fundamental knowledge of the primary facts concerning 

 the sources of human food. 



It must not be supposed, however, that when domestic science has 

 been introduced into all the town schools that its mission is ended. 

 There is a wide sphere of usefulness for it, even in the country 

 11—7—1904 



