The chronicle=news., 1914-08-04
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@ DOMESTIC ,&-
hCE fHR FARMERS
Department Of Agriculture in Coop
Grafton with Certain State Collsx-
e. Organizing the Glasses and Max
ing Available Text Books, Etc.


ing Available Text Books, Etc.
Washin gtop, D. e., Aug. A
plan wherebyten or more farmers or
farm women can form home classes
in agriculture or domestic science
and receive the textbooks, lectures,
lantern slides, laboratory and cook
ing equipment necessary to conduct
them has been devised by the U. S..
Department of Agriculture in CO.
operation with Agricultural Colleges
|of certain states.
The object of the plan is to make
accessible at home, to men and wo-
men who have not the time or means
to attend the regular courses ut tho
coiieges, practical short courses in
agriculture and home management
specially adapted to their districts
These courses, which will consist of
|15 to 40 lectures, and will consume
five or more weeks, can be arranged
to suit the spare time and conven-
ience Of each group of people.
The courses to be offered at first
are poultry raising, fruit growing,
soils. cheese manufacturing, dairy
ing, butter making, and farm book
keeping: and for the women espe-
|cially, courses in the preparation.
cooking and use of vegetable and
cereal foods. The Department will
supply lectures and lantern slides
covering these subjects. and the
States which have agreed to cooper
ate in the plan will lend to each
group laboratory and cooking appar-
atus valued at 800 and reference
library. The textbooks and lectures
will be made so complete that each
group can safely appoint one of As
members as study leader to direct the
work of the course. r,r
When group has decided to take
up the work, the State which COOP
crates sends an agent with the De-
partment's representative to organ
ize sample class and assist the lead
er whom they elect in laying out the
work and in showing him the best
methods of procedure. The classes
commonly are held from to l2 in
the morning and from 1 to in the
afternoon, two or three days each
week. The sessions are not held ev-
cry day, so that the members Will
have time to attend to their farm du-
ties in between the sessions. as well
as before and after the instruction
period. The classes meet commonly
at the most convenient farmhouse.
During the morning hours, textbook
work is done In the afternoon lab
oratory work is conducted, and the
women who have elected to take the
domestic science courses have prac-
tical lessons in cooking.
I AS soon as class is established.
the State organizer withdraws to
start class in some other district.
The work thereafter is left in charge
Of the leader, who receives assistance
by mail from the college or the De-
partment in carrying on the work.
L As there is no regularly paid In
structor, classes can be carried on all
over the State as rapidly as the col
lege organizer can visit the groups,
and as quickly as the laboratory sets
are supplied by the college become
available. The local leader will pre-
side during the reading of the lect-
ures and references. for which full
texts and lantern slides are supplied
by the Department. He will also be
Irresponsible for the laboratory equip
fment. Every one who completes the
course will receive certificate from
the State College.
Not all of the States have yet
Iagreed to cooperate in this plan. Last
winter experiments along these. lines
wfr8 carried out successfully in
IPennsFlvania, and this has .stipulat-
ed an interest in the method In 9TH
ler States. In one of the Pennsylvan-
Ia classes more men applied than
could be accommodated, and all of
lthe 20 men and Is women who be-
tgan the course completed 1T. Penn
tsylyania is now arranging for more
Glasses. while Massachusetts, Michi-
gan, Vermont and Florida expect to
take uo the work. Other States such
as Maine, New York. New Jersey,
and Delaware have sisnified their
Willingness to cooperate.
Ordinarily college in State us
ually applies to the Department seek
ing its cooperation, when sufficient
| interest has been shown in the plan
in several communities where ten or
more people have sought the instruc-
ltion. For financial reasons, certain
colleges are not SO able to engage In