6 BULLETIN 719, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



nation, as well as the services of doctors and nurses, were donated. 

 Such contests are promoted by a single club or by several cooperating, 

 but are most successful when open to all mothers and children in the 

 township or county, regardless of club afRliation. 



The study of foods at club meetings raises the standard of family 

 health and tends to remove physical defects caused by malnutrition. 

 The woman's club is often the only channel open to the married 

 woman tlii'ough which to continue the study of such subjects.^ The 

 Troy Culture Club, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, was organized for this pur- 

 pose in 1910. Meetings were held every other week in the farm 

 homes. The committee for the day prepared the food and looked 

 up scientific facts to be discussed. Various methods of preparing 

 different vegetables were shown in season. The leavening value of 

 beaten eggs in omelets and in cake was studied in comparison with 

 yeast and baking powder. Types of food constituting a balanced 

 ration for the family were studied. These clubs form at present the 

 most direct channel through which to promote the conservation of 

 wheat and the use of war breads and meat substitutes. 



More varied diet in many farm homes has been made possible 

 through canning clubs, which are to be found in every State of the 

 Union and which are especially successful in the South. Vegetables 

 of all kinds, fruits, and even meats, are canned for home use.^ 



The promotion of penny savings by women's organizations has 

 done much to encourage thrift in farm homes. The Harvard 

 Woman's Club, a rural club in Massachusetts, instituted a stamp- 

 saving campaign. A committee of two was appointed to manage 

 the work and 35 children have established savings accounts. The 

 Pepperell Women's Club, in Massachusetts, including farm women as 

 members, though not strictly rural, started a work of this kind in 

 December, 1916. In six months the children had saved $400. They 

 bring their pennies to the school, give them to the teacher or to some 

 responsible club woman, who opens an account in the child's name 

 at the bank as soon as $1 is saved. 



Labor-saving devices have been installed in many homes and new 

 ideas of household efficiency developed through club work. At 

 Potomac, Md., a number of such devices were constructed and 

 exhibited at the community fair held in the schoolhouse. In order 

 to prevent continual stooping to pick up clothespins wlule hanging 

 out the washing, a clothespin bag was made on a coat hanger to slide 

 along the line. A homemade fireless cooker ^ was shown as a device 



1 Most or the extension departments of the State agricultural colleges give assistance in organizing clubs 

 of this kind and furnish program material and trained demonstrators in domestic science. 



2 Bulletins on canning may be secured from the United States Department of Agriculture and from the 

 State agricultural colleges. Farmers' Bulletins published by the Depas-tment of Agriculture are: No. 839, 

 Home canning by the one-period cold-pack method; and No. 853, Home canning of fruits and vegetables, 

 1917. 



= Directions for constructing iceless refrigerators and fireless cookers may be found in Farmers' Bulletin 

 No.771,Homemadefirelesscookersandtheiruse; andFaimers' Bulletin No. 927. Farm home conveniences. 



