120 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



businesses. On the farm, old and .yoiino-, stronji^ and weak, all have Iheir 

 part in the work, bound by ties of ooninion interest, all closely in touch 

 with the work of each. It is a partnerehij) of mind and ninscle working 

 with and against natural forces around the farm home. Our success 

 adds to the welfare of the world and makes it easier I'oi- all men to live 

 and our success does not mean trouble or loss to an\ oilier class of 

 citizens. 



We do not miss the art galleries and concert halls when every window 

 is the frame of a picture changing fi*om season to season, that any artist 

 might well be proud of; and to our ears come the song of birds and the 

 hum of insect life. 



Woman's life naturally divides itself into that within the house and 

 without. In the house there is and must be a certain amount of work 

 that must be done over and over and still be never done wherever the 

 home may be. To the woman in the country where help has become an 

 almost unknown quantity this mere mechanics of living becomes at times 

 nearly unendurable. On the farm Ave have the spring, summer and fall 

 rush in the house as truly as the men outside. When we cannot meet the 

 condition by adding help we must do another way. We must cut the 

 work down in some way until it becomes possible to handle it Avithout be- 

 coming a nervous wreck. This elimination of work can reach into all 

 home departments. In buying furniture, buy the simple, easily dusted 

 and cared for variety, and as fast as possible do away Avith the kind 

 Avhere hours a Aveek must be spent with dust rags over one's finger poking 

 dust out of holes. Destroy or store the countless things that accumulate 

 in any home that demand care and handling, Avhile adding nothing to the 

 l^leasure, comfort or healtk of the family. 



In cooking eliminiate the elaborate dishes that demand much time 

 in preparation Avithout yielding an adequate return in nourishment. AVe 

 do not haA'e to tempt the appetities of our out door Avorkei's. The fresh 

 foods Avell cooked and appetizingly served are all that is demanded and 

 are enjoyed by all the famiy. We should try to furnish the A^arieties of 

 foods, the proteids, carbohydrates and fats so all shall be Avell nourished, 

 but no AA^oman in the rush Avoi-k, without extra help, slicmld stand over the 

 stove baking delicious fresh fruits into pies and should not be expected 

 to. The fruits fresh are a far better dessert. 



In regard to the Avork in the house Ave touch on the one great question 

 of debate in regard to Avoman's life on the farm, the question of house- 

 hold conveniences. This is the point made so much of by all the Avriters on 

 the subject. I do not Avish to be misunderstood. I belicA^e in having 

 every single one of these as fast as it is possible to haA'e them, but I real- 

 ize that injustice is frequently done the men of our farms in touching 

 this point. I may be especially fortunate in the type of farmer. I know 

 living as I do in the best neighborhood of the best county of the best 

 state in the Union, but I do not believe there is a farmer in Michigan, 

 who, if he could for a fair sum attach to a water, seAver or gas pipe 

 running past his home, Avould hesitate an instant after he could raise the 

 money. It is not that he is indifferent to the conveniences of his Avife 

 and daughters but that he has an entirely different problem to solve than 

 the city man. 



In the city these conveniences are demanded by the city itself for 

 sanitary reasons and peo})le are forced to install tke water and sewerage 



