STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 369 



The specialist representing the Bureau of Markets gave particular 

 attention to securing outlets for the large quantity of Michigan pota- 

 toes on hand the 1st of February. The results of visits to other States 

 was to direct attention to the marketing of particular products and to 

 the formation of marketing organizations. 



The Bureau of Biological Survey conducted extension work in prac- 

 tically all of the States west of the one hundredth meridian on the 

 eradication of rodent pests, the most successful being in Montana and 

 North Dakota, An extension specialist visited most of the 11 West- 

 ern and Pacific States to further develop the plans of organization and 

 method of control before the crop season came on. 



The Office of Farm Management is cooperating through a section of 

 farm-management demonstrations within this offive. Its extension 

 work has been directly as well as indirectly connected with the emer- 

 gency problems of the war period, represented in record keeping, 

 cost accounting, production per man, and labor distribution. 



OFFICE OF HOME ECONOMICS- 



C. F. Langwoethy, Chief. 

 Aethur D. Holmes, Assistant Chief. 



The work of the past year was influenced in a large measure by 

 the war situation, particularly by the demand for reliable sugges- 

 tions for utilizing the available food supply in a rational and eco- 

 nomical waj^ and one which at the same time provides a diet con- 

 forming so far as possible to general dietary preferences. The em- 

 phasis being placed on personal and family thrift as a patriotic duty 

 also made it necessary to consider questions of conservation in the 

 use of clothing, household supplies, and household equipment. Mean- 

 while the regular as well as the experimental and research work of 

 the office was carried on as usual with such adaptations as made it 

 contribute directly to the war emergency situation. For example, 

 a comparative study of the digestibility and food value of breads 

 made from the coarser flours in comparison with those made from 

 the standard flour was taken up hs an emergency measure, but fitted 

 into the series of digestibility studies which for several years has 

 constituted part of the regular work of the office. 



A dietary survey was carried on, in cooperation with the Bureau 

 of Markets, to supply exact information regarding the use which is 

 being made of foods in the home. In this survey the results are 

 worked up in groups as they accumulate, so that the information ob- 

 tained may be available for immediate use. Data already accumulated 

 have proved of decided value in discussing the broader aspects of the 

 war emergency food situation. Upward of 1,000 records have been 

 obtained from American homes and about 500 from boarding houses, 

 college clubs, homes for children or adults, and other similar homes 

 where groups are fed. The hearty voluntary cooperation of house- 

 keepers and institutions in this work has been particularly gratifying. 



A special series of food leaflets, brief and concise in form and non- 

 technical in character, was prepared in cooperation with the United 

 States Food Administration. These leaflets give reasons why certain 

 foods should be used, rational and practical ways, including recipes, 

 of preparing them for the table, and suggestions for their combina- 



