STATES KELATIONS SERVICE. 389 



all or a part of the day with farm work during the busy season. Twenty-four 

 out of 27 reporting depended upon the "butter, poultry, and egg money" to fur- 

 nish tlie food purchased, household supplies, and part of the family clothing. 

 Only 6 out of the 69 reporting had a banli account, separate from the husband's, 

 for household expenses. 



A significant feature of the work with the respiration calorimeter 

 was that done in cooperation with the Bureau of Markets on the 

 specific heat and after-ripening changes of fruit, with special refer- 

 ence to problems of commercial cold storage, in connection with 

 which important improvements were made in the cooling system of 

 the calorimeter. A special respiration apparatus was also devised 

 and constructed for continuation of the cooperative investigations 

 with the Bureau of Entomology on the wintering of bees. 



A member of the staff was detailed to assist the Council of Na- 

 tional Defense in its food conservation and general thrift work, and 

 20 so-called United States Thrift Leaflets intended for wide free dis- 

 tribution were prepared to aid the Treasury Department in its edu- 

 cational campaign in wise spending. 



Besides bulletins reporting the work of the office, various circulars, 

 popular articles, and mimeographed matter were issued. 



The results of the work of the office were brought to the attention 

 of the public not only through publications, but also by corre- 

 spondence, conferences, and similar ways. This feature of the work 

 has grown to be one of the most effective means of securing and 

 maintaining direct contact with individual housekeepers, teachers, 

 extension workers, and others, the helpfulness of which was espe- 

 cially demonstrated during the war. 



