208 ' STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



placing ill (he hands of all newspapers of the staler timely copy on food 

 ])r()(lnction lines. Mr. Earl Tranj^niar -was enii»loyed to snpervise the 

 work and secnn^ Ihe coopi'i-alion of I he press of the slate, l^raclically 

 all of the news and farm pai)ers have; snpporled Die movement by giv- 

 ing liberally of space, nsing from one to two colnmns of agricnltnral 

 matter each issue. 



Very truly yours, 



R. J. BALDWIN, 

 Extension Director. 

 East Lansing, Mich., June oO, 1917. 



REPORT OF EXTENSION WORK IN HOME ECONOMICS. 



BY EDNA V. SMITH. 



The efforts during the year have been mainly toward the problems of 

 preserving foods, and textiles. These lines were being made major 

 features throughout the year and as war conditions approached and be- 

 came a reality, full time was given to them. Canning by the one period 

 cold-pack process has been demonstrated in 120 places and bulletins have 

 been distributed through county agents, schools, Avomen's clubs, granges, 

 farmers' clubs, and other organizations until it is safe to say that any 

 housewife in Michigan who has desired to can has had an opporunity to 

 learn something of the method. Drying perishable fruits and vegetables 

 has been considered important and demonstrations and lectures have 

 been given wherever interest has been found.. 



The conserving of energy on the part of the home managers has also 

 been given much attention through instruction in systematizing work 

 and using labor saving equipment. This will continue to be of great im- 

 portance because of the increasing scarcity of labor during the war. 



The elimination of waste from the daily operations of the kitchen has 

 been made a public issue through newspapers, posters and lectures and 

 indications of results are found in the reports of garbage collectors from 

 the larger cities to the effect that there has been a noticeable decrease in 

 food products thrown into garbage. 



The impossibility of the present extension staff meeting all calls for 

 food demonstrations became apparent soon after the war program 

 started and volunteer workers were called for. A training school for 

 such workers was held at the College during the last week in June and 

 was attended by over one hundred women who had had at least two 

 years home economics training. Twelve thrift lessons were prepared 

 by the Domestic Science department and these have been offered to 

 thrift clubs which are being rapidly organized and placed in charge of 

 some local leader. To bring the application of these thrift lessons point- 

 edly to the attention of each individual a pledge card has been issued to 

 be signed by the housewife and hung in the kitchen. .The substance of 

 the card is given below. 



