354 ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the standards of living in farm homes. These home-demonstration 

 agents, working intensively in small areas and in cooperation with 

 the county agents, bring together, through the farm bureau or other 

 county organization, educational, economic, and social agencies 

 which are working to improve home conditions. They train local 

 leaders, develop local groups or clubs, encourage community social 

 life, unify and strengthen all the constructive forces for accomplish- 

 ment, providing channels through which the State agricultural col- 

 lege and the department may bring information and help to the 

 people. 



Reports show that in the 15 counties 5,000 homes have been 

 visited, 300 clubs have been organized, 4,160 demonstrations have 

 been given, 18 State and county fairs have been assisted in exhibits, 

 6 home-improvement tours have been conducted, and 3 community 

 canning centers have been established. 



Eeports show accomplishment along the following lines: In- 

 creased preservation of food which is in excess of immediate demand ; 

 increased practice of drying, brining, and salting; increased produc- 

 tion of garden and poultry products; and increased knowledge of 

 storage and refrigeration. 



Reports also show such activities as the following: Market trips to 

 study conditions and buying methods; organization, equipment, and 

 supervision of canning centers; arranging with food producers and 

 food dealers such as market gardeners, fruit growers, and commis- 

 sion merchants to preserve excess food by sending it to community 

 centers for canning; establishing markets where women may sell 

 their home-produced products; and giving publicity to food facts 

 pertinent to the war situation through newspapers, posters, bulletins, 

 exhibits, and lectures. 



This work is developing satisfactorily, and plans for extending it 

 are being made by nearly all the Northern and Western States. 



EXTENSION SPECIALISTS. 



In order to provide for the study of the methods of extension teach- 

 ing in the different branches of agriculture as carried on by the agri- 

 cultural colleges and the department in the several States, and for the 

 planning and conduct of extension work of the various bureaus of the 

 department in cooperation with the colleges, arrangements have been 

 made by which extension specialists representing lines of work in 

 which different bureaus are engaged are cooperatively employed by 

 the respective bureaus and the States Relations Service. At present 

 department bureaus are represented in the following subjects: Soils, 

 forestry, horticulture, animal husbandry, and plant pathology. 



Observations on the methods of extension teaching in extension 

 schools, or short courses, were made in most of the States conducting 

 such schools in the New England, Middle Atlantic, and Central 

 Western States. The methods used in crop and soil improvement 

 were observed in New England States and in a few of the Central 

 States. A .few of the Central States were visited by the extension 

 specialist in horticulture to secure information on orchard improve- 

 ment demonstrations, and the extension specialist in forestry con- 

 ferred with several extension directors of the Central Western States 

 with a view to promoting a greater interest in the farm wood lot, the 



