THE THIRD CONGRESS OF F.VRMWOMEN S CLUBS AT GHENT 35 



gardening, kitchen gardening etc. It is especially desired that the pubHc 

 educational department should make the needful provisions for ensuring that 

 practical ideas on the best method of preserving milk, the use of which is 

 continually extending and acquiring greater importance, should be impart- 

 ed in country schools, and that contracts for sale of milk should be based 

 on its state of preservation and the quantity of fatt}' substance in it. 



It would be desirable also that bookkeeping should be carefully taught 

 in all institutes of agricultural domestic economy, that its first elements should 

 be imparted in the elementary schools and that many lessons in it should be 

 given for housewives, if possible on the initiative of the clubs, which should 

 distribute large numbers of model registers and should organize compet- 

 itions among members, with prizes for those who have kept the books of 

 their farm best. 



Finally, important resolutions were passed in relation to family train- 

 ing, rural exodus etc., which were dealt with in the tliird division of the 

 Congress. In connection with the first point, the farmwomen's clubs were 

 urged frequentl}'' to study in their meetings questions of household training, 

 morality or health ; as well as to encourage the reading of instructive 

 magazines and the foundation of boarding schools exclusively for farmer's 

 daughters. 



With regard to the depopulation of the country districts, the necessity 

 was recognised that the mothers should understand the dignity of the agricul- 

 tural calHng and inculcate on their children from their infancy a respect 

 for the name and occupation of a farmer, and that they themselves should 

 be above all convinced that country life is preferable, especially from the 

 point of view of health and morals, to that of the city, notwithstanding the 

 more attractive appearance of the latter, and, in addition, that, even before 

 they are old enough for school, the mothers should initiate their children in 

 field labour, in the care of young cattle and of garden produce, instilling 

 into them in their early years the spirit of order and economy ; and, later 

 on, during their school years, in their spare time, interest them in the farm 

 work, the furnishing of the house and the farm, in literature dealing with 

 agriculture etc. 



Finally, the Congress judged it desirable, always with the object of 

 suggesting means for directly or indirectly combating the rural exodus ; 



1st. that the attention of the farmwomen be often drawn to subjects 

 connected with education ; 



2nd. that the farmwomen's clubs organize family festivals, evening enter- 

 tainments, and meetings for purposes of recreation ; 



3rd. that a list of publications be drawn up suited to promote devotion 

 to the land, the family and religion, and that they be recommended and 

 placed at the disposal of the inhabitants of the country districts ; 



4th. that the manner of organising mutual and co-operative societies 

 among members of the farmwomen's clubs be studied. 



These are the resolutions pas.sed at the important assembly wliich has 

 shown the beneficial effects of such institutions. pro\dng once more that 

 solidarity and union are the only forces that can transform this class of 



