The Washington times., 1920-06-19
WOMEN QUIT FARMS
T0DODGE DRUDGERY
CITY Conveniences Lure Weaker
Sex From Country-and
Bring Men Along.
by HARRY l.. ROGERS.
International News Service.

HOW arc you going 10 keep ner
down on the farm, after she's seen the
city?
That. in effect. is the question which
prompted the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture to undertake the
nationwide farm-homc survey which
il has just completed, and Miss Flor
cncc T.. Ward, who directed the work,
believes she has found the answer.
This survey covers 1O,OlJ typical
farm homes in thirty-threc Northern
and Western States. In the opinion
of Miss Ward and other specialists OF
the department. it proves conclusive
ly that the waste Of woman power is
one Of the greatest menaces to the
rural life of the nation.
With home-life on tho farm one
continual round OF drudgery. IL is
only to be expected that tho alert
young woman should long for the
greater comfort OF life in the city:
and the widespread shortage OF farm
la Dor is eloquent proof OF the fact
that the attractive young woman,
city bound. is drawing the capable
young man after her.
WORK II HOURS PER DAY.
Here are a few of the reasons. as
disclos by the survey, why many
women find farm life unattractive:
The working day of the average
farm woman is lib hours the year
round. In summer, II is l3.l2 hours
Eighty-scven out of each 100 women
have no regular vacation during the
year On the average, the farm
woman can find only 1.6 hours OF
leisure during the summer and only
"a hours in winter. Half of the farm
women arc up and at workoSat D
o'clock in the morning.
Forty per cent have water in the
kitchen, but the other GO per cent
must carry it from the spring or
pump. Thirty-six per cent help with
the milking. On the average. the
farm woman has a seven-room house
to keep in order. Seventy-ninc per
cent have kerosene lamps to trim and
fill.
CHAINED TO wAsBTUB.
Ninety-six per cent do the family
washing, about half OF them having
washing machines and the other hair
using the old-fashioned tub, wash
board and boiler. Seventy four per
cent must do their ironing by the
heat OF the family cook stove. Nine
ty-two per cent do some or all OF the
family sewing. Garden work is done
| by 80 per cent. 81 per cent make the
7
churning to do. Eighty-onc per cent
OF all poultry flocks are cared for by
women. One-fourth OF the farm wom-
en- help to feed and bed the livestock,
and - per cent spend more than six
weeks in the year assisting with some
part of the field work. All OF this is
in addition TO cooking the family
meals and caring for the children
A large part OF this wastage OF the
energy OF the nations rura! home
| makers, Miss Ward points out, could
be prevented by removable amount
OF planning and wcll-directed in
vestment in modern equipment for
| farm homes.
CALLS 1T SERIOUS NATTER.
This is serious matter" she con-
| tinues, because we have a live ma
tional problem now in working out
| the economics OF country living In
such a way as to make them satisfied
to stay on the land and help built 1t
up. Perhaps the greatest factor in
bringing this about viii be the
healthy alert and expert home -maker
who will see to It thar part OF the in
creased income from the farm goes
into improvement OF the home. At a
time like this, when the dearth Of
farm labor - limiting factor in
production, u is very doubtful busi-
moss policy for farmers to use in
| creased income to buy more land in
stead OF using part Of IL to raising q
standards Of living so that young
women and young men will not want
to go TO the cities IN search OF at
tractive living conditions and amuse-
ments" ..
| The remedies surrosted nv the de-