The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-08-10
WASTE OF WOMEN
ON AMERICAN FARMS
DEPARTMENT
AND TELLS FACTS

WASHINGTON, D. C.-The waste O
woman power is one of the creates
menaces to the rural life of the Ma
ton, according to deductions tha
specialists of the United States De
partment of Agriculture draw from
farm-home survey conducted in the 8
Northern and Western States. Th,
survey was made under the direction
of Miss Florence E. Ward, in charg
of extension work with women, offic
of Extension Work, North and West
States Relations Service. The record
cover 10,015 farm homes, averaged b,
taking typical communities of tn
counties in which. the survey wal
made. Much of the information wa
gathered personally by home demon
stration agents, who are the field rep
lresentatives of the United States De
partment of Agriculture and the State
Agricultural Colleges.
| Miss Ward points out, from the facts
shown by the survey, that reasonable
amount OF planning and well-directec
investment in modern equipment fol
farm homes would prevent a large
part of this wastage of the energy ol
the Nations rural home-makers. "This
us serious matter" she continues
because we have a live national prob
lem now in working out the economics
OF country living in such way as to
make them satisfied to stay on the
land and help build it up. Perhaps
the greatest factor in bringing this
about will be the healthy, alert, and
expert home-maker who will see to it
that part Of the Increased income from
the farm goes into improvement of the
home. At a time like this, when the
dearth Of farm labor is limiting
factor in production, it is very doubt
full business policy for farmers to use
increased income to buy more land
instead of using part of it in rails
ing standards of living so that women
and young people will not want to go
to the cities in search of attractive
living conditions and amusement
Picture OF Farm WOman's Work Day
The survey disclOses number of the
reasons why many women do not find
farm life attractive. The working day
of the average farm woman, as shown
by the survey, is 11.3 hours. the year
round. In summer, it is 1872 hours.
And 81 out of each 100 women have
no regular vacation during the year.
On the average, the farm woman can
lind only 1.6 hours of leisure during
the summer and only "a hours in
winter. Half of the farm women are
Up and at work at o'clock in the
morning.
Fourth per cent have water in the
kitchen, but the other per cent must
90 to the spring or the pump to bring
he water for cooking breakfast
rhirtysix per cent help with the milk
ng. On the average, the farm woman
las 7-room house to keep in order |
'eyenty-nine per cent have kerosene
amps to trim and fill Ninety-six per
ent do the family washing, about |
lalf of them having washing machines |
nd the other half doing the work with |
ub, dashboard, and boiler Twenty |
TX per cent have gas or electric irons |
o make more comfortable the task of |
roning Ninety-twO per cent do some
r all of the family sewing. Garden |
york is done by Sc per cent, "a per
ent make all or part of the family
read and 60 per cent have churning
D do. Eighty-One per cent of all poul-
ry flOcks are cared for by women
of the farm women help to
aed and bed the live stock, and "a
er cent of them spend over six weeks
1 the year assisting with some part
the field work. All of this is in ad-
itlon to cooking the family meals and
airing for the children.
This, of course, is the dark side of
le shield. 1t does not take into con-
Iteration the many compensations
lat come with the woman's daily
)und of work for the comfort of her
lmily, and anyone who has expert
lced the satisfaction OF living in the
pen country knows that the average
Lrm woman is more fortunately plac-
than the average city sister But
le task is sufficiently grinding, as
iss Ward says, to send the farm
oman to bed breathing a prayer
lat her strength may be equal to to-
orrow's duties.'
Equipment Important
What is to be done about it? The
apartment suggests some very defi-
te things. THE interest of the De-
lrtment of Agriculture in the returns
ON these studies as to labor, work
6 equipment, and compensations of :
e farm woman are as practical"
VS. Miss Ward, "as it's interest in
rm studies regarding labor, machin-
y and crop returns, and for the ,
me general reason" The farm wO-
ans working hours might be she rt- :
ed, she continues, If the principles !.
modern business were applied to the
rm home. Running water for the
per cent who now must carry wa
:, and bath rooms for the 80 per
Mt who now have none are other {,
ings that would tighten the woman s +
Dor and add to her comfort and con- U
ltment. Labor could be lessened IL G
} farm house were as well equipped p
the up-tO-date barn, which the far q
n looks upon as so much currency Y