Report of Missouri Farmers* Week. 151 



A "Report from Pettis county Home Makers' Conference" was 

 postponed on account of the absence of Mrs. Sneed. 



Discussion of "Programs by Chairmen of Committees of Vari- 

 ous Clubs" was led by Mrs. A. F. Stephens, representing a local 

 home economics club. She said study began with foodstuff of 

 staple kind; then more complicated articles of diet were tried. 

 Recipes were tested and recommendations made regarding changes 

 to be made in same, these signed by the name of the person sug- 

 gesting these. Other subjects pertaining to household problems 

 and plans followed in turn, passing on to the care of children, books 

 in the home, etc. The discussion of the nutritive values of hard 

 and soft wheat for bread were discussed and preference was given 

 to the first. 



Second Day — Wednesday, January 15. 



The conference came to order with a good audience present. 



Mrs. Alford of Vandalia proved herself worthy of her reputa- 

 tion as a champion poultry raiser. STie argued strongly in favor 

 of a pure-bred strain in the stock birds, and disapproved of a 

 mongrel flock. She stated that $50,818,145 was the total income 

 from Missouri poultry last year, and thought breeding poultry for 

 eggs the most profitable from a business standpoint. She advised 

 poultry raisers to pay more attention to scientific care of poultry. 

 The number of questions from the audience indicated the general 

 interest in this industry. Mrs. Alford thought that wet mash was 

 a better egg producer than other foods, and that it should be given 

 warm in winter; also that this food given to hens brought better 

 returns than if given to hogs. This should be fed at noon, unless 

 this meal could be given early in the morning, in which event it 

 could be made heavy, since the birds would have time to exercise 

 and digest a big meal. She recommended trap-nesting for breed- 

 ing purposes. She thought less than a pint of grain per hen, 

 twice a day, with mash at night, about the proper ration. 



Mrs. Scott Cunningham's paper on "Indian Runner Ducks" 

 was read by the secretary, and was followed by discussion of the 

 different breeds and their respective quality of eggs. Miss Denny 

 gave her experience as 1,787 eggs from 15 ducks from January to 

 August, but found the market price no higher, locally, than for 

 other eggs. It was her opinion that it was better for Indian 

 Runner Ducks to have no water in the winter time to bathe in, 

 since their feet were tender, and cold feet prevented laying. 



