38 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



WOMAN AND HOME SCIENCE. 



From an Address before the Hampshire Agricultural Society. 



BY H. W. PARKER. 



If science be good outside of the farm-house why not inside ? 

 If it be a blessing in agriculture, why not in that which may be 

 termed domicuUure — the great art, the hundred arts, of house- 

 keeping ? This has been acknowledged indirectly in our agri- 

 cultural fairs, much of the interest of which depends on the 

 lady exhibitors. 



Such an application of science is especially important to the 

 farmer's wife, not only because she has peculiar work to do, but 

 because she only, with few exceptions, is supposed to have 

 strength and wisdom to do her own housekeeping, — is not help- 

 lessly dependent on Celt or Cliinaman. 



Home science is an appropriate study for woman, and cer- 

 tainly would be a great aid and joy to her in her toil. The 

 daily round of in-door work is often felt to be discouraging and 

 degrading. Life seems to be wasted in endless cooking, scour- 

 ing, mending. High aspiration is quenched in a sea of dish- 

 water. And every occupation must be degrading where there 

 is not a noble participation in it of the mind and soul. 



There is such a science. Knowledge so applied is brought to 

 view in various books. And there are special volumes, such as 

 " Chemistry of Common Things," " Familiar Science," and one 

 entitled " Household Science," a book of 470 pages, treating of 

 light, heat, vision and colors ; air and ventilation ; food, its 

 principles, forms, preparation, preservation, effect and nutritive 

 value ; cooking utensils ; cleansing processes ; and, finally, of 

 poisons. To such a book should be added volumes on domestic 

 medicine, physiology, household architecture, gardening, insects, 



