THE ACTIVITY OF THE BELGIAN " BOERENBOND " 



degree. It was to be feared that the population would be fed only insuffi- 

 ciently ; for a large quantity of articles of food, all of which seemed to be 

 of the first necessity, had been completely exhausted or had become 

 extremely scarce. It was therefore necessary to teach our farm wives to 

 employ the products of their farms and fields more rationally and to 

 utilize food supplies imported from abroad. To realize this programme 

 it was necessary to give lectures, distribute pamplilets, etc. 



" The league lost no time in sending to each of its circles two copies of 

 the tract prepared by Messrs. Giele et Van den Abeele, Quelques conseils 

 sur r alimentation humaine, I'elevage et la culture des piantes (Some Advice on 

 Human Diet, the Growth and Culture of Plants) ; and soon afterwards it 

 distributed leaflets containing recipes and practical advice on human diet. 



" In February the Central Commission of Alimentary Economy was 

 formed at Brussels, and it soon founded sections in the different provinces. 

 From the beginning the Farmwives' L,eague was represented on it. The chief 

 aim of the commission was to arrange for lectures on economical diet. The 

 league's secretary was active in the matter, especially in the province of 

 Antwerp. Mile. Marie lyemaire, who represents the league on the Commission 

 ofAlimentary Econom}^ takes charge of the organization of lectures in the 

 arrondissement of Lou vain and the canton of Vilvorde. 



" At Tirlemont, Aerschot, Diest, Vilvorde, Erps-Guerbs, Haecht, 

 Vossem, Huldenberg, L,ouvain and Leau meetings took place to which all 

 local schoolmistresses and others who might be useful were invited. An 

 initial lecture on economical feeding v/as given, with a practical demon- 

 stration in the shape of the preparation of some cheap and substantial meals, 

 and the audience were begged to disseminate the ideas they received as 

 much as possible among housewives of the people. Thus lectures on diet 

 were soon held in every village ;and the numerous reports sent to us are 

 proof of multiple efforts in these districts to improve the popular diet. 



" In order to faciUtate the task of the lecturers the league, together 

 with the provincial Commission of AHmentary Economy, published for 

 them a Lecturers' Vade Mecum, of which it sent two copies to each of its 

 circles. 



" The old peripatetic school of agricultural housekeeping, which used 

 to spend three or four consecutive months in one village, gave place in 1915 

 to an eight days' course of domestic economy. This consists especially in 

 practical cooking lessons. Owing to the league's intervention more than 

 one farmwives' circle has asked for and obtained this course, and the mem- 

 bers have derived much profit from it. There were even some small vil- 

 lages in which the school was obliged to extend its courses over two or three 

 weeks in order to satisfy all demands ". 



On the other hand we find mention, under the heading Federation of 

 Horticulturists, of lectures and lessons in vegetable growing ; of numerous 

 collective sales on behalf of the members, bringing in a total sum of 42,260 

 francs; and of provision of vegetable seeds costing altogether 5,176 francs. 



The balance-sheet of the counter for purchase and sale gives the fol- 

 lowing figures : 



