The Republican journal., 1914-11-12
How Farm Women
May Get Help Under the Smith-Lever Elk
tension Act,
TU. S. Dept. of Agriculture Bulletin.


TU. S. Dept of Agriculture Bulletin
Numerous letters have recently been
received at the department from farm
women in different parts OF the country
which indicate that they are under the
impression that the funds appropriated
by Congress for extension work IN the
States under the Smith-Lever Act can
be distributed to individuals to aid them
in improving home conditions, educating
their children, etc. g.,
This is a sad mistake. The Smith
Lever funds are given to the State agrl-
cultural colleges to enable them to en-
ploy men and women as county agents
and experts who will move about among
the farming people, demonstrate good
methods of agriculture and home econo-
mics, cooperate with them in studying
their farm and home problems, and assist
them in the adoption of better methods
on their farms or in their homes.
Already many of the colleges have ap-
pointed women as extension experts IN
home economics, and others are planning
to do so. In nearly all the Southern
States women county agents are already
at work in connection with the demon-
stration work carried on by the agricul-
tural colleges and the United States De-
partment of Agriculture.
These agents will enroll women in home
demonstration work and will continue to
conduct girls clubs. They will have the
women demonstrate the preparation ana
use of products from canning clubs,
poultry clubs, pig clubs, and the winter
garden. Accompanying the use OF the
club products. the women on the farms
will be shown how to make or secure
labor saying devices and convenlences.
They will also be encouraged by the
comfy agents to find and extend to 9TH
ers the best methods of work and con-
veniences already discovered and in use
in their communities.
instruction will be furnished by means
of demonstrations, visits from the coun-
ty agent, circulars, letters, and bulletins
from the State agricultural colleges and
the United States Department of Agrl-
culture
This is the logical development of the
girls demonstration work which began
with the canning clubs in 1910, when
four counties in two States were organ.
lied 1t has grown to an organization OF
more than 10000 girls, under the super
vision of nearly 400 women agents. The
results of 1913 show that in the canning
clubs of the Southern States the 4,2O2
girls who sent in reports canned .032, lib
cans of tomatoes and 522, lat cans OF
other products, with total value OF
$3.50, 420.05. They have also developed
to considerable extent special pfoouc1s
of southern fruits and vegetables. Poul-
try clubs have followed the work IN can
ming and gardening and there are now
2,090 poultry club members. Bread cups
have been organized eXperimentally In
c
nent work has been done. This fall will
see winter gardening extensively carried
on by club members. In all of these ac-
tivities the adult women on the farms
have given active help. Frequently they
have been enrolled to receive the instruc-
ton and have attended meetings and
demonstrations. AS cooperators they
have eagerly followed the instructions OF
the county woman agents and have urged
that as pecial work be organized for
them.
In the Northern and Western States
the principal work has thus far been
done by home economics experts con-
nected with the agricultural colleges,
but a beginning of the canning club
work for girls has been made. The
number of home economics experts who
are doing work among the farm women
is being rapidly increased. 1t IS hoped
that before long there will be women
agents in every county in the United
States.
To avail themselves CT the aid offered
10y the extension organizations in the
several States the farm women should,
if possible, form local clubs and then
communicate with the county agent.
whether man or woman, or with the
State agricultural college. In this way
the club will often be able to secure
visit from the county agent or from
home economics expert from the college.
If it is not feasib to form a club i'm
mediately, the women should write IN
dividually to the college or the county
agent. The address of the State agrl-
cultural college can, in most cases, be
obtained from the local postmaster.