EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 213 



HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENT WORK. 



During the year 1 1 counties cooperated with the College in the employment 

 of home demonstration agents. This is a larger number than had previously 

 been employed on regular funds. During the war while the total salary was 

 paid from emergency funds, a larger number of agents were at work. 



Each home demonstration agent is a permanent resident of her county 

 and gives all her time to service among the women of the county. Her work 

 includes demonstrations and personal assistance regarding nutrition, clothing, 

 household management, interior decoration, poultry, girls' garment and 

 canning cIuIds, and home accounts. Her whole wprk while dealing with these 

 details is aimed at the broader purpose of stronger people, better homes and 

 better communities. 



Foods. 



Food work has not followed the old line of cooking lessons and distribution 

 of recipes. Instead of this the latest information on nutrition and diet has 

 been given through food study classes, school feeding demonstrations and 

 milk campaigns. This instruction has included selection, preparation and 

 care of foods, planning of meals, and diet for children, and to meet special 

 needs. This work is being given strong support by many public agencies 

 such as Red Cross, churches, newspapers, libraries, women's clubs, granges and 

 by the general public. 



Three rural milk campaigns were carried on. During these campaigns 

 the specialist gave 65 lectures to a total of 4,293 people. A very decided 

 increase in the consumption of milk followed these campaigns, one dealer in 

 a small town reporting an increase of 34% in his sales; another reported sales 

 increased from 50 quarts daily to 70 quarts daily, and this in a community 

 where there was much unemployment. Because of the greater use of milk, 

 children have gained in weight, have acquired more life or energy, and have 

 gained higher marks in their studies according to reports from teachers. 

 Adults as well as children have also been physically benefited by the use of 

 milk in the diet. 



Besides the talks given in milk campaigns the speciahst gave 47 food talks 

 reaching 3,191 people. Much time was also given to assisting the traveling 

 clinic of the State Board of Health at which time assistance was given to 

 mothers in planning diets for special cases. These included principally diets 

 for underweight and tuberculosis. 



Nutrition clinics have been conducted by several of the home demonstra- 

 tion agents with malnourished children. There is a growing demand for this 

 work. The mothers of under-nourished children are asking for the home 

 demonstration agents and specialist aid, and several home demonstrations 

 have been established. 



Clothing. 



During the year the extension clothing specialist has worked directly with 

 the agents in the preparation of subject matter and illustrative materials. 

 The dress form has been featured by popular demand. Demonstrations in 

 dress form making have been given to organized groups and much effort has 

 been given to the organization of the group to make it permanent as a means 

 of promoting other lines of work. It is estimated that 2,500 of these forms 

 have been made since December 1, 1920. This work is not only important, 

 as a dress making aid but because it emphasizes the health side of clothing 

 work and calls attention to proper posture and correct fitting of corsets and 



