Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 171 



time by studying home economics. But on the farm some closely 

 related work, such as poultry raising, may be profitably under- 

 taken ; and while special talents in some other directions should not 

 be neglected, their cultivation should be accomplished by a study of 

 home economics if one wishes time to continue their cultivation 

 after marriage. 



In every case, the problem should be considered carefully, the 

 girl aroused, if necessary, to the value of her opportunities and the 

 importance of her responsibilities, and, with her co-operation, plans 

 should be made that seem best to suit her individual circumstances 

 and prepare best for her probable future. 



THE FEEDING OF CHILDREN. 



(Amy Louise Daniels, Department of Home Economics, University of Missouri.) 



"The particular tree of knowledge which should be planted in 

 every home garden has many important branches, but one of the 

 largest is that which deals with the right feeding of the human 

 being. Even so short a time as twenty-five years ago the house- 

 wife and mother could furnish her table according to the dictates 

 of desire and taste. Her only guide was tradition, which suffered 

 one food and forbade another, sometimes wisely, often unreason- 

 ably. Today the burden of knowledge is hers, and the responsi- 

 bilities of the housekeeper of now are not unlike those of the engi- 

 neer who has charge of a trainload of people whom he must carry 

 through the perils of modern traffic. Only an understanding of 

 conditions will enable him rightly to perform this service. In- 

 telhgent feeding is as important to the human being as to the 

 farm crop and animal if man is to have a fair chance in the 

 struggle for existence. With two children of like inheritance, the 

 child protected by a parent's knowledge of nutrition has the better 

 opportunity for developing into sound, sturdy manhood."* 



During the Home Makers' Conference there was on exhibition 

 in the home economics building a series of typical meals for chil- 

 dren of various ages. It was our purpose in this exhibit to show, 

 first, the kinds of food best adapted to the needs of children of dif- 

 ferent ages; second, the amount the average child should eat, and 

 third, the way in which a meal, prepared for a family, may be 



•Cornell Reading Course for Farmers' Wives. Human Nutrition, Part I. 



