1 HOME AND COUNTRY Published quarterly by rm. Fudul’llvd “'omun‘a Inslilulu ol umuiu Ind The “'omull'l luatiluto Branch Department at Agriculture llularm Eun’okmb COMMITTEE: Mu. Erma: DuL I‘url Carling. Miss u. \' Pow wnuby. Mlss Mary A. Clur u. Toronto. ileum or I‘nonsuiai. “DUKE: [EHUWII Elmorqu Presldrnu: uiss um A. curse, Toronto. an 12.1 min. 11. Min-man. rmmmt: Mrs Eruusl Duke, I‘orI uni-n5. rm I’n'lnlrulw. Mrs. W n Puma. R.K.. Enuaton. Mrs P 0. Full. RR. 1_ l‘ruian Station. Mrs. Eurl usury. RR, 4. Aylmar. Dirn‘ion‘ on m. Exz-‘utire: Hainillnn. R n 3. Pembroke. Edam “'ilson. RR 1, Victoria Harbour. J c Thompson - Bunmsvllle, Hugh )It rma. James “'might. can... Mrs. G. \lrs am Mr; Mrs Additional Directory.- 1 F. “T Ame)“. Moscow. . L“ Holmes. R Ii. 5. Bellurillc. '. Noble Purnn. Rh. 2. Cami-mu. L. Reesor. Scarbnro Junction. l‘cil: Syrian. R.R d, Rorkwuod. R. Millitun. I! II. I. Clifl‘ord. Ii. Z. Gibson, Galcduniu. T. Burn. Brownsvillo. J Lothmn. Mouton-h. Roy \'nnZnnl. Little Current. C J. Russell. 1‘51 \\'olscl?)‘ Slreet. Port Arthur. Mrs F. Parson. Fort Frances. Scrrrmrâ€"y-Tvmmnr: Mrs. W. B Lentherdale. Coldwator Correspondent should be addressed to "HOME and COUNTRY" The \l'omcu'a Inshlula Branch Department 0! Agriculture Parliament Buildings, Toronto This paper I! iIiSII’IbIIN‘I-I through the new unrs of Women Institutes to the Women's Institute members. EDITORIAL COMMENT INSTITUTE HOUSECLEAx NG Spring is in the air. bringing with it the usuul strange medley Of thoughts and feelings, its message of hope, of new life, of growth, of beauty, of freedomâ€"and of house- cleaning. Sprng housecleaning is symbolic of the desire within us all to make a fresh start. It should not stop with the house itself. Now is the time for mental house- cleaning. Now is the time to sort and classify the half-formed ideas and thoughts which have been lying stag- nant, in order that those which merit it may be followed through and put into action. Now is the time to think clearly about the problems of living that We may meet them honestly and bravely with a clear vision. Now is the time for Institute house- cleaning. The annual meetings bring opportunities to review the past year's work, to re-examine objectives and to make plans for the coming year. Every member has obligations to her Institute. One of these is the election of ofï¬cers and conveners of committees. Does your Institute make the best use of the talents of the members by nominating and electing those most capable and willing to scrve'.7 Does your Institute nominate its wellâ€"qualiï¬ed members for district ofï¬ces so that they may have the op- portunity to serve in this larger area? Every Institute has obligations to its district. We hope that each Insti- tute plans to send its full quota of delegates, and as many others as pos- sible, to the district annual meeting so that every institute may have a voice in all matters of policy and of programme-planning. It is here that each Institute will feel itself an im- portant integral part of a large and powerful organization and here it should bear its share of responsi 'lity for the guidance of that organization. Co-operation of every member, of every Institute and of every district is the only key to success. GIRLS ATTENDED BUSY FARM HOME ECONOMICS SCHOOLS Busy farm irls attended 29 one- month Home conomics schools dur- ing tlic past December, January and February. These schools were held in conjunction with Agricultural schools for boys. Parents from‘old Ontario farm homes uml new bum ndian homes, alike, willingly assumed extru home and farm duties in order that sons and daughters might return to school for four short weeks. All schools conducted courses in Foods and Nutrition. with optional courses in Clothing or Health Educutmn, With Knitting. Occasionally the girls felt impelled to leave the Home Econ- omics classes to hear about co-oper- atives. the farm poultry flock or vegetable gardens. while the boys stole precious minutes from Agri- culture for ï¬rst-aid, a timely lecture on nutrition, “Food Makes a Dif» reroute", or a discussion on' “This Way. Please", a few rules of etiquette. Food For Health a National Duty Food for health became a national duty as Junior Homemakers cpn- sidcrcd Dr. Tisdall's challenging statement, “The ï¬rst duty of evcr)‘ man. woman and child in Canada during the war is to cut correct food for good nutrition and normal health". When food for health was interpreted in terms of essential foods, such as milk. eggs, vegetables, fruit, cereals and meats. members realized that Ontario farms have an abundance of most food necessary for good health. How to assure an adequate supply of them- foods, how to prepare them to prosC‘l'Ve food value, and how to over- comc fnnd dislikes, were some of the practical problems various groups at- tarkcd. Vegetables to meet the fumilv's vegetable requirement led to sun _ . of vegetables grown in home garden, storage facilities and can- nimr ability. Deï¬nite plans were made to improve existing conditions. with a vegetable garden on every farm. a greater variety of vegetables in the home garden and improved storage and canning methods. After veget- nblc cookery demonstrations with home assignments in preparing veget- nhles, members concluded that veget- ables cooked “just enough" and not “too much", and attractively served in a variety of ways, will do much to overcome vegetable dislikes. Resourceful teachers and question- ing students sought ways and means of increasing milk consumption in accord with individual requirements of 1 pint for each adult and 1": pints for each child. They found the answer in family menus with more and more delicious milk desserts, milk soups and refreshing milk drinks. Family meals were planned, pre- pared and served. Fortunate the visitor who was invited to dine with the selected family group. Youthful host and hostess with family mem- bers vied with each other to make this a most happy party. Con- versation was interesting and enâ€" lightening, ranging from tales of home duties. to impressions on an aeroplane flight. or to international questions. Health a National Defence With Health a National Defence in Peace or War. the Health Education courses, emphasizing prevention of illness and conservation of health. onâ€" listed the interest and enthusiastic response of class members. For them. knowing about health was important. but day»by-day health practices were vital. Daily health charts were checked; doctors, oculists and dentists ~ c visited. Toxoid clinics were reedsulcrcd .and homo‘ water suppIy analyzed. Demonstrations in ï¬rst aid were followed by thorough surveys of sources of accidents in the home and renmval of causes. While tune wag spent at all schools on home cure a the sick. the importance of prevention of illness, improvcment of health and buoyant health were stressed at all times. Being \I'cll Dressed and Well Groomed Clothing classes delved into that ever- important problem of “Being well dressed and well groomed". Cleanli- ness was stressed as most essential In grooming. Grooming charts set up goals of achievement for those who would look their best. Beauty clinics helped girls with shampoos, manicurcs, and becoming hair-dos. Over ninety percent of material ppr- chased for :irmcnts showed wise choice of tunes of good qualitv. becoming in colour and design. Gir s workcd in groups for cutting, ï¬tting and construction. They thus acquired experience in interpreting and adJust- ing difl'ercnt patterns. in ï¬tting. and in various types of ï¬nishes._ As one watched them happily helping each other, per-severing over some new technique, independently or together puzzling out some construction de~ tail. one could visualize many of them making morc garments at homeâ€" makinq more diflicult garments with improved workmanship. Undoubted- l_\' these L'll'ls gliiucrl information, acquired 5 Us and techniques. deâ€" veloped judu’inc: ability and estab- lished clothing and groominl: stancl~ atds which will help them to be well dressed and wcll groomed. Time for Play \'ot wishing to risk making Jack a dull bov by all work and no play, these nnihilinus vct funâ€"loving boys and girls found time for play. Skat- ing parties. class parties with evening of games. afternoon teas and banquets topped Off days already crowded with classes and home duties. Girls do» lighted in playing hostess at afternoon teas. for mothers, members of local Women's Institutes or the agricultural class. New Canadian mothers became better acquainted with AnglovSaxon mothers over a cup of tea, viewing exhibits and discussing the course which their sons and daughters had attended. Banquets, with class mem- bers in charge of programme, showed these young folks’ ability to think and express themselves on questions re» lated to the home, farm and com- munity. School Days Over School days are over for the present for these boys and girls, but study- ing, learning. seeking self-improve- ment and better ways of doing things on the farm and in the home will go on and on. With an increased sense pf personal responsibility in attains mg desired goals and standards, they have returned to their work inspired to greater effort and resolved to greater efï¬ciency. Already short course girls are organizing Home- lnalung Clubs through which to con- tinue home economics studies. Thanks go from the Department of Agriculture and from these young people to the Municipalities‘ Service Clubs and Women's Institutes who assisted in_s_o many ways in organ- izmg, providing accommodation, and making these schools possible. (Qontributed by Miss Florence Eadie, Women’s Institute Branch). x GIRLS’ CONFERENCE AT KEMPTVILLE The Annual Girls’ Conference for Eastern Ontario will be held at the Agricultural School at Kemptville on April 23. 24, 25. Registration will take place at the girls’ residence on the afternoon of April 22 from 4:00 to 9:30 pm daylight saving time. The fee for room and board from the afternoon of April 22 until the morning of April 26, inclusive, will be Three Dollars (5330) Spring. 1941 HOME AND COUNTRY f COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND RELIEF At the beginning of one of the mm momentqu years n the history of nu nation, it behooves us no member; a; the Women’s Institute to atup h, centre our attention on ways nnd incline of making our organization mt throughout the length and breadth of this fair provlnce. and of llIllklng our standing committees function better than ever. The Standing Committee on (Jinn. munity Activities and Relief has a large ï¬eld to cover and, as conventi- the honour of suggesting a pm: gramme is no mean one. Such u pm. gramme entails careful study “ml much devising of methods for nurrv. ing on the terriï¬c amount of \voi‘k which we shall b called upon in do In ordinary times, our duties in luluâ€: ing the aims and objects of our m min. ization ever before the mcmhc: “ml others in the community was l mu. time job, Now that so mam more duties devolve upon us, we must meet them and measure-up. In thv- was: of all our war work. may we 'nvg-r lct fail the torch thrown to H by the pioneers in Institute work. It 15 more than ever necessary to cm w on our Institutes when the need m‘ m. couranemcnt and social contactv « m vital lo the keeping up of our p mule, Lct no one say, “We are (lruppmv HI†Institute because we are duiw .v. much war work that we haven't - The war work can be carried on we effectively with the help and |.. m. of the Women's Institute. Just now we are faced will rhe problem of raising money with ‘lCIl to carry on this war work, and I up, our government do its share. l‘u him Our own local needs. which mu . not be neglected, we must give of im- ‘mic and money to Red Cross. Sul- 'mn Armv and other organizations. 1 u. in these givings practise mvvn ll- deninl: that. instead of spcndin .re to give less. we sacriï¬ce to l' or the activities imposed upon Us l 'l r: conditions under which we now 1 Women all over the world h a challenge thrown to them ln-d, by our failure to hold the peacc M:th we had after the last war. \Vi- . llSl not make the same mistake . \in. We must prepare for the penm Mm will come by living, working and us- ing for peace. We must make Ill nu minds what kind of peace no in! and go after that, ever keeping l re us the need for reconstruction. [ct us prepare our community actr ':cs for that time. We must clean u. the wreckage of our mistakes and hp 1‘ A new structure which shall be lwm because we will have proï¬ted In. our mistakes. This reconstruction can bc slwlml in our own homes and families. llur programme of community actiwies in the Institute can foster this and spread the gospel of peace. We I "51 teach all our children the true rr. an- ing of aggression; to stand “P W their rights but always to respect the rights of others: to have self-reï¬ll?Cl and to respect the law. whether v: M of home. school or state. They must be taught to make the proper use of leisure. This should be such as to proï¬t them in the years: to come. "When we are grown and take our place as men and women “10‘ our race". Keep them occupied herd. heart and hand. Encourage them In their sports (a big ï¬eld for com- munity activities) and help them de- velop their interests. Here, hobbies are important. Every child profits M a. hobby. No boy or girl “Elï¬n-V directed is likely to stray far "It" paths that are empty or Evil. The youth of to-day have never had their rightful chance. This will not be said of the youth of tomorrow if the Women’s Institute: live-up t“ their ideals. (Contributed by Mrs. E. Hewitt: Hawkestone Provincial Convener).