II. Co-operation A. Schools-pledges signed, posters made, essays written, exhibits prepared, dishes cooked. B. Churches, Granges, Clubs-Exhibits, suppers served, notices read, talks given, demonstrations given. C. Business (Grocers)-Window displays, demonstrations, report of increase in sales, distribution of recipes. Under these headings the record of a week for one city in using potatoes may be of interest: Co-operation of newspapers, 3197 recipes distributed, pledges signed in 29 schools, 112,953 potatoes eaten and 73,730 slices of bread saved, 100 posters made, 16 demonstrations given, 45 window exhibits, chain stores reported 120% increase in sale of potatoes in one store. The record of one small town in increasing the use of potatoes to save wheat was as follows:- Every family in the town was visited during the drive, 1000 bulletins distributed, 4-minute talks given in every grade in school, slides put on at the "movies" urging use of potatoes, recipes printed in local papers; leading stores had window exhibits. Other statistics of the state-wide campaign are Demonstrations in uses of potatoes Talks Potato suppers 80 27 24 about 100 6. Cottage Cheese Campaign, in cooperation with the Dairy Division of the United States Department of Agriculture, Miss Eleanor Moss was appointed a rural agent in Dairying from April to October. In order to have the fullest co-operation of the Home Demonstration Agents with the Agent in Dairying, one of the first things done was to hold two Two-day Extension Schools to teach the Home Demonstration Agents how to make and use cottage cheese. By this means they were able to assist the Federal Agents and to give demonstrations by themselves when needed. Throughout the whole summer there was hearty co-operation in each county and in the state-wide summary of the Cottage Cheese Campaign throughout the Northern and Western States, Connecicut stood first in a greater number of points than any other state. Much individual work was done in the country with farmers, farmers' wives and dealers along the line of improving the type of cheese and in teaching the use of surplus skim milk. The city work emphasized the use of cottage cheese rather than the manufacture and the market supply of cheese and the facilities for making it was investigated in each city where any work was done. The following statistics of the summer's work do not include the work of the Agents in Dairying: Report of increase There was a general report of increase in sales. The supply did not always meet the demand. Several dealers were taught better methods of making cheese. Cooperation with schools 1. Five schools were taught cottage cheese making and use 2. in classes in cookery. The Hartford High School prepared two exhibits and also made posters. No. of individuals taught to make cottage cheese 12 Gallons of milk used by Agent in Dairying 330* 500 *one of the results of the campaign is a demand for pound packages of cheese to be eaten as a food rather than for small amounts used for a relish at a meal. 7. Milk Campaign The wider use of milk as a food, especially for children, has been a part of the food program in each county and has been emphasized more or less as the need arose. The decided rise in price of milk was an important factor in the planning of a campaign of education as to its value as a food and it was found advisable to arrange a definite campaign in three of the cities with this in view. These campaigns were backed by the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Health, and the local milk producers and dealers. The details were worked out by the Farm Bureau. The methods used were press publicity, distribution of recipes and bulletins on milk routes. Moving picture theaters showed slides on the value of milk in child feeding. Window exhibits included a group of children eating their supper of milk dishes, charts, display showing comparative food value of a quart of milk, and a child's meals for a day. Demonstrations were held in stores in various parts of the city. The results were increased demand for milk in restaurants and on milk routes. Besides the campaigns, four milk stations were established in New Haven for the sale of skim-milk and one in Hartford for whole milk. The following statistics cover the work of Home Demonstration Agents in promoting the wider use of milk from May, 1917, to September, 1918: 1. Number of demonstrations given on uses of milk 52 2. Number of talks given on uses of milk (exclusive of demonstrations) 3. Number of milk exhibits 58 238 62 36 26 3 8 140 (average) 20 69 All report increase in sales especially in families with chil- 8. Cooperation of schools 8. Canning Campaign Connecticut accepted as an assignment by the U. S. Department of Agriculture the business of canning 5,000,000 quarts of fruits and vegetables and a State Canning Committee was appointed as a sub-committee of the Food Committee of the State Council of Defense. The following methods were employed to obtain the desired quota: A state organization to be known as the Connecticut Canning Corps was formed and a State Committee appointed by the Committee of Food Supply was placed in charge. County quotas were apportioned by the state committee. The Home Demonstration Agents received the enrollment cards and will be able to use them when filed as a basis for other work. Results of the Campaign will not be compiled until December, 1918, but advance statistics show that the rural counties will certainly go "over the top." The chief difficulties in the campaign have been local scarcity of products and the fear of confiscation of products by the U. S. Government due to active German propaganda during the last canning season. Statistics of Home Demonstration Agents' Work October, 1917-October, 1918 Home visits Talks and Demonstrations II. State Wide Extension Work 2299 As the number of Home Demonstration Agents increased and the work developed, it was necessary to increase the force which supervised Home Economics Extension work and in January, 1918, Miss Dorothy Buckley was appointed an assistant State Leader. The following statistics indicate a year's work of the State Home Demonstration Leader and eight months' work of the Assistant State Home Demonstration Leader. Under the head of State-Wide Home Economics Extension work the following lines of work may be classified: 1. Extension Schools 2. Canning Schools 3. Community Canning Kitchens 4. Store Demonstrations 5. Fair Exhibits 1. Extension Schools These were conducted along the same lines as the previous year except in regard to the lesson outlines which were all revised to emphasize the food conservation program of the United States. These outlines were sent to Home Demonstration Agents with the request that they be used in any Extension Schools given in their counties. In five Extension Schools the Home Maker's Course was given and in every school but one the State or Assistant State Leader was present to conduct the school or to assist the local Home Demonstration Agent. Probably due to war conditions there was not so great a demand for Extension Schools as in the two previous years and the severe weather kept down the attendance somewhat. Three of the schools may be regarded as very successful, one fairly so, and one was unsuccessful. 2. Canning Schools The 1918 Canning Schools were planned to include three lines of work, less attention being given to canning processes and more to home drying and food economy, with special reference to the food values, proper use and cooking of wheat and sugar substitutes. Evidently the 1917 canning schools had spread canning methods and information very widely over the state and there was such small demand for the schools this year that only two were held, the total attendance being about forty persons who, however, were very enthusiastic about the course. 3. Store Demonstrations The next state-wide work was to take the canning and food economy course to city people thru the medium of the department store or market. Twenty-four store demonstrations were given in July in Hartford, Meriden, Ansonia and Derby, and many women were reached who would never have attended a regular demonstration. In most cases the stores considered the work very successful and did all they could to help the demonstrators. 4. Community Canning Kitchens Statistics of the 1917 Canning Kitchens were not compiled into a report until 1918 and so are given here. Many of these canning plants were continued this year and new ones started, but it is too soon to obtain statistics for 1918 work. As a result of a questionnaire sent to students in the 1917 Canning Schools the following data in regard to spoilage of their home products is of interest. |