314 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



outlined by the department of Home Economics of the State University. 

 As a natural result others became interested and when samples of their 

 work were put on exhibition the parents saw it had been worth while. 



From this small beginning there was not the least doubt but what 

 it has proved that the school needed a Home Economics Department, and 

 the establishment of such was the outcome of their efforts. 



REPORT OF WOMEN'S INSTITUTE WORK. 



(By Miss Uena Bailey, Farmers' Institute Lecturer, .Board of Agriculture.) 



Institute meetings to help the farmer get larger returns from the 

 soil and from live stock have been held over the State for seven or eight 

 years. Nothing was done to help the farmer's wife get larger and better 

 returns from her labor until the first institutes for the farm women of 

 Missouri were held in December, 1908. Since that time the following 

 meetings have been held : 



Sessions for women 48 



Sessions for school girls 18 



Sessions for mixed audiences 26 



Total 92 



The total attendance at these meetings was 6,897, or an average of 

 75 a session. 



Thus far this work has extended only to 22 of the 114 counties of 

 the State. No meetings for women have yet been held in the great 

 southeast section of the State. Tlie majority of these meetings have 

 been held in small towns. 



The subjects discussed are as follows: "The Need of Home Eco- 

 nomics," "The Convenient Kitchen," "The Bed-room," "The Living 

 Room," "The Attractive Table," "The Cooking of Meat," "Balanced 

 Rations for Men," and "Everyday Sewing." Sometimes the school 

 girls have a real lesson in sewing. They are not taught embroidery 

 work, but how to make a neat patch and a good buttonhole. At some 

 places exhibits of cake, pie, bread and needlework were judged by the 

 institute lecturer. It is liopod more of tlie school girls will become in- 

 terested in this work. 



Nearly one thousand women in Missouri now receive such bulletins 

 published by the State Board of Agriculture as are of interest to farm 



