STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 381 



agents helped in meeting the hibor situation by the locating of 

 151,532 men for work on farms. 



In carrying forward the various projects and campaigns the agents 

 made more than half a million farm visits, the average number of 

 farm visits per agent being 435. 



The spring of 1919 brought serious readjustment problems owing 

 to the prospect of peace brought about by the signing of the armis- 

 tice. These can only be worked out gradually, though in the main 

 their solution appears to mean a return to normal farm practice with 

 an emphasis on the organization of the farm as a profitably pro- 

 ductive business. 



EXTENSION WORK WITH WOMEN. 



This work continued under the direction of Miss Florence E. Ward. 

 The activities during the year were characterized in every phase by 

 a transition from war-time problems to those of readjustment and 

 peace. 



ORGANIZATION. 



On June 30, 1918, the home demonstration force in the field num- 

 bered 790, including 31 State leaders, 361 agents, and 32 assistant 

 agents in counties, 98 agents in districts, and 107 urban and assistant 

 urban agents. Of this number, about 100 were temporary appoint- 

 ments. On June 30, 1919, workers numbered 582, including 32 

 State leaders, 329 agents, and 21 assistant agents in counties, 22 dis- 

 trict agents, and 98 agents and assistants in cities. 



During the war agents were installed without any permanent or- 

 ganization in many counties and districts that provided the required 

 sum for local expenses. Since the war fruitful efforts have been made 

 to establish the agent as an employee of a permanent county organ- 

 ization in which women have membership and representation on the 

 executive board. In 17 States the work is an integi'al part of that of 

 the farm bureau ; in some others it is conducted as a department of 

 the farm bureau, called home department, women's department, or 

 home bureau. In Illinois and Wisconsin it is organized apart from 

 the farm bureau. 



Progress was made in developing county and community programs 

 of work, putting the work ona project basis, and training county 

 and community project leaders. An outstanding feature has been the 

 use of carefully selected and trained volunteer leaders in food pro- 

 duction, food preservation, use of war substitutes, clothing, and 

 poultry culling. 



In some States, where county funds could formerly be appropri- 

 ated only for county agent work, legislation has been enacted permit- 

 ting appropriations for home demonstration work. In many coun- 

 ties the women themselves have secured a considerable increase in 

 local funds necessary to continue the home demonstration work. 



Home demonstration work in cities was considered a war measure 

 and no permanent organization was at first attempted. Funds for 

 local expenses were furnished by national, civic, or other organiza- 

 tions, and the agents cooperated with all existing organizations. 

 With the signing of the armistice the development of permanent 

 home bureaus was undertaken in many cases, and on June 30, 1919, 

 there were 20 such bureaus in various stages of development, with 



