The problem of using women on the land is a serious one in Illinois, 
since Illinois farms cover thousands of acres and are almost entirely- 
machine-made. Untrained women would be more harmful than 
helpful. 
It was therefore decided early in the Land Army movement that 
there was little that we in the West could do. Later, however, a plan 
developed to train the women this year for useful work in the year to 
come. 
In England, in the early stages of the war, it was realized that 
women would be needed in large numbers to replace the men on 
the farms, and these women were given systematic training before 
being sent out. This we are now attempting to do in Ilhnois, feeling 
that, even should the war end before another summer, there will 
be a labor shortage and trained women will be needed to meet 
successfully the demand for experienced farm laborers and superin- 
tendents. 
Mr. W. V. B. Ames, who owns a large farm near Liberty ville, 
Illinois, has offered the practically unrestricted use of 200 acres of 
land, agreeing to furnish, rent free, for two years, the land, some 
buildings, 200 or more chickens and 18 cows. This splendid offer 
has made it possible for Illinois to undertake an experiment which 
may mean much, not only in actual accomplishment, but in point- 
ing the way to other western states. 
Many women are willing to enroll, but a careful choice will be 
made from the many applicants. No one will be accepted who is not 
willing to sign for a period of six months. The work is a patriotic one, 
but women must enroll with a thorough understanding that it is not 
merely temporary, and that it is a conscientious effort to meet, 
practically, an immediate demand for increased labor, a demand 
which will undoubtedly continue for some years to come. 
Training will be given in dairy farming, poultry raising, animal 
husbandry, soil conditions, general crops and vegetable gardening. 
A large garden will materially decrease operating expenses, and the 
dairy department will make butter and cottage cheese, a route for 
the sale of which will be established. 
The farm will be in charge of a superintendent and assistant in the 
dairy. Itinerant instructors from the Department of Agriculture, 
Extension Department of the International Harvester Company, 
and other agencies, will co-operate to give short courses in special 
subjects. 
A bookkeeper will keep the household accounts, the charts of crops 
and books of the various departments. An accurate card index of the 
records of students will also be kept, since it is only through a careful 
