458 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



research laboratory for studying problems connected with incuba- 

 tion of eggs, which have so far baffled experts in poultry hus- 

 bandry. Good progress has been made on the construction work in 

 the two rooms that are to comprise the calorimeter laboratory. The 

 fact that the room where the calorimeter is to be placed has been so 

 built that temperature and humidity may be controlled will make 

 possible work of a high degree of accuracy. 



In cooperation with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics and 

 with the New York State College of Agriculture, the office surveyed 

 400 farm homes in Livingston County, N. Y., with a view to obtain- 

 ing facts on the standard of living maintained in the American farm 

 home. Previous surveys by Federal and other agencies have gathered 

 data on farm incomes, on what the farm contributes directly to the 

 farmer's living, and on various other social-economic conditions rela- 

 tive to farm life. Up to this time, however, none of these studies 

 considered Avhat kind of a living can be maintained on farm incomes 

 and whether it is proportional to capital invested. This survey 

 ■covered the house and its surroundings, including such important 

 details as furnishings, conveniences, and sanitation; income from 

 various sources and expenditures for such items as food, clothing, 

 education, social welfare, recreation, and doctor's fees and medicine ; 

 time consumed in various household tasks, lengths of the work day, 

 and amount and use of leisure; the social life of the family; improve- 

 ments desired for home and community; and what women consider 

 the greatest advantages and disadvantages of farm life. 



As occasion has offered, tests have been made of methods of care 

 and repair of household equipment. The articles repaired were 

 such as came to hand and have included floor coverings, china and 

 earthen ware, glass, and a few miscellaneous articles. The results 

 show that many repairs can be made at home Avith good results and 

 without any undue labor, which are relatively costly if sent to a 

 jDrofessional repairer. A farmers' bulletin on floors and floor cover- 

 ings and a paper on floor oils were published, and other information 

 on the care and repair of household equipment and furnishings was 

 disseminated through the Press Service of the department. 



Two department bulletins, or professional papers, embodying re- 

 sults of investigations by the office, were issued during the year. 

 One of these bulletins, entitled " Food Values : How Foods Meet 

 Body Needs," shows in a new graphic form the special value of vari- 

 ous foods in the diet. The other, entitled " Heat Production of 

 Honeybees in Winter," reporting respiration calorimeter experiments 

 conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology, is a con- 

 tribution to the information needed by apiculturists to prevent un- 

 due losses in bee colonies during winter. 



Three farmers' bulletins based on the results of investigations by 

 the office, in addition to the one on floors and floor coverings, were 

 issued as follows : " A Week's Food for an Average Family," dis- 

 cussing good proportions of the various types of foods, using for 

 illustration a week's food supply for the average, or census, family, 

 the unit commonly adopted in studies of cost of living ; " Home Can- 

 ning of Fruits and Vegetables," recording the results of experiments 

 in canning by all the common household methods and pointing out 

 the scientific reasons underlying the preservation of foods by can- 



