626 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



and public affairs and the farmer's home is brighter on this account. The 

 home life on the farm has been made much more worth the living and I 

 believe the farm women will continue to apply labor savers, to the end 

 that they may have time for other things — the local church, the Wom- 

 an's Christian Temperance Union, farmers club, a chance to visit the 

 school or call on her neighbors. 



To meet these changed conditions, a study of the latest economic de- 

 velopments relating to the home is necessary for all true mothers and 

 help mates. 



A knowledge of the laws of health, an understanding of sanitary re- 

 quirements of the house, the right care of children, both physical and 

 mental, and practice in different household arts are all required before 

 the house wife can be considered mistress of her home. 



We intend to advance, we expect to progress, we shall not stagnate, we 

 shall not neglect our mental and spiritual nature in order to keep to old 

 time out of date methods. 



Would we think for a moment of going back to the little log house with 

 its fire place and its spinning wheel or the tallow candle and the soap 

 kettle of our grandmothers? Certainly not, and never has the art of 

 house keeping and the sanitation of the home, or the science of cooking 

 received the attention it does now and let us ever be on the alert for 

 whatever is within our means for advancement. 



To be sure a farmer can get along without many of the modern con- 

 veniences on the farm. He could do without a gasoline engine, manure 

 spreader, grain elevator or hay loader and a number of other labor savers 

 which have been added to the equipment of the progressive farmer, but 

 can you realize a man selling one of these conveniences after he has once 

 used it on his farm and seen its real value? The same is true of the 

 housewife in regard to conveniences for the home. 



First of all the house should be a place of rest and comfort as well as 

 the work shop of the home, and should therefore be beautiful and comfort- 

 able as well as convenient and ought to be arranged where possible with 

 these ends in view. 



Rooms should be well lighted and ventilated and if finished with good 

 oiled woodwork and floors are more easily kept clean. If it is possible 

 to have this home heated v/ith a furnace, all the dust and dirt of the 

 stove are avoided. Many of the modern farm homes have a heating plant 

 as well as lighting plant of some kind, either gas or electricity, either of 

 which are far ahead of the kerosene lamp, both in service and convenience. 



The kitchen is perhaps the most important part of the house and time 

 and thought should be given to secure the best results possible from the 

 material at hand. 



Ventilation and light are the first things to be thought of and then 

 cleanliness. If the walls can be painted they are quite easy to keep clean 

 as they can be wiped off with a damp cloth if need be. 



Hard wood makes the best floors though a linoleum covering is easily 

 cleaned. 



By all means have a good sink with a drain and water handy in the 

 kitchen. I really believe for the amount of money invested these two 



