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4 bomemakers. Have we been sum- ciently active in this field? Since September, 1947 we have had a unique organization in Canada. the Canadian Association of Consumersy for the pooling of women’s opinion in all matters connected with their large function as consumers and spenders of our homes’ incomes. “As a nutritionist, I find myself perhaps particularly interested in economic problems relating to food. I was greatly struck recently to read of the introduction in the United States senate of a Food Allotment Bill whereby the food-buying power of the low income group of con- lumei's would be raised or main- mined at an adequate level. Already the economist of the Canadian Federâ€" ation of Agriculture has been propos- ing similar methods of maintaining the market for farm products should we be faced with a period of deflation. “Under the Food Allotment Plan a family can purchase for forty per cent of its monthly income. a food coupon book which will purchase sufficient food each month for an odequate diet. Each month or so,â€" It least semi-annuallyâ€"calculations are made to determine how much it costs to buy a specified adequate diet for different sized families. Let us say, for example, it costs $60. for the specified dict this month for a family of four, with a declared income of 5100. Thus, for forty per cent of the monthly income, or $40. the family can purchase the $60 food coupon book. The dill'crence between the $60 and the cash paid by the family for the coupon book, is made up out of the Federal Treasury. In other words, the country would be subsidizing food consumption of low income groups, thereby preventing malnutrition and helping to prevent the piling up of lo-called ‘surplus’ food and at the some time keeping the vital farm economy solvent.” Discussion Group; At the end of the morning session the assembly broke up into 3 discusâ€" sion groups to discuss various topics coming out of the mornings addresses. The topics and findings are listed below: I. SO YOU WANT TO BE A FARMER. SON! All agreed that growing up on the farm was the greatest help in pre- Eration for a boy to be a farmer. oni early childhood boys learn the how and why from their Dad. they have their own responsibilities, giving them a sense of belonging to the farm unit. Give a boy something of his own whether it be a banlnm, a lamb or a calf, but let it be his own. His res~ ponsibilitv to core for and his the proceeds if sold. If he chooses to leave the farm. let him go willingly. He may come back of his own free will and when he does, he will he satisfied and ready to make a good job of farming. The farm flimin members should orgmiir'o their work so as Io leave niost -vcnings free for recreation and dwei on. 1" (her and sun agreements as to d' inn of work, division of expense, amount of profit to go back into the farm. amount for personal use, housing when there are two families ~all were considered very important by this group. II. THE FARM WIFE LENDS A HAND The group found the subject cov- ered a large area of thought. The deniiinds on the housewifc were as many as the subject was extensive. In reporting, the secre- tary itemized the points as follows,â€" (1) We were reminded of the Women’s Institute motto “For Home and Coun- try" and that the wife’s first consider- ation is the homo. The basic essential of home is co-opei-ntion between hus- band and wife with the wife helping outside. whenever and wherever she is needed. (2) Lending a hand in a pinch is something that the wife HOME AND COUNTRY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE BRANCH EXHIBIT ' ' MME 5.3%“..5»: « This exhibit will be available after the ploughing match for a limited number of Fairs. (Photo courtesy Middlescx Seed Fair). realizes to be important for she truly believes that the growing of food is necessary for "Food is the ammuni- tion of Peace". (3) Health is an im- portant factor for the wife to con« sider. It governs the amount of outdoor work and community activity she can try to accomplish. it was strongly recommended that in be- coming a Women’s Institute member the farm wife would receive the ncccs» sury stimulus for her mental outlook. So she should avail herself of the opportunity of belonging to the organ- ization and she should protect and cherish her health at all times. (4) She lends a hand to herself and her family by studying legislation and how it can all'ect them. (5) Through the radio, press and in meetings she can lend a hand so that youth will be conserved from those things that would be dan- gerous to their well-being. (6) She can encourage girls in club work by giving leadership in the homemuking and gar- den clulis. She should study these (7) It is her duty to see that the home is open to her friends, those of her husband and the children’s comâ€" punions. The group were all unani- mous in their 0 inion, that cranky mothers and high y polished floors do a great deal to cause juvenile delin- quency and to drive youngsters off the farm. (8) She should express the dignity of farm life and labour in the community and urban centres and aim to create a good feeling between rural and urban folk. Through the farmer's wife lending her hand, she is giving encourage- ment. cheerfulncss, hopefulness and appreciation of farm life. Homemak- ing is not a hobby but the very essence of our living. III. THE RELATION 0F SOIL TO THE LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE The matter of soil deficiency was discussed. It was felt that the poor quality of grain and vegetables which directly aITects our physical health was due in no small part to soil de- ficiency. The prevalence of dental deâ€" cay, rickets in children, the diseases among cattle and swineâ€"all partially resulted from lack of proper elements in the soil. Towards improvement, the use of commercial fertilizers, barnyard ninn- ure and straw “are recommended. ‘systematic crop rotation \viis advoâ€" cutcd and soil analysis emphasized. Continuous cash crops should be disâ€" couraged and crops for domestic con- sumption should be grown. The group recommended that the Department be advised of our desire to continue and add to the research as to the value of adding minerals to the soil and the relationship between that and our economic conditions. IV. THE PLACE IN OUR AGRICUL- TURAL PROGRAMME FOR PROJECTS DEALING WITH ECONOMICS This group chose conservation for their topic. Preserving our land by proper use of fertilizers to maintain soil fer- tility as required for production of grains, vegetables, etc. of highest nutritive value to humans and live- stock was stressed. Proper soil testing, it was felt, is very necessary as a guide to fertilizer requirements. It was decided that it was poor policy to dispose of or sell any of the natural farm yard fer- lilizer, even though supplemented. by commercial fertilizer. Where live- stock do not fit into the specialized farming, eg. fruit growing, it was felt that legumes could be sown and ploughed in as green crop to enrich the soil. Co-operation with Farm Forums, Federation of Agniculture, etc. in securing good speakers to discuss Conservation was stressed. Wives should study bulletins and pass the information on to their husbands. ‘ Improved distribution of marketing was considered a great need when surplus produce piles up and govern- ment or co-operative owned and conâ€" trolled dehydration plants to take care of perishable products would help. Education in coâ€"operation in all its phases can be of great value. It was suggested that all should join the Canadian Association of Consumers to help bring about better relation- ship for Home and Country. V. CONSERVATION OF YOUTH How do we keep youth satisfied on the farm? Through family discussion and agreement. Talk over financial mat~ ters with the family. Discuss income and expenses, i.e. if son wants a car, an intelligent grasp of the situation will help him to understand. Make farming a partnership. Shar- ing profits is most essential. Investigate pig clubs, calf clubs, etc. Many a start given in this way has led to the establishment of a good herd. ' Payment for work done in holiday time was another solution. the child- ren investing the money under parents sunemsion. Need of more fun and more social life is partially met by Junior Far- piers and Junior Institute organ- izations. The scope of these is much wider than formerly. While your"? people are growing on _:hey should be developed into in- t ‘1: ant partners in work and pals in ' . r'l if H is were done there would be fewer old couples left alone on Ontario farms. “Take these ideas back to your Inâ€" stitiites and try to carry them out. Words without action are meaning- less," the group reporter concluded. VI. HOME BEA UTIFICATION This_ was considered chiefly from the point of exterior of homes. This should be on a co-operative basis between husband and wife. In order to Interest the man of the house it was suggested that the wife start the mb and do it so poorly that her hus- band would come to her rescue. It was decided the chief object should be nestness. Improvements in appearance could be made by founda- tion planting. perennial borders. For a cheap and satisfying outlay petunia; are good. For very dry, hot ground portulaca serves well. Spring, 1950 A neater countryside can be had by removing tumble down building, and fences. The erection of bird houses and baths encourage our name birds. Have a corner in the garden for native wild flowers which are dis. appearing. The country women should see that the names are clearly printed on mail boxes. Urban people should be educated to keep our country roads clean and not dump trash there. Also they should he taught to respect rivate propem- in the country. We 5 should he dies: troyed. This group wish the following reâ€" commendation to go forward: “Th3; each Women's Institute make a pro. ject this year of destroying all old trees that are beyond their “SEfIIII'ILSS for a dual purpose of making a mine beautiful countryside and destroying destructive insects and diseases". (This recommendation was law: passed by the conveners in session.) VII. HOW TO INCREASE (30).. SUMPTION OF DAIRY FRI)- DUCTS In Canada since 1946, the common ‘ tion of milk per person has decline-.3 ‘ but over all consumption has increa ul due to our increase in populatim Approximately one quarter of uL.‘ milk is sold as fluid milk. Theron». three quarters might be classed .. surplus and goes into powdered an condensed milk, skim milk, chcew butter, flavored and sweetened mlh drinks, etc. The fluid milk is the mo- profitable to our farmers. so we shoul endeavor to increase the consumptiw Out of each $1.00 paid by the cu... tomer for milk 55c only goes to M, farmer. This year we are especially inli ested in promoting improved nutril, for children and if we are to carry - our policy, we must encourage grem consumption of milk and milk p. ducts. Through dental surveys find that because of the discontinuai of sales of carbonated beverages chocolate drinks in school cafetcm- and the substitution of fluid mu dental health of school children l proved. Chocolate milk causes no decay of tooth enamel. A. lower cost to the consumer w» ‘ increase sales of fluid milk and v ious ways in which the cost of hm ling could be reduced were suggest (I) Where refrigeration was :1“ quote milk could be purchased gallon containers and carried hm This reduces the cost and is a conm practice in the U.S. (2) The n: square bottles, now coming into u-i effect a saving in storage and i1 livery space. (3) The food son-.- could handle milk at a 1c or 2c in '- Drice per quart than when deliveo i, In the U.S. 72% of milk sales i handled through stores on a cash ll‘ carry plan. _ Fluid milk, in small size contain. 7 served ice-cold, would stimulate - sale of our most important healthful food. From a health standpoint we shu ‘ educate our people to use milk wlir' ever possible; not DVEI'IOOkII’IQ value from a nutritional standl") of skim milk and buttermilk,_\\‘ the fat content of whole milk is " needed or desired. Books of mu tickets, sold to consumers would szi- much time in delivery. VIII. THE FOOD ALIOTMENT PLAN. The women felt that the food slIM' ment plan had several good pom Taking for sample an inconw $100.00 per month, 540.00 of this I the food allowance. If, however " find the food bill is $60.00 for thu Period. you can purchase a food cm‘ Don book. You pay $40.00 for thy book but mav be allowed $60.00 wort" of food. This book is for food onlt and is a form of subsidy for_b0[l‘- buyer and seller. This is iiiipllwbJe to sections of the US. . Mrs. F. E. Wri ht. Dominion PrcSI- dent. Canadian issociation of Con- sumers in her address said; "Canada is (Continued on Page 5, Col. 1.)