Department of Home Economics. cxxix 



In connection with these clubs there is a much more personal 

 touch with the women than when correspondence is had with 

 individual members. The visits to the homes of the members give 

 a much better opportunity for mutual assistance than could be had 

 in any other way. During the year, the instructors in the Depart- 

 ment of Home Economics have visited forty rural clubs, granges 

 and other farm meetings. 



A Housekeepers' Conference was organized in February, 1909, 

 in connection with Farmers' Week at the New York State College 

 of Agriculture. The object of this organization is to bring the 

 farm women into as close touch with the work of the College which 

 pertains to the home as the farmer is brought into touch with 

 agricultural subjects. It is planned to make this conference a 

 special field for experimental work in Home Economics and to give 

 an opportunity for an exchange of practical information. During 

 this week, lectures were given daily by the instructors in the Depart- 

 ment of Home Economics in a course in cereal foods and their 

 preparation by Miss Margaret Mitchell. This course is outlined 

 in Bulletin No. 200 of the United States Department of Agriculture. 

 The Conference is a further means of keeping those registered in 

 the Winter-Courses from year to year in touch with the Depart- 

 ment with the College. 



HI. RECOMMENDATIONS. 



While it is believed by the members of the Department that the 

 course as now planned is a very broad one and offers equal oppor- 

 tunities in most ways and better ones in some ways to similar 

 courses in other colleges, there are weak points which should be 

 strengthened as soon as possible. First, the average student who 

 completes a college course expects to be thus fitted to earn a living. 

 The majority of women who complete a college course take up the 

 teaching profession. In order to obtain a permanent position of the 

 best kind, a teacher must have completed certain courses in educa- 

 tion. Such courses are offered by the University, but under the 

 present elective system it is hardly possible for a student in the 

 College of Agriculture to obtain these courses and the right scien- 

 tific education at the same time. Second, limited space, teaching 

 force and funds have prevented the development of several very im- 

 portant parts of the work included under Home Economics, namely, 

 the sides dealing with clothing and domestic art in general, with 

 care of the sick and with various features of institutional manage- 

 ment. These courses should be begun in time to benefit the first 



