Home Economics. 87 



contains questions with space for answers by the members. It is to be 

 returned to the supervisor of the reading-course for review. Opportunity 

 is also given to members to ask questions on domestic problems. These 

 questions, when necessary, are referred to the departments specializing 

 in the subjects to which the questions refer. The last year has shown 

 much advance in correspondence with members. Questions are asked 

 concerning the destruction of household insect pests, how to fumigate a 

 house after contagious diseases, how to preserve eggs, how to can 

 vegetables. Lists of books.for the home are afeked for both for children 

 and for those desiring special work in farming. Recent inquiries are, 

 Is there danger of ptomaine poisoning in the use of the hay box? Is 

 wheat starch for laundry purposes available on the market and what are 

 its advantages over other starch? Send diagram and description of a 

 septic tank for use in connection with the farm home. More and more 

 the Agricultural College is becoming an experiment station for the farm 

 home as it has been for the farm. A fuller and better equipment is con- 

 stantly needed for this purpose. 



The Farmers' Wives Club. — Attention has been given during the past 

 three years to the organization of the farmers' wives' clubs. There are 

 now thirty-one active clubs with a total membership of nine hundred. 

 These clubs meet usually at the home of some member at intervals of 

 about two weeks. A program is given at these meetings which is partly 

 literary, and which also admits of discussions on woman's work in the 

 home. The basis of these discussions is found in the Cornell farmers' 

 wives' bulletins. The object of these meetings is to afford to rural women 

 social opportunities in their own communities and mental growth which 

 is stimulated by reading and discussion. The regular meetings of 

 farmers' wives' clubs are usually held in the afternoon at the home of a 

 member, the women doing their own driving, while special meetings are 

 held frequently in the evening with an attendance of men and a program 

 on home and farm subjects of interest to both men and women. 



Traveling libraries. — The extension work has been aided by the use of 

 traveling libraries from the Department of Education, Albany. The Cor- 

 nell bulletins for farmers' wives can be only suggestive studies on various 

 subjects. They are written to arouse an interest in the subject, and at a 

 later stage in progress, books are necessary for the completion of the 

 work. Many clubs and groups of women have availed themselves of 

 these traveling libraries, which may be secured for the use of clubs for 

 a nominal fee to pay cost of transportation. Progress is particularly 

 noticeable where the traveling library has been used. 



