164 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



not as extensively in the counties as we felt it was not a legitimate 

 way of showing food conservation except where the counties contained 

 larger cities and more people could be reached. 



Dietetics. One of the greatest outgrowths of the recent war as far as 

 the home is concerned has been to give the housewife, also other members 

 of the family, a greater insight into the needs of food study and proper 

 feeding of the family. AVomen in the different communities are asking 

 for definite food study and lessons in planning meals. In nearly every 

 case the Home Nursing classes have been or will be followed by Dietetics 

 classes, which shows something of the interest in food principles. 



Preservation. The preservation of foods for winter use was taken up 

 very extensively last year by the home demonstration agents. The var- 

 ious methods were discussed and demonstrations given in drying, brining, 

 and canning of fruits, vegetabfes and meats.- In some counties canning 

 centers were established. In others several women clubbed together, 

 bought a canner and worked together, and in this way made the canning 

 work easier. This year some of the women are buying cans, can rubbers, 

 etc., together at wholesale prices. 



Increasing Use of Milk, No work can be done along the lines of nu- 

 trition without emphasizing the use of milk. The city agents have been 

 especially interested in this, and have all been active, both bj^ educational 

 work among mothers and by helping establish milk stations to increase 

 the consumption of milk and teach people the importance and economy 

 of using it in larger quantities. 



Clothing. The interest among women in the clothing work which the 

 agents have offered has been surprising. Doubtless the increased price 

 of all clothing materials and the necessity of utilizing everything on hand, 

 has stimulated interest along this line. Constant demands have come in 

 for talks and demonstrations on cutting and fitting, use of patterns, mak- 

 ing over garments, more efficient use of sewing machine attachments, etc. 



Health. During the influenza epidemic nearly all of the agents gave 

 their services in one way or another. In several places diet kitchens 

 were established in which the agent had entire supervision of the preparation 

 of foods for the emergency hospitals and homes where entire families 

 were ill. Some helped in establishing the emergency hospitals and acted 

 as nurses. One of the agents in the upper peninsula went into a foreign 

 district and stayed for eight weeks, working almost incessantly. 



Home Nursing Classes. Through a cooperative project with the Red 

 Cross the agents have organized from six to twelve home nursing classes 

 in nearly every county. Due to the influenza epidemic a greater need for 

 this work has been felt among the women of the rural communities and 

 much interest shown. The classes have been organized and all arrange- 

 ments made by agents. The classes have been taught by trained nurses. 



Child Welfare. In some counties nearly all the Child Welfare work 

 has been handled by the home demonstration agent. In others this has 

 been done in cooperation with the Woman's Committee, Council of 

 National Defense. This spring, each agent has given from two to four 

 days to a special Child Welfare campaign, put on with the assistance of 

 Miss Parker, the Health Specialist. This has consisted of establishing 

 centers where weighing and measuring of babies was conducted. Talks 



