602 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



During the year 430 of the home demonstration agents reported 

 that the farm women cooperated with them in conducting 26,650 

 demonstrations relating to gardens, over 10,000 on topics relating to 

 flowers, 4,800 relating to the vineyard and small fruits and an equal 

 number relating to the home orchard. As a result of these activi- 

 ties 84,300 gardens, 14,530 orchards and groves, and 18,400 vineyards 

 were improved, and the home grounds were beautified in 31,260 

 instances. 



The work with poultry continues to be one of the activities in 

 which the home demonstration agents participate largely. During 

 the year 24,000 demonstrations were conducted with chickens and 

 2,300 with other kinds of poultry, resulting in the changing of the 

 poultry j)ractices on 92,375 farms. As an outcome of these activities 

 184,000 standard-bred chickens were purchased; 20,000 flocks aggre- 

 gating 1,360,000 birds, were culled, with the elimination of 385,000 

 birds. The women also preserved 154,000 dozen eggs and sold nearly 

 500,000 dozen cooperatively. 



In certain parts of the country home demonstration agents have 

 been active in introducing the dairy cow in order to provide a 

 supply of milk for the home and to increase the income of the 

 farm women. During the year there were 11,500 demonstrations 

 relating to dairying, which resulted in 3,650 home dairy cows being 

 purchased, and improved methods were used in the making of 

 3,200,000 pounds of butter, of which 1,260,000 pounds were sold for 

 $425,000. Not only was the farm income increased as a result of 

 these activities, but the children in many farm homes were better 

 ^nourished. 



Food preservation. — The two most popular phases of work relat- 

 ing to the home are canning and clothing. In 1922 there were 38,700 

 demonstrations with reference to the method of canning, 46,700 

 boys and girls completed canning-club requirements, and 160,000 

 farm women improved their methods of canning. Another type 

 of work that is proving of interest and value to the farming people 

 is the preservation of meat. During the year there were 12,000 

 meat demonstrations, and 44,000 homes either canned meat for the 

 first time or improved their methods. There was also considerable 

 work with methods of preserving through drying or brining and 

 of storing food products. As a result of such activities 15,600,000 

 quart containers of fruit and vegetables were preserved, and in 

 addition 2,000,000 pounds of sausage, 12,000,000 pounds of pork, 

 1,500,000 pounds of lard, and 940,000 pounds of beef were cared for 

 according to the methods advocated by the extension agents. 



Nutrition. — The food-preparation work appealed to the farm 

 women to the extent that 13,000 demonstrations were given, 24,000 

 boys and girls were enrolled in food-preparation clubs, and 75,600 

 women improved their methods of food preparation. There were 

 also 2,750 demonstrations relating to food selection, and 3,800 boys 

 and girls enrolled in clubs dealing with the project, and as a result 

 18,375 homes select their food with greater care and in such a way 

 as to furnish a more adequate diet for the family. Keports show 

 that 300,000 children of school age improved their health by the in- 

 creased consumption of milk and a more suitable diet. 



Clothing. — There were 8,000 demonstrations dealing with the con- 

 struction of clothing, which resulted in 48,000 women improving 



