EXTENSION DIVISION. 189 



REPORT OF EXTENSION WORK IN HOUSEHOLD 



ENGINEERING. 



BY O. E. ROBEY. 



The work has been carried out much the same as during the previous 

 year. Since the close of the war, renewed activity has been noted in all 

 lines of work. In fact, the demand has been so great that it has been im- 

 possible to give assistance in all places where asked. 



» EXTENSION SCHOOLS. 



As usual the winter months were spent largely in lecturing at Extension 

 Schools. Lectures on both Drainage and Household Engineering were 

 given. During the winter sixteen schools were attended and forty-one 

 lectures were given to an aggregate attendance of 2,274. 



HOUSEHOLD ENGINEERING. 



The work in Household Engineering has consisted in sending out plans, 

 lectures, and the construction of septic tanks. Twenty septic tanks have 

 been constructed during the year. 



DRAINAGE. 



The work in drainage has increased rapidly during the year and has 

 gradually widened in scope. A more careful study of this subject cannot 

 help but show the great need in this state for more and better drainage. 

 In a great many cases, it is the fundamental need before good agricultural 

 practices can be applied. 



The work has consisted of lectures, surveying fields and farms, giving 

 suggestive layouts for drainage systems, assistance in securing outlets, etc. 



In St. Clair count}^, the drainage work has been carried on in a some- 

 what extensive manner. This county is especially in need of tile drainage. 

 A large part of the soil is a heavy clay and the last three or four seasons of 

 especially wet weather has clearly shown that satisfactory crops cannot 

 be grown on this land under the present conditions. 



A study of the situation in this county showed that in order to make 

 the work most effective it was necessary to carry on an educational cam- 

 paign and, also, to assist in securing tile and in getting the tile put in the 

 ground. 



The educational work has been carried on for the past two years and has 

 begun to show good results. As a continuance of this educational work 

 and in order to bring an object lesson before each community, a series of 

 demonstrations were started this spring in cooperation with the county 

 agents. Fields of twenty-five to forty acres were secured in various parts 

 of the county (about 300 acres in all) for drainage and demonstrational 

 purposes. These fields have been selected so that they can readily be seen 

 from a main road. A large tile drainage machine has been secured to go 

 into the county and tile these fields according to our plans. The work is 

 now in progress and very satisfactory results are expected. A great deal 



