and services of the locker plant. 

 Slaughtering, processing, wrapping, 

 sharp freezing and storing would all 

 be done on the farm. It appears the 

 walk-in type of cooler would be neces- 

 sary to accomplish this. 



Such an undertaking involves a con- 

 siderable investment and justifies giv- 

 ing careful consideration to every phase 

 of the venture. In the first place, it 

 would probably be practical for only 

 large operators. It might be practical 

 for a large family or for a farmer who 

 i > employs a lot of help or one who lives 



on a large farm operated with one or 

 more tenants who are supplied with 

 locker products. The size of the unit 

 would depend on the number of persons 

 involved. In 45 locker plants last year 

 the average amount of meat processed 

 per locker was 400 pounds, vegetables 

 and fruit probably another 100 pounds. 

 This might serve as a guide to the size 

 of walk-in cooler to be purchased. The 

 cost of course would vary with size, 

 say |600 to |I,000. Here again, in addi- 

 tion to the initial cost, other cost items 

 should be noted — depreciation, up- 

 keep, interest and power. 



These cost items, however, may not 

 be the most important. A number of 

 other items should be taken into con- 

 sideration. It should be understood 

 that the processing, wrapping, packag- 

 ing, and storing of meat, fruit and 

 vegetables require considerable skill if 

 satisfactory results are to be obtained. 

 Those who have managed locker plants 

 for some time have learned this lesson. 

 Does the average large farm operator 

 want to take the time and trouble to 

 master this skill ? Another vital point 

 is this: a locker plant maintains three 

 different compartments, each held at 

 different temperatures which according 

 to Illinois law allows only slight tol- 

 erance in each compartment. Will a 

 walk-in cooler have compartments for 

 chilling, aging, sharp freezing and 

 holding.' Will it be possible to hold the 

 temperatures in these compartments 

 uniform.' If not, best results can hardly 

 be expected. 



Among locker owners, both private 

 and cooperative, there has been the 

 question as to how home freezers will 

 aflFect locker plants. Recently the Na- 

 tional Frozen Food Locker Association 

 made a nation wide survey on this 

 point. Of the replies received, 66% 

 were of the opinion that home freezers 

 would be an asset to locker plants, and 

 34% thought they would compete with 

 locker plants. It appears that if a locker 

 plant is equipped to supply first class 

 slaughtering and processing service to 

 its patrons it should not have much to 

 fear from competition of home 

 freezers. ■ '■■■■■ -z^— ■;.■■. r--- 



Only $200 Needed To Make 

 Clnbmobile Project Goal 



Contributions to the Red Cross club- 

 mobile project of the Associated Wom- 

 en of the American Farm Bureau Feder- 

 ation now total $24,500, or only $200 

 short of the goal to be reached by Nov. 

 30, according to an o£Ficial report re- 

 leased Oct. 18. 



The funds are for the purchase and 

 operating costs for one year of a Red 

 Cross Qubmobile which is already op- 

 erating in Italy. 



lUinois women rank fifth among the 

 states contributing to the fund with a 

 total of $2220.23. In first place is Iowa 

 with $4461. 



The Associated Women have decided 

 to close the United China Relief project 

 on Nov. 30, and any further contribu- 

 tions to this fund should be in the hands 

 of Associated Women officers by that 

 date. Total amount in the China Re- 

 lief fund as of Oct. 18 was $3756.19. 



Home Bnrean Women Seek 

 Facts On Edible Soybeans 



Fourteen county Home Bureaus have 

 requested local leader training schools 

 on use of soybeans for the fall and win- 

 ter months. This vegetable was included 

 in many home gardens for the first time 

 this summer, and women are anxious to 

 learn ways to use and preserve the beans 

 and to grow and use the bean sprouts. 

 They also want information on soy prod- 

 ucts now available in many local markets. 



The first local leader training school 

 dealing with edible soybeans was sched- 

 uled for Shelby county in February, 1943. 

 Since that time interest has developed in 

 many sections of the state. 



In addition to the training schools in 

 the 14 counties, lessons will be given 

 by home advisers in a number of others. 



Kankakee Sets Goal 



Kankakee County Home Bureau wom- 

 en have set their county membership 

 goal for 1944-45 at 600, according to 

 Miss Ann Ewing, home adviser. This 

 means a net gain of 107 members from 

 the time of their last annual meeting. 

 The county goal was figured by individ- 

 ual units setting their own goals. 



Growing School Children 

 Need Adequate Luncheons 



A survey made in one Illinois county 

 where 55 rural and town districts re- 

 ported on the lunch habits of their chil- 

 dren showed that only 5 per cent of the 

 pupils were eating a mia-day meal that 

 came up to the type-A lunch standards 

 outlined by the War Food Administra- 

 tion, according to Miss Annette Young, 



extension nutritionist, U. of I. College 

 of Agriculture. 



This type-A lunch. Miss Young ex- 

 plained, has been set up as a guide for 

 those who have charge of local school 

 programs and for mothers who pack 

 their ch^ren's lunches. 



It cSus for one-half pint of milk as 

 a beverage, a fruit or vegetable or both, 

 whole wheat enriched white bread, but- 

 ter, an egg, cheese, poultry, fish or meat 

 or dry beans or p>eanut butter. 



Explain Ways of Paying 

 For School Health Exams 



Five ways to finance the school health 

 examination now required by the Il- 

 linois Health and Physical Education 

 Law, eflFective July 1, 1944, have been 

 suggested by the office of the state su- 

 perintendent of public instruction, re- 

 ports Miss Fannie M. Brocks, health ed- 

 ucation specialist, U. of I. College of 

 Agriculture. 



While school boards must provide for 

 the examinations, they are not liable for 

 the cost, unless they wish to assume it. 

 Methods of financing range from full cost 

 assumption by the school board to com- 

 plete responsibility being placed upon 

 the parents. Each community is free to 

 meet this problem in any way it sees fit. 



One proposed plan is for parents to 

 take the children to the family physician 

 and dentist. If parents are financially 

 unable to do this, then the school fol- 

 lows up with an examination for all 

 children not already examined. 



Many school authorities are placing 

 the entire responsibility on the parents 

 to consult the family physician and have 

 him make the examinations. The school 

 furnishes the necessary blanks, keeps 

 them on file and checks to see that there 

 is a maximum of cooperation. 



In some areas the Parent-Teacher As- 

 sociation summer roundup is encourag- 

 ing and promoting the examination of 

 preschool children. 



A fourth plan calls for annual fall 

 employment of physicians and dentists 

 who will make complete examinations in 

 September of all children required to 

 have them. 



For such service, the school board in 

 some instances pays the fees, which vary 

 from $1 a pupil to $10 per hour. In 

 other instances, the school board pays 

 the major portion, while the children 

 pay small amounts from 25 cents to $2. 

 Community service clubs may pay the fee 

 of the physicians or dentists, or the lat- 

 ter in some cases have contributed their 

 time without charging a fee. 



The fifth plan is one under which the 

 school board employs a full or part-time 

 physician and dentist on a yearly basis 

 to make whatever examinations the school 

 authorities desire. ■■ ■ 



NOVEMBER. 1944 



25 



