LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Office of Experiment Stations, 



Waski?igt07i, D. C, April 28, 1903. 



Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of a number 

 of dietary studies which were offered to this Office for publication. 

 These include investigations at the Boston School of Housekeeping by 

 Miss Lydia Southard; a study at th(> same institution Ijy Miss Susannah 

 Usher and Miss Bertha M. Terrill; at the Bible Normal College, at 

 that time located at Springfield, Mass., but now at Hartford, Conn., 

 and designated School of Religious Pedagogy, by Miss Bertha M. 

 Terrill; and of families of different nationalities living in the thickly 

 congested districts of Philadelphia and Chicago, by Mrs. Ellen H. 

 Richards and Miss Amelia Shapleigh. Much credit is due Miss Hen- 

 rietta I. Goodrich, director of the Boston School of Housekeeping, for 

 planning the series of studies carried on in that institution in 1901-2, 

 and to Miss Annette Philbrick, fellow at the Boston School of House- 

 keeping, 1901-2, who rendered valuable assistance in carrying out the 

 details of these studies. The preparation and editing of the material 

 has been very largely the work of Mr. R. D. Milner, of the Office of 

 Experiment Stations. 



The studies at the Boston School of Housekeeping and the Bible 

 Normal College are of special importance, since in all but one the cost 

 of the food was decided upon beforehand, and an attempt was made to 

 supply with the sum allowed a satisfactory and nutritious diet corre- 

 sponding to the commonly accepted dietary standards. The studies, 

 which were in the main successful as regards the object sought, are 

 interesting and valual)le attempts to apply in a practical way the 

 accunudated results of nutrition investigations. All the data included 

 are of value in themselves and useful for purposes of comparison 

 and in other ways. 



The report is submitted with the recommendation that it be pub- 

 lished as Bulletin No. 129 of this Office. 

 Respectfully, 



A. C. True, 



Director. 



Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of A<jricultu're. 



