The Bulletin. 13 



women's institutes. 



The holding of institutes for the women in the farm homes was 

 inaugurated in 1900 and 21 institutes were held in 19 counties. 

 During 1907 this work was greatly extended, there being held 50 

 institutes in 38 counties. 



The success of these Women's Institutes has more than justified 

 our assumption that an effort to improve rural conditions through 

 the co-operation of the women on the farms would be as effective 

 as the institutes for men had been. Allowing for the general lack 

 of knowledge regarding the purposes or objects of these institutes, 

 the interest in them and the appreciation shown for the information 

 sought to be imparted have been very gratifying, and indicate very 

 plainly that the women on the farms of the State are ready to take 

 hold of the work and make it a tremendous power for the upbuilding 

 of farm conditions and farm life. The best farms are impossible 

 without the best farm homes, and a knowledge of modern domestic 

 science is as important and useful to the woman who is to develop 

 and maintain the ideal farm home of the future as is a knowledge 

 of modern agricultural science to the man who is to build up a 

 model farm. 



For the benefit of those not entirely familiar with the scope and 

 nature of the work contemplated by these Women's Institutes, the 

 following list of subjects is given as a sample of the topics discussed : 



The Farm Fruit Garden. 



The Farm Vegetable Garden. 



Farm Poultry. 



Farm Butter Making. 



Beautifying the Home Surroundings. 



Home Conveniences. 



Literature for the Farm Home. 



Home-making. 



Home Nursing. 



The Nutritive Value of Foods. 



Cooking Meats, Vegetables, etc. 



Bread Making. 



Educating the Girls on the Farm. 



The usual practice has been to hold the Women's Institute on the 

 same day and at the same place as the institute for men, but in a 

 separate hall. At least one and usually two separate sessions are 

 held, which enable the women to form an organization of their own 

 and permits of greater freedom in the discussion of special house- 

 hold topics, many of which would neither be instructive nor interest- 

 ing to a mixed or general audience. 



