142 THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE. 



attractive, varied form. A few well-chosen plants are artistically 

 grouped in the house during the winter months, while the garden 

 contains a judicious selection of vegetables, small fruits and a 

 sprinkling of flowers. More attention is paid to the selection 

 and care of the fowls, with the result that this part of the farming 

 operations has produced an increased income, and has been the 

 source of a constant supply of fresh eggs and poultry for the 

 farmer's table. With less manual labour and a little more 

 study, thought and planning, the family is accomplishing more 

 — producing more in dollars and cents on the old farm — has 

 more time for recreation and social intercourse, enjoys better 

 health, as a result of better selected and properly prepared food, 

 and is appreciating the advantages of rural life under modern 

 conditions. . . . The growing interest of each in the work 

 of the other members of the family is apparent. The daughter 

 notices that mother has a great interest in the everyday routine, 

 which has lost some of the monotony in the variety and sim- 

 plicity of methods introduced through the Institute. She has 

 a renewed interest in her regular household duties and has come 

 to more fully appreciate her responsibilities and opportunities 

 as mistress of the homestead. She is able through the sim- 

 plifying and perfecting of methods, and by inducing greater 

 co-operation among the various members of the household, to 

 give greater attention to those things which make towards con- 

 tentment and perfect happiness in the home. She shows the 

 children how to prepare the flower-bed, the children doing most 

 of the work ; she shows them how to take care of the vegetable 

 and flower garden, and takes a keener interest in the school work 

 of the child. ... In furnishing the women of Ontario with 

 a means whereby they can develop their talents and make the 

 best use of standard works and periodicals bearing upon matters 

 dealing with home topics, we believe that we are rendering a 

 service which will do much to better conditions surrounding 

 home and community life in the rural districts, as well as in many 

 of the larger towns, of the Province. The Institutes have been 

 established long enough to demonstrate that they will be per- 

 manent ; and while much good work has been accomplished, 

 those in close touch with the organisation realise that the future 

 presents many opportunities which have not yet been taken 

 advantage of by the mothers and daughters." 



An Alsatian proverb has it that " a farmer's wife can bring 

 into the farm, in her apron, more than her husband can 

 carry out (to sell) in a four-horse wagon." And a memorial 

 presented to the Economic Society of Berne in 1764 lays it 

 down that a woman well educated for rural life brings her 



