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January 1947

Consumers' guide

LIBRARY CURRENT SERIAL RECORD °1

* JAN 9 1947 #

U. 3. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE —

VOLUME XIII • NUMBER 1 • JANUARY 1947 of products needed for the war effort, may mark another permanent trend in outlook In this issue: service. The production goals are based Outlook, 1947 2 Farmers' goals for 1947 11 on the expected demand for farm products Home on the farm 3 The world's menu 13 in the United States, the needs for New equipment is on the way 6 Close up on the News 15 exports, What are you worth? 9 Guide posts 16 adequate reserves, and a stock pile for postwar rehabilitation. The estimated ILLUSTRATIONS: Cover, Richard Lahey; p. 3, USDA; p. 4, AAA; p. 5, left, AAA, right, Consumers' Guide' needs are expressed in pounds and acreages pp. 6,7,8, drawings, Howard Chapman; p. 8, labels, BHN&HE; p. 10, left, Charles Phelps Gushing; right, Ewing for each commodity. Goals are allocated Galloway; p. 11, AAA; p. 13, FAO; p. 14, Adapted fiom FAO material by BHN&HE; p. 16, drawings, Katherine Johnson. by States. And the problems of individual farmers in each region and area are taken into consideration. State and local com- mittees familiar with the local problems Outlook, 1947 are called on, so far as possible, to deter- mine the fairness and adequacy of the goals Addressed to his Excellency, Abraham consumer cannot be fed, clothed, or in terms of the individual farmer. Lincoln, President of the United States, housed without the products of the farm Through proper dissemination of infor- was the report of the first Commissioner of and the farmer's only source of income is mation the farmers who voluntarily sub- Agriculture, Isaac Newton, dated Depart- from the consumer. It is probably be- scribed to the goals are made aware of the ment of Agriculture, Washington, January cause their mutual welfare is so tied up reasons, pro and con, and for attempting 1, 1863- The report begins with an Act to together that the Congress of 1862 issued to meet them. establish the Department of Agriculture a mandate that the Department shall The Bureau of Agricultural Economics, approved May 15, 1862. The opening acquire and diffuse among the people of the Extension Service, and the Production section reads: the United States useful information on and Marketing Administration cooperated the "Be it enacted by Senate and House of subjects connected with agriculture. in directing its own information which the United States Representatives of of America Agriculture, so ordered, has done its fills in the pattern for the year. Subject in assembled, there is Congress That hereby part toward acquiring the information material is primarily economic. The established at the seat of government of the and setting it out. Farmers, being good Extension Service and other agencies act to United States a Department of Agriculture, farmers, must look ahead a year and must bring the information to the farmer in time the general designs and duties of which choose what seed they will plant, plan to make it useful to him in planning his shall be to acquire and to diffuse among the what soil the seed shall grow in, and year's work. people of the United States useful informa- foresee the market which will use the •Many discussions are necessarily general. tion on subjects connected with agriculture crop produced. Sowing poor seed is These in themselves, properly broken down in the most general and comprehensive worthless effort. Good seed on the wrong and presented, are used by farmers as sense of that word, and to procure, propa- soil can either yield no crop or an abun- factors in their decisions. gate, and distribute among the people new dant crop which will be paid for later by Broadening the market for farm products valuable plants." depleted land. Or, the crop can plant- and seeds and be was discussed by economists and agricul- This New Year's issue of the Consumers' ed in highest anticipation of success and tural and industrial chemical engineers, and Guide includes summaries of the Twenty- the yield can accrue but there will be no better nutrition and better uses of farm Fourth Outlook Conference as well as the market for it. The farmer must think of products for consumers, by authorities of crop goals for 1947. The problems and all of these things. If he does not, he has the Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home attainments of agriculture touched on here no cash income and the consumer has no Economics. Commodities were discussed stand out in sharp contrast to some of the food. leading authorities in each crop, and problems and attainments recorded in that So it was that in 1923 the first National by first report to Mr. Lincoln. But though Outlook Conference, designed to look over the best in how-to-do information as re- the backgrounds of the times are different, past performances and weigh them in the lated to the current needs and best returns the aims of agriculture and the broad light of apparent probable factors, was for the coming year is given. Definite outline along which it works to attain called. They were designed to be useful forecasts seldom possible are seldom made. these aims remains in essence the same. to the individual farmer as a guide in The best information for making the year the Con- planning production and marketing for the Looking ahead to the new wisest decisions is set forth. ference viewed from material available maximum returns. the outlook for the coming year. The establishment of production goals Here some of this data is addressed to during the war, which worked so effec- both farmers and consumers because the tively in obtaining the amounts and kinds

consumers' guide is printed with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget as CONSUMERS' GUIDE Issued Monthly required by Rule 42 of the Joint Committee on Printing. Official free distribution A Publication of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is limited. Additional copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C, 5 cents a copy, or by Washington, D. C. subscription, 50 cents a year, domestic; 70 cents a year, foreign. Postage stamp* Editor, Ben James; associate editors, Acne Carter, Elizabeth Spence; art, Howard E. will not be accepted in payment. Chapman.

2 Consumers' guide Home on the farm

• Life on the farm isn't as simple as it dwellings with electricity increased from difference in the savings which the two

seems in a pastoral movie, complete with a 32 percent in 1940 to 52 percent in 1945- groups have been able to pile up is to be

cozy farmhouse, and a husky, apple- Even after allowance for advancing food expected. Sure enough, on January 1, cheeked family eating from an overloaded costs, farm families spent more on food, 1946, 10 percent of the farm operators held table to the tune of cowbells tinkling on judging from groups reporting their ex- 75 percent of all farmer-owned savings the sound track. penditures to colleges in several States. bonds and one-half had none. This was brought out at sessions of the This, coupled with the fact that home pro- While some families have been paying Agricultural Outlook Conference for 1947 duction of food increased, points to better off old debts, recently the trend of farm which considered trends in farm family eating on the farm. Also expenditures of mortgage debt has started going up again

living and what to do to improve living health and medical care increased greatly. and the size of the mortgages is increasing. conditions on the farm. Dark Side of the Picture In the event of a drop in farm prices, this On the bright side, the record gives Though the average farm income and could mean serious financial trouble for a evidence of substantial improvement in a savings have risen dramatically above pre- considerable group of families.

number of situations affecting farm living. war lows, many farm families still have Crowded housing is associated in most Net farm incomes have risen sharply so low incomes. True, the average income people's minds with city slums. Unhap- that in 1946 they averaged 3 times the per farm in the United States was $2,250. pily, the country has its slum conditions earnings of farm operators during the But that wasn't much comfort to the aver- too. In 1939 less than half the homes 1935-39 period. With higher incomes, age West Virginia farm family which occupied by farm operators were "accept- farm families have increased their bond netted only $896 in return for all thei*- hard able" while about a third were in a " holdings from $249 million on January 1, work in the fields. Nor was it much help nonrepayable' ' condition. Though some 1940, to $5,028 million on January 1, 1946. to the farmers in a Georgia county where progress in rural housing has been noted During the same period they whittled about a third of the white families and a since that time, there is still great need down the old mortgage by nearly a fourth half of the Negro families received incomes for improvement. and built up their bank accounts threefold. under $500. Chief barriers to such improvement- are These larger savings mean a greater margin While it's true that a large number of low income and tenancy. In 1939 only a of security against crop failures or price families supplement their farm earnings by million and a half of the Nation's farrrrs

drops than farmers had after World War I. jobs off the farm, the fact remains that were capable of producing enough to sup- At the same time, farm families have in- many simply don't earn enough money to port a family adequately, including ac- creased their expenditures for items to add maintain a decent standard of living. ceptable housing. Even after adding to their comfort and well-being. Despite With such a big difference between the another million for the additional farm wartime shortages, the number of farm earnings of the big and little farmer, a vast families who increase their earnings with

January 1947 3 outside income sufficiently to provide de- doctors, nurses, and dentists to start with, cent homes, more than half the farm fam- country communities gave more than their ilies just didn't earn enough to pay for share of health workers to the war serv- adequate housing and meet their other ices, and many have not come back to living costs. While farm incomes have rural areas. risen since 1939 and many low-income In the field of education too, the situa- farmers have moved from marginal farms, tion in many rural communities leaves probably the number of uneconomic farms much to be desired. During the war, a (farms too small or too poor to support a large number of country schools were family decently) has not been cut by more forced to close for lack of teachers and to than half. This would leave well over a date the " schoolmarms" are not flocking fourth of farm families living on farms too back to the country. small to support adequate housing. Country people generally don't have as Another factor making for inadequate much "book learning" as people in cities. housing is farm tenancy. Often the rental In 1945, only 21 percent of farm boys 25 of the farm is determined solely by the years of age or older had completed one land and farm equipment, without much year of high school as compared to 35 per- Run-down farms like this cannot yield a regard to the condition of the farm dwell- cent of rural nonfarm boys and 46 percent good living or support strong farm families. ing. As a result the landlord has no im- of urban boys. mediate financial interest in improving the The low percentage of farm dwellers washing machine, by aiding the house- while the renter hesitates to spend home, who go beyond the grade school is in part wife's health and efficiency, add more to property. money on another person's explained by the fact that many farm boys the productive capacity of the farm than a But just because people live in the and girls who finish high school go on to new tractor? Another speaker, a woman, country, it's not safe to assume that they college, and do not return to the farm. wanted this question to be duly considered get all the milk and eggs and vegetables, But that only means that the farm com- by every farm family in making its budget. and such, needed for robust health. Quite munity foots the education bills for these Recognition that expenditures to main- the contrary. Many studies reveal that young people who go to the city. tain minimum living standards are im- substandard nutrition is extremely common Obviously from this review of the farm portant to the happiness of farm families among rural as well as urban children. family living situation, a high standard of and also contribute to their earning power

Furthermore, an unsatisfactory state of living for all, or even a majority of may be found in loan provisions of the nutrition during pregnancy is much more farm families during 1947, cannot be taken Farmers Home Administration, the suc- people realize. common than most for granted. Rather it is an aim toward cessor to the Farm Security Administra- Low income has an unfavorable effect on which to work. tion. These provisions allow loans to diets too. Both urban and rural families cover expenditures for home improvement Looking Ahead with incomes under $1,000 have diets and medical care which will contribute to for careful planning short in quantity and quality. Further- Need by the whole the family's ability to do a good farm pro- to the most of their more, rising food prices make it harder farm family make op- duction job, as well as regular "operating for living than ever for the low-income housewife to portunities good on the farm expenses" for seed and equipment. The emphasized by outlook speakers. buy all the food her family needs. Farm was new Farm Credit Act provides that the families at the different income levels are Budgeting household expenses is usually value of the home as well as the land, live- likely to have better diets than city people more difficult for farm families than for stock, and equipment be taken into ac- with the same amount of money, however. city people, because on the farm living count in determining the loan value of a

This is partly due to the fact that farm expenses come out of the same fund as farm. The act also permits loans for home families generally produce a large part of farm operating expenses. That brings improvement. their food at home. Studies show that up the moot question of whether the crop Yet there remains a considerable number families who produce a major portion of money should go for a big barn for the of marginal farmers for whom the only their food have diets better in quality and cows or a better house for the family, a hope for a solution of the housing problem quantity than those who buy most of it. washing machine for the wife, or a tractor is the increasing income which would While more money in their pockets has for the farm. A tough question this, come from a more productive farm. enabled farm families as a group to spend with no hard and fast answer. Scarcity of building materials and the much more on medical and health services "As the farm must provide the income $400 cost limitation now in force on home than when times were hard, probably to meet operating expenses, retirement of improvement are immediate obstacles in some of the money paid to the doctor and debt, and family living, it is obvious that the way of extensive remodeling during the dentist in the last few years went to in many instances the expenditures for re- the months ahead. However, the supply

settling old bills. Still a large number of pairs and replacements to keep or to place of building materials is expected to pick up country people undoubtedly were willing the farm on an efficient basis should have considerably during 1947. Also farm fam- and able to pay for better medical care. the first call on savings and current in- ilies who want to improve their homes Unfortunately health services in rural come," was the idea thrown to the Out- have a number of advantages over city communities have suffered badly as a result look Conference by one speaker—a man. dwellers. Often they produce their own of the war. Though they had fewer Well and good. But might not the lumber or can get it from a neighbor's

4 Consumers' guide Farm families who raise most of their own food supplies eat more Planning helps farm families spend their money wisely to meet and better food than do other families of the same income group, essential farm and family expenses and to save for emergencies.

timber crop. Then too they usually do processing of non-acid vegetables and meat. has prevented coverage of farm groups by more of the carpentry work themselves Two-fifths of the farm housewives have the Social Security Act, but many farm than do town people— and so increase pressure canners as compared to one-fifth leaders are giving thought to plans for what can be accomplished with an ex- of the homemakers who live in towns and overcoming obstacles in the way of pro- penditure of $400. cities. Farm Credit Administration es- viding more security for farm people. That many farm families have planned timates that nearly 2 million farm families Meanwhile, farm families are face to housing-improvement projects for 1947 are now using frozen-food locker plants face with the need to save to build up a is evidenced by a number of surveys. which also contribute mightily to good reserve against old age and sickness. Such Even more concrete evidence comes from eating on the farm. savings may be in the form of insurance the Rural Electrification Administration, or annuities. Bonds tucked away are Commnnity Concern which recently reported 400,000 applica- "insurance" against being wiped out by a tions for electrification loans. And often To cope with the problem of inadequate run of bad crops or low farm prices, as electrification starts families off on an ex- health services, many farm communities well as a handy nest egg for use in sickness. tensive program of home modernization. are making surveys of local facilities with Advice to save is rather empty for fam- What the nutritional score of farm fam- a view to building needed hospitals or ilies whose income is too low to meet all ilies is likely to be in 1947 may be gauged health centers and offering inducements to expenses essential for a minimum living somewhat by recent trends. In 1945 more bring badly needed doctors, dentists, and standard, no matter how thin they spread than nine-tenths of farm households pre- nurses into their communities. A survey their money. For this group the big need served some fruits and vegetables by can- taken by the Bureau of Agricultural Eco- is to get farms which are large enough and ning, brining, , freezing, or dry- nomics showed that the majority of farm- fertile enough to yield a decent living. ing. While figures are not available for ers favor some sort of prepaid medical plan. High land prices and competition for good

1946, it seems likely, with the spotlight Rural people want better educational farms make it harder for this group to on food shortages, that farm families again opportunities for their children. Higher find suitable farms. last year worked hard to stock their food farm incomes should help in this connec- Rising living costs also make it harder larders. This bodes well for the nutrition tion. Not only can prosperous families for all families to plan their finances so as of such families as did produce a large part better afford to meet costs of higher edu- to get the biggest return in terms of family of their food supplies. cation for their children, but prosperous living. At the same time the lifting of

Share croppers and farm laborers unfor- communities can afford to raise teachers' price controls makes it more important tunately raise a smaller proportion of their salaries to a level that will attract compe- for everyone to budget for essentials first food than do farm operators— though they tent, well-trained people. For poor rural and postpone unnecessary purchases of as a group have the least money with communities the problem of raising edu- scarce items until the selection is better which to buy food. While many of them cational standards remains acute. and prices more favorable. do not have the land and equipment neces- Also of concern to many farm leaders is Ultimately good living in town and sary to raise their own food, those who the lack of social security for people who country is dependent on national pros- can find a way to produce food for the live and work on farms, as compared to perity— high production, fair prices, and family table stand a good chance of im- the unemployment and old-age benefits to good incomes for all groups. Hence farm proving their diets. which industrial workers are eligible un- families have a direct stake in promoting First aid to farm housewives in canning der the Social Security Act. To date the programs designed to conserve our soil re- is a pressure cooker, which provides the difficulty of collecting payments from the sources, increase production, and maintain higher temperatures required for safe thousands of independent farm operators incomes of both farm and city workers.

January 1947 5 —

New equipment is on the way

Washing devices are of the agitator type, or are cylinders which oscillate or rotate. Standard and new designs are coming out of Quantity of water for washing and factories faster than in prewar years, but demand rinsing 3 times is given by some as 10 to will be ahead of supply for some months yet. 13 gallons of hot water per load, by others Meanwhile prospective buyers can look over the as a total of 17 to 20 K gallons. Amount models and decide which ones suit their needs of soap, temperature, and pressure of and budgets—best. water all affect the results. All auto- matics work more satisfactorily with soft water. Be sure the water softener used • Electronic cookery, cleaning, and wash- What are their chances of getting it? is of the type which does not leave a pre- ing by remote control, and "walkie- Better for some things than for others. cipitate. talkies" to help care for the little ones Figures from the Civilian Production Ad- The damp-dry process takes place by may be in the dreams of some postwar ministration show that in September pro- rapid spinning in a perforated tub at 550 homemakers, but most would settle for duction was up above the prewar monthly to 600 revolutions per minute. Capacity a few pieces of regulation household average for all large equipment except re- is 8 to 10 pounds of clothes. Length of equipment. frigerators and sewing machines. But the washing cycle—or how long it takes It's interesting to read about the elec- that "pent-up demand" we mentioned from the time you put the clothes in until tronic hot-dog dispenser which is said to carries things out of the store almost as they are washed, rinsed and damp dried, cook a "frank," place it in a roll complete soon as they appear on the floor. ready to hang out—averages about 30 with mustard, and eject the finished prod- What do housewives want most? minutes. Claims are made by one manu- uct to the customer in response to the facturer for as short a time as 10 minutes well-known stimulus of a coin. to the ironing board! And it's fascinating to hear of a young Shoppers might look for some of these couple who suspend a microphone over new special features in automatic washers: their darling's crib when they step out to An automatic cut off when the lid is a nearby party. The receiving set they opened. carry along gives instant bulletins from the Self-leveling, water action compensates little one. They can hear all his remarks for any out-of-balance load. about their absence, and even tell when WASHING MACHINES AND Interior light. he turns over. ELECTRIC A combination dish washer and wash- Very interesting, the average housewife ing machine with two removable tubs. will say, but how about a new washing That's what surveys made by the War In standard or non-automatic washers machine? And what about that new range Production Board in 1943, 1944, and 1945 few innovations have been made, but all I was to get, come Peace? Can't I at least showed. There's little doubt that this models do not have these features: get rid of this old toaster? unanimous cry for home laundry equip- Overload automatic cut off. Not yet, Madam, unless you are one of ment above all else was partly caused by Automatic roller for cord. the lucky ones and get to the store almost abnormal conditions in commercial laun- Timer which cuts off motor when wash- as soon as the manufacturer's crates are dries. If you've waited for weeks for the ing time is up. unloaded. That's the report made at the laundry to come back, a washing machine Standard washers are run by electric or Department of Agriculture's Outlook Con- and an could understandably become gasoline motors. Tubs are either square ference in October. Household-equipment the sweetest of all dreams. The chances or round. Some have attached lids, and specialists just back from visits to 15 or of those dreams coming true are better some have removable ones with a place to more manufacturers brought this word every month as washing-machine produc- hang them on the side of the machine. along with news about changes and im- tion increases. provements in some of the old stand-bys. Big news is the increase in automatic For almost 5 years no appliances were washers—the kind you put clothes in, made for the general public. Meanwhile turn on, add soap, come back thirty min- that thing the economists call "pent-up utes later, and the clothes are ready to demand" was growing until now it's hang on the line. Ten or more companies practically incalculable. In millions of are making or planning to make auto- established homes equipment has worn matics. All these will be rather similar out. Innumerable new homemakers—the in appearance, with a square outside tub. brides of the last 5 years—have been get- Top, side, and slanting-side openings will Portable Washers ting along without or with second-hand be used, though there will be more of the The small washing machines have a stuff. Now the war is over and they want top-opening machines which women seem capacity of 2 to 3 pounds of clothes. They new equipment. And bow they want it! to prefer. come in cylinder and agitator models, with

6 Consumers' guide hand-operated wringers, or cylinder-spin PRODUCTION RECORD FOR HOME APPLIANCES driers. Surface finishes are the same as for standard machines. Prewar

Electric Irons Appliance monthly Sept. 1946 Oct. 1946 average Many companies are making their same prewar models. There are a few new features. A lightweight steam iron, which can Electric irons 380,000 697,000 also be used without water as a regular Electric ranges . . . 47,000 61 ,000 77,000 iron. Gas ranges 125,000 153,000 1 88,000 A cordless iron heated by the platform Refrigerators 309,000 233,000 280 000 on which it rests. Sewing machines • 67^000 35'oOO 45,000

An iron shaped so that it can be used Vacuum cleaners . 1 56,000 240,000 266,000 backward or forward with equal ease. Washing machines 158,000 212,000 265,000

The cord is attached at center instead of one end. *Oct. figures not available. A traveling iron which weighs as little as 2 pounds but is the size of a regular iron. back or to the side, sliding shelves that HOME FREEZERS pull out, shelves that can be raised or Upright and chest models are being Ironing Machines lowered, and even shelves on outer and made. Whichever style they choose, shop- No special changes from prewar models. inner doors. They are stainless steel or pers should refer to the manufacturer's Both roller and flat types are being made aluminum with grill work fine enough to guarantee to make sure that a uniform in cabinet and portable models. They come keep small dishes from tipping. temperature is maintained throughout the with one or both ends open, with hand, Glass shelves appear in some models, but unit; otherwise there is danger that food knee, or foot control. Some have several are not satisfactory in makes which de- speeds for the rollers, safety releases, ^ pend on circulation of air. \ \ thermostat controls, pilot light, and 9 safety switches. Refrigerators with cold walls instead of the familiar evaporator unit we are accus- Driers tomed to were beginning to appear before Gas-heated driers known before the war the war. More manufacturers are now are still available. making this type. Some include an will deteriorate in quality. Experts re- New electric driers tumble the clothes ultraviolet light which is said to retard port that home freezers are improving in dry. They have forced air circulation mold and spoilage. Less spectacular are this respect, and many do maintain the and temperature controls. Both types such special features as an ice-tray release required temperature throughout the unit. have a capacity of 18 pounds of wet (standard equipment on some models), an There is another risk in the tendency to clothes. ice-cube release, and a temperature control overload the unit and try to freeze too which automatically brings the refrigera- much at once. Department of Agriculture tor back to normal operation after de- scientists are working with industry to frosting. establish a standard method of determining Doors of the ice-cube compartment of

' a recommended maximum load to be

some refrigerators have the words ' frozen frozen in a given period. Until that food" stamped on them. Buyers should standard is set, best suggestion is to read take care not to confuse this with the regu- the manufacturer's instructions carefully lar frozen-foods compartment which is and, if still in doubt, freeze small quantities operated by a separate cooling system and at a time. Newer models of home freezers can be kept at zero temperature. A few having a separate freezing compartment packages of frozen foods can be stored in are made with smaller freezing space and REFRIGERATORS the ordinary ice-cube compartment for more room for storage. Reason given for production lag in re- varying periods of time, depending on the frigerators is that motors and compressors food. This is quite different from zero- ELECTRIC RANGES are short. Also certain sizes of sheet steel temperature storage units where all frozen Ranges are similar to prewar models in have been allocated to housing. foods can be kept almost indefinitely. appearance, but there are a few innovations Many manufacturers have changed in- in various makes. To Make It Last Longer terior designs somewhat. Ice-cube sec- Well-cooker unit can be raised flush with tion is placed at one side instead of the Place it level, in a cool spot. stove top to be used as a regular center for more convenient storage space. Keep it at the right temperature. unit. New movable shelves provide for almost Follow directions for defrosting. Flexible heat for surface units. Until every possible size and shape of storage. Keep every part clean. recently the highest number of heats on

There are half shelves, shelves that fold Have repairs made at once. an electric range was 7, with many having

January 1947 7 only 3 to 5- Now the indicator is divided Look for three safe- into tiny sections like degrees, giving a guards: Maker's complete range of heat. guarantee, seal of Built-in roaster. Underwriter's Labo- Built-in over 2 burners. ratories. On gas Warming compartment, manually or appliances look for thermostatically controlled. the AGA star of American Gas Association.

VACUUM CLEANERS PRESSURE SAUCEPANS Upright, cylinder, and tank types are Supply of these is better than for many being made. Many are much lighter in other things. Forty percent of all alumi- weight than prewar. num allocated for utensils is going into Newer types are those in which the dust them. is deposited in a tank. One of these styles has water at the bottom of the tank. This Take Care of What You Have Smooth top units of some kind of stone. can be emptied easily and, say the manu- No coils visible. This unit heats rapidly, The wartime slogan, "Make 'em last facturers, it does away with flying dust. is easy to clean, and temperature can be longer," is still good. Equipment special- Another new model has a bag with a thermostatically controlled. ists say it will b~ at least 6 months before small container at its bottom in which Time control for appliance outlets. the supply of most appliances will be any- dust is deposited for convenient disposal. This means, for instance, that you can where near up to demand, and you can

' start the coffee or the radio whenever buy without that ' now or never' ' feeling. you want to by setting the clock the night Meanwhile take care of what you have. before. If a breakdown occurs, don't tinker unless

Storage spaces show many variations. you know how to tinker. Service is easier One model has a fan installed in the lower than during the war years, and you may part of the range for air-conditioning. save time and money by calling a service- GAS RANGES man for large equipment, or by taking small appliances to a reputable repair These show more variety in the ar- shop. In general keep equipment in- rangement of top units—along the back, clean both side out. that staggered, or with working space in the and See gas pressure or To Make It Last Longer electric voltage is right. Never overheat. center or to right or left. Know the type of cleaner you have and Single-point ignition makes it possible how it cleans. to light broiler and oven from the pilot Be sure the nozzle of the cleaner makes light. a good seal with the rug. Time control for the oven appears on

Clean rugs often . . . operate cleaner many models. slowly. To Make It Last Longer Keep the dirt container emptied. See that gas pressure is properly adjusted Keep brushes free of hair and thread. and electric voltage right, not too high Make sure brush tips extend below nozzle. nor too low for your stove . . . that For repairs . . . for a complete check- range burner grates or units are level. up of your cleaner go to a reliable service- See that air and gas mixture is adjusted man. in gas burners to give a clear flame. Keep When You Buy . . . burners and pilots clean, flame openings Wh;n the happy day of your purchase unclogged. arrives, remember these things: Protect the enamel surface from sudden Read the guarantee carefully. changes of temperature, scratches and Look for the UL enclosed in a circle. blows, spills, and acids. That's the Underwriters Laboratories' seal Don't overheat coils of electric units SMALL APPLIANCES toast- of approval which stands for safety. . . . don't get salt, soda, sugar, or soap Hot plates, mixers, coffee makers, on open units. Never touch open wire ers, fans, etc., are still rather scarce. On gas equipmem look for the AGA star coils with anything metal. Manufacturers who made both small and which means it meets the requirement of Keep all parts of the range clean to help large appliances have been inclined to use the American Gas Association and the for the larger American Standards Association for con- preserve it . . . save fuel and your time such materials as they had struction and performance. . . . make cooking more fun. ones.

8 Consumers' guide —

What ma tfcu wcitii 7

• Where their money goes is an all-impor- though about as many people expected to tant question to the Joe Doakes and the earn larger incomes as expected smaller John Does—crucial not only to their pay envelopes. It must be confessed, how- future but also to the future of the U. S. A. ever, that the little guys with small wages So important is this matter of saving were the ones who expected raises. and spending by typical American families Families in the higher-income and sav- to the future of everybody in the country ings brackets apparently took a more that a survey of the situation was recently down-to-earth view about the savings made by the Bureau of Agricultural Eco- outlook. They were more inclined to ex- nomics at the request of the Federal Re- pect rising living costs to cut into their serve Board. savings than were low-income families Facts about saving and spending re- who accumulated few or no savings during vealed by this survey are very interesting the war. and most significant too, judging from the A very unrealistic approach to the whole frequency with which economists attend- situation was betrayed by some families ing the 1947 Agricultural Outlook Con- who hoped to increase their savings, even ference at the U. S. Department of Agri- though they anticipated soaring prices in Washington last October looked without any advance in family income. culture and $1,350, while families in the market survey findings for a clue to the Good intentions of such families to save to the for houses early last year were planning to and for guid- seem doomed to disappointment financial riddle of the future unless pay about $5,000 on the average. This the wisest course in mak- they end by doing a better budgeting job ance in choosing raises a question as to the extent advancing and family-living plans for and pare down some place or strike oil. ing business prices will cut down expected purchases of the coming year. durable goods— or vice versa, how much Hard Choice out in bold relief. Several facts stand larger expenditures for these will drain war the average family built When it comes to a choice During the between cut- away spending from other budget items. its savings sharply but since the shoot- ting down on savings or lowering up their While anxious to buy the washing ma- rate of savings has dropped standard of living, families ing stopped the most early in chine or auto they couldn't get during the families have in fact 1945 seemed inclined to reduce their sav- considerably. Many war, the average family expressed a re- their spending by cutting into ings. At the beginning of the kept up year, they luctance to cash in their Government bonds their savings. did not consider higher prices a reason for to pay for them. This was particularly of the families interviewed purchasing a smaller quantity Most 3,000 of goods. true of families whose savings were small survey early last year felt that it was Instead they planned to in the spend a higher in relation to their earnings; they perhaps as important, if not more important, to proportion of their incomes in paying for feel that a certain minimum of assets must saving after the end of the war cost-of-living items. continue be saved against emergencies. during the war years. Still as it was At the same time, the families inter- More than half of the families who had believed they would save less. In many viewed had other plans for the disposition cars and other durable goods on their 1946 fact, the total amount people expected to their of incomes and savings than letting shopping list planned to pay for them in substantially smaller than the save was them all go by the board for higher living cash, or with cash plus the trade-in value their savings. total of 1945 costs. About 11 percent said they would of the old jalopy. Only about a third of Higher prices were the reason most often probably buy cars; 28 percent planned to the prospective buyers were planning to given for this expected cut in savings, buy other durable items such as electric buy on the installment plan, with skilled though some optimists argued that prices refrigerators or radios, and 7 percent and unskilled workers resorting to install- couldn't go any higher because they had planned to buy or build homes. ment buying more frequently than farm- limit already. reached the Prospective buyers of durable goods ers, who prefer to plank down the cash. Since that time, of course, ceilings have generally agreed that 1946 would be a poor Such were the buying intentions of been lifted from a large number of items time to buy from a price standpoint, but typical American families early last year. and prices on many have reached record they were planning to go ahead with their The question facing the economists at the peaks. For this reason it seems likely purchases anyhow. Most of the would-be Agricultural Outlook Conference was to that many families are perforce spending buyers of such consumer durable goods as what extent the Joe Doakes and John Does more for living expenses than their 1946 radios, furniture, and washing machines were following through on those inten- budget plans allowed—and so their sav- expected to hold their spendings below tions: How consumer purchasing plans ings may be correspondingly less. $300, however. Of those who planned to would influence and be influenced by Lowered incomes were another reason buy new cars during the year, the large prices and business conditions in the frequently advanced for reduced savings, majority expected to spend between $1,000 months ahead.

January 1947 9 consumers two ways: Savings rose sharply during the war. Still nearly a third of families saved nothing in Wise buying helps helps keep prices in line. 1945. Families in the highest 10 percent income brackets held over half the liquid savings. saves money and

Responsibility improvements at fair In accordance with their own forecasts, Big Individual and cars and home only means good living for the the typical American family spent more Nor should it be forgotten that some prices not families buy them, but also it means and saved less in 1946 than in 1945- low-income families have no margin of who for the farmers who pro- While wages and salaries dropped from savings to fall back on. During the war jobs and security the factory workers who an annual rate around $115 billion early in years, families below the top-income duce the food, larger manufacture the gadgets that make life run 1945 to less than $100 billion a year later, brackets did manage to pile up a merchants sell them. consumers actually increased their annual proportion of the country's savings, it is smoothly, and the who Greedy profit-seeking, panic buying, and rate of expenditures by $20 billion. They true. Thus in 1941 people who received prices, on the other hand, could were able to do this because of lower tax the top 15 percent of income held about 85 runaway well bring about a situation in which con- rates and because they pared down their percent of total net savings, but by 1945 couldn't afford to buy everyday saving to about half the high wartime rate. savings held by this group had dropped sumers necessities much less make heavy invest- While this brought the country's saving to about half of the Nation's total. — ments in new durable goods coming on the rate down to about its prewar level, recent But survey findings indicate that about should happen, everyone Department of Commerce estimates show 30 percent of the families saved nothing market. If that a conscienceless speculators would that families generally were spending more or went into debt in 1945, which means but few suffer. The money in our pockets and our relative to their incomes for nondurable that this group must cut down on its al- accounts would shrink; the farmer goods (food, clothing, etc.) and much less ready inadequate purchases as prices rise. bank would be faced with dropping markets; for durable goods (automobiles, electrical All this puts a big responsibility squarely earnings of businessmen and labor- appliances, etc.) than before the war. on the Joe Doakes and John Does to spend and the ers would tumble. With the advent of more durable goods on and save wisely. Many families have ex- That could happen here if prices soar and the market, there has been an urge to pressed a determination to hang onto their All groups have an opportunity spend more for radios and cars and less on bonds. Also there are some signs that crash. responsibility to see that the pent-up food and clothing, however. But work- consumer resistance has been developing and a demand and savings of American consumers ing in the opposite direction is the re- where prices for a number of items seem are spent wisely to enrich the country, not moval of price ceilings from most food and unduly high, with the result that prices it. The farmer, the worker, the clothing items, with the result that these for these goods have dropped more in line bankrupt businessman all can help all stand to everyday cost-of-living items are likely to with other prices. — soundly prosperous America. demand a larger place in the family budget. The large volume of accumulated sav- profit from a all, we're all consumers, along with The competition for the consumer's dollar ings in the hands of consumers constitutes After the Doakes and the John Does, so it's will intensify. both a strength and a danger in our eco- Joe use our heads, watch our purses, How we will spend our money in the nomic situation. up to us to back- and protect our savings and our incomes. future only time will tell. But there's a If spent wisely savings will act as a And, most important of all perhaps, we definite limit to what consumers can log of demand which will maintain mar- together to step up production spend. And the higher prices go, the less kets and business stability after full pro- must work filled. speed up the flow of food, clothing their incomes and savings will be worth. duction is reached and store shelves and housing, and machinery to meet every- With price ceilings gone on a large major- On the other hand, the pressure of excess supplies catch up body's needs adequately—for there's the ity of items, buyers from now on will have buying power before bring on inflation. best answer to the threat of inflation and to the final word on what prices will be, and with demand could help and clothes getting the biggest return from our savings. ultimately on what their money is worth. A steady demand for food

Consumers' guide 10 1 Farmers Goals for '47

creased consumption was due to more The consumers' food supply for this year money in everybody's pockets and im- is estimated in these goals. proved standards of nutrition. In addition to supplying our food the • W hat the consumer has in the way of largest crop our country has ever produced, farmers also met the commitments for food and clothing for the year 1947 de- and last year's big per-capita consumption thousands of tons shipped to the hungry pends upon what the farmer produces. of food was the largest in our history. of the war-torn world. Upon what the consumer buys depends the The farmers produced 26 percent above the This balancing of agricultural produc- farmer's income and livelihood. 1923-32 average. Consumers ate more, tion against the demands did not just Last year our farmers harvested the too, than in the 1923-32 period. The in- happen. After appraising the needs for the year, production goals to meet these needs were set up. This program, which attempted to balance expected demand with supplies, was started in 1941 in order to make the best use of the Nation's pro- duction resources so as to obtain in kind and quantity those commodities most vital for winning the war. The goals for 1947 recently announced called for another year of top production These high goals are arrived at on the assumption that the war-torn countries will not have regained their prewar levels of production even by next year and so will continue to call on us for food. It was assumed, too, that the purchasing power

here will remain high. Big production is

also needed to fill in the depleted stocks of our food reserves. In the light of these

factors the safest course is to take a chance on having a little too much food rather than too little.

In order to set up the goal, not only is the total demand for food and resources for producing considered, but goals are set

for separate commodities. This is done in order to balance each part of the pat- tern according to the need for special com- modities and their most economical pro- duction. In developing the goals the commodity

is tested by these standards: (1) The goals should be in harmony with each other and

fit the total acreage of farm land available; (2) they should not create excessive com- petition for land or labor; (3) the goals for feed crops should be in adjustment for crops of livestock and vice versa; and (4) even in times of emergency the goals should not depart too far from our long-time pro- gram of proper land use and soil conserva- tion.

Here is what we can expect to have in

our Nation's market basket if the farmers are once more able to meet the goals.

January 1947 11 Percent 1947 goal isoj: There will be more beef cattle slaugh- ever, the additional beans for stock re- 1946 1937-41 Commodity indicated average tered. Thirty-four and one-half million plenishment in our own country would percent percent crops head is suggested as compared with an absorb more than the estimated 14 million Sugar estimated slaughter of 32 million in 1946. bags planned for civilian consumption Sugar beets 115 117 This means that the consumers can have and seed in 1948. Sugarcane, except sirup 109 112 an average of 155 pounds of meat per capita The wheat and corn acreage will be Vegetables as compared to the 126 pounds which he about the same as last year, wheat being averaged for the years 1935-39- And identical and corn 99 percent of the 1946 Potatoes, all 96 91 that's 10 pounds more than the estimate goals. Sweetpotatoes Ill 108 pounds eaten last year when 140 to 145 Chickens, hens, and turkeys will remain Truck crops: were consumed. Fresh 93 113 the same or run a few p0 i nts below the Milk production on the farm is set for , Processing 91 98 pdor yeaf s goaJ Jhe gQal of 435 million 101 percent of last year's production and hens and pulkts Qn farmS; as of january 1 Total cultivated crops 103 105 111 percent of the 1937-41 average. These ^ year> wag announced last August an d dairy goals seek some slowing down in the normal culling of preSent flocks indicate Hay and seed crops recent heavy rate of culling herds, and the ^ {$ accompIished . The goal of 40,- All tame hay 103 106 large supplies of feed anticipated should 760 000 for turkeys is 1 percent below Grass and legume seeds 110 150 permit heavier feeding of dairy cows. the number raised' in 1946, but 33 percent Cover crop seeds 114 198 This might have the result of helping to aboye thc 1937_41 average. this Total excluding grass and increase milk production, even above , r This table shows the percent of 1947 legume seeds 103 105 vear s indicated output. . . ,.. , 3 c compared . , goals of other commodities as m , r i i ° L The continued shortage of oils put the . r and livestock products . . ,,^ to 1946 and also in relation to the 1937-41 Livestock call for soybean production at 119 percent averaSe - Cattle and calves on farms of last year's big crop and 274 percent of

goal is (Dec. 31) 98 113 the 1937-41 average. Percent 1947 of: Commo Beef cows on farms (Dec. 31). 97 144 For the same reason flaxseed was up too. indicated Tl'afe , ^ 1 rOOd grains and DUlSCS percent percent farms (aver- t j ioc * C 1 „* 3 K Milk cows on It was boosted to 185 percent of last year s age for year) 99 crop, but in the production of this huge Wheat 100 103

Milk production on farms. . 101 yield Secretary Anderson warned that the Rye 134 64 136 Milk produced per cow 102 long-range soil conservation practices be Rice 98 111 kept in mind, and flax growers were Dry beans 126 Sows to farrow: cautioned not to break out sod or grass Dry peas 93 171 Spring 113 land which cannot be kept in continued Feed * ta,ns and fcra9e Fall cultivation or which would create erosion 100 Pigs saved: hazards in the future. Corn 99 Spring Ill Dry beans are among the crops sub- Oats 95 113 Fall 110 stantially increased. Acreages are up to Barley 118 95 Sheep and lambs on farms except sirup. . 106 94 126 percent ofthe prior year's crop. Needs All sorghums, 141 (Dec. 31) 100 for beans in 1947 and 1948 appear to be Sorghums for grain 128 Chickens raised: Farm pro- higher than even our Nation's capacity to Oil and fiber crops duction 99 produce them. Approximately 9% million 274 Hens and pullets on farms bags of the total estimated requirement of Soybeans for beans 119 217 1).. 93 24 million bags will be exported. This Flaxseed, all 185 Can. threshed 151 Egg production on farms. ... 94 figure includes the military needs. Even Peanuts, picked and 87 reduced, how- Cotton 126 87 Turkeys raised 99 if ^exports are drastically^^^^^^^^

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Consumers' guide 12 Iheoooooooooooooooooooooo^Worlds Menu

• The figures are in from around the world And despite these increases many of these that tell the story of the supplies of food areas are still far below average and are in on hand for all the people of the earth up to need of continuing large imports. the harvest of 1947. It's still not a pleas- Not all the indicated increases in pro- ant story but it's brighter than it was last duction will have as much effect as might year at this time. be expected upon the food shortage because The world food production in 1946-47 much of the increase of the production tries may be somewhat smaller than last will be about 7 percent above the low level this year is in areas where supplies are not year because of the fact that exporting of last year, and may be slightly above the readily available for export because of countries have cut deeply into their reserve prewar average. In comparing the 1946-47 transportation difficulties or lack of trade supply. For example, despite larger wheat production with prewar, an increase in arrangements. So it turns out that great crops in Canada and Australia in 1945 and population of at least 7 percent must be care must be taken in utilizing the foods 1946 the total exportable surplus of these taken into account. So it figures out that that are available if another tragic food two countries will fall about 50 million on per capita basis food supplies for the shortage is to be prevented this spring. bushels below last year because of the current consumption year are about 5 per- We can look forward to nearly as great smaller carryover. cent below prewar. a demand for food available for export as There isn't any relief in sight for rice The biggest rates of increase over last there was during the past year. Because supplies from exporting countries since year naturally come from the devastated the exportable supplies of all foods in they are likely to keep it above last year's countries and drought-stricken regions. terms of calories may not be larger. extremely low level.

Here production and supplies were so low Although grain crops may be up, the The picture is a little brighter in regard that any increase makes a big showing. supplies of them for export to needy coun- to sugar, fats, oils, and fish that can be exported, for some increases are in pros- pect. However, these increases will be RELATIVE SIZE OF WORLD POPULATIONS partially offset by smaller exports of meats, AT DIFFERENT CALORIE LEVELS dairy products, and eggs this year than

last. Many countries that have suffered long The extent of the years of meager diets and strict rationing world food shortage will not want to export their increased is indicated by this yields. They want to hold enough on chart when it is con- hand to keep them from living a hand-to- sidered that 2,550 mouth existence and to overcome the day- to 2,650 calories to-day problem of distribution. They also should be taken as want to increase the rations of their people a minimum level of over the low level of last year, when diet. Two thousand physical endurance was at such a low ebb calories is only a due to malnutrition. minimum subsistence Also in many countries—particularly in level. Below that is the Western hemisphere where our pur- the danger point chasing power, stimulated by great indus- where serious under- trial production, is up people are de- nutrition and its — manding more food and a better diet than aftermath of social they ever had before. unrest begins. Other countries face food shortages be- cause they lack an exchange for import- CALORIES PER HEAD PER DAY ing enough to maintain even a minimum

January 1947 13 PREWAR DIET PATTERN IN SELECTED COUNTRIES

MILK, NON-STARCHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, MEATS, EGGS

1000

500 llillli Hill In- FATS, SUGARS, WINE, BEER 1000

500 - lllllll In,, II.- 1

CEREALS, PULSES, STARCHY VEGETABLES & FRUITS

1500

1000 -

500 - - 500

5

c 2 . 0 £ S | o o o N <>> „ < ? "o c o 2 £ tj Z. E o E • c ._ a> CO »- o ~ $ £ c c E — a> a o> $ a> .vow o 3 Z CO Z 3 O O O u. o r 0- a. 5 -3 HIGH CALORIES MEDIUM CALORIES LOW CALORIES

diet. In all of the hungry countries the of hunger. For even the prewar food situ- these foods are cheap to grow and com- slight increase in production means less ation was a far cry from an adequate diet paratively easy to store. On the whole, than the figures show. for everyone. At that time there was a they yield excellent returns in protein, What this extra food means must be definite shortage of calories. The chart certain minerals, and some vitamins as measured in terms of the run-down indi- below tells the story. well as in calories. In the United States viduals to whom it is coming. No one But according to Dr. Hazel K. Stiebeling, for example, this group of foods provides who has not experienced it can understand Chief, Bureau of Human Nutrition and 33 percent of the calories, 35 percent of the what living on a starvation diet does to Home Economics, Agricultural Research protein, over 40 percent of our iron, vita- the body. The months of dull hunger have Administration, the difference between min Bi and niacin; about 20 percent of our reduced their physical vigor, cut down prewar diets and better and more fully fed riboflavin and , but less than their work output, lowered their resistance nations was not merely the difference in 10 percent of the . . . to disease, made rickety children, and re- the quantities of calories. "There was "People in the moderate-calorie coun- duced people to such a low level that the also an important difference in the nutri- tries tend to use more of each type of food way back takes far more food than the in- tive quality of the diets," she said. than people in low-calorie countries. They creased production can give them. So in "The high-calorie countries had cereals, get more grain, mature beans, and starchy areas where even the prewar diet could be pulses, and starchy fruits, roots, and tubers roots and tubers as well as more of the established it will be found that that is in amounts, at the retail level, to furnish flavorful fats and sugars and the prized not sufficient to bring them back from the between 1,000 and 1,500 calories per vegetables and fruits, milk, meats, and jolt they have taken through the months capita per day (chart 2). In general, eggs-"

14 Consumers' guide :

CIose up on theNews

FAO Preparatory Commission in Session in any length desired and in a range of purchased or under contract by the De- The FAO Preparatory Commission diameters. The bristle is particularly partment of Agriculture will be sufficient which opened in Washington on October suitable for paint brushes since it is to reach the original export goal of 267 28, in accordance with a directive from the resistant to oils and organic solvents. million bushels for the year ending June recent FAO Conference in Copenhagen, is Casein from waste skim milk is the main 30, 1947. This export goal was later still in session. Sixteen nations are repre- constituent used in making the bristles, raised to 400 million bushels in view of sented. but it is possible that other protein our bumper grain crop and the great need They are continuing consideration of the materials derived from agricultural prod- of grain for famine relief. But while it development of international machinery ucts may also be used. Although the now appears that we have enough grain best adapted to work toward the objec- supplies of natural bristle have improved, to send 550 million bushels of all grains tives of healthful diets for people of all it is anticipated that there will be an abroad if we had a way to get it there, the countries, and toward stabilization of increasing demand for high-quality, low- acute shortage of boxcars means that it farm prices at levels fair to both producers cost artificial bristle. will be difficult even to move as much as and consumers. 400 bushels. Among the plans being considered by the Grain Restrictions Modified Preparatory Commission is the proposal Removal of restrictions on the domestic Conference Urges Fight on Juvenile Delinquency for a world food board which was sub- distribution of flour was announced by the When the some 1,000 delegates attending mitted by Sir John Boyd Orr, Director Department of Agriculture on November the National Conference on Prevention General of FAO. While the objectives 29. This new action was taken because and Control of Juvenile Delinquency in of the Orr plan were accepted at the of the favorable grain supply situation in Washington, November 20-22, returned to Copenhagen Conference, it was decided to America and in the light of transportation their States and communities, they took leave the Preparatory Commission free to difficulties interfering with the shipment with them a specific program calling for reach its own conclusions on the best of grain for overseas relief. concerted action to provide young people means of reaching these objectives. Since the outset of the famine emergency with a better chance to become good Various substitute proposals and modi- campaign last April, millers had been re- citizens. fications to the plan for a world food quired to limit the production of flour for This action program was based on board have been presented to the Com- domestic distribution, at first to 75 percent recommendations made by 20 panels, com- mission by delegates of the 16 FAO nations of the corresponding months of 1945, and posed of leaders in the various fields re- represented. later to 85 percent of the average monthly lated to youth welfare. production in 1945- Follow-up conferences in the States to Bristles Made From Casein Simultaneously with the removal of stimulate joint thinking and action by Bristles made from casein are no longer restrictions on manufacture and distribu- individuals and groups dealing with young in the experimental stage. The research tion of wheat flour in this country, two people in urban and rural areas throughout begun 4 years ago at the Eastern Regional other modifications in restrictions on the the country were recommended as a first Research Laboratory in Philadelphia to domestic use of grain were announced. step by the National Conference. find a substitute for imported bristles has These changes will Need for all groups—schools, parents, reached a successful conclusion. Permit brewers, for the quarter begin- civic organizations, churches, and local,

The artificial fiber, developed by Dr. ning December 1, 1946, to use as much State, and Federal government—to work Thomas L. McMeekin and associates, grain as in the corresponding months of together to provide our young people with attracted the interest of numerous com- 1945 and 1946, but retain the prohibition a fair chance was emphasized. panies and one of these has opened a factory against their use of wheat and the limita- Note: Because of the postponement of the at Salisbury, Maryland, for the manu- tion on the use of rice. Conference from October 21-23 to November facture of casein bristle and brushes using Permit distillers to use unlimited quan- 20-22, filling requests for the summary of the the process developed by the Department tities of corn below grade 3, but retain Conference offered in the November issue of the scientists. the prohibition against their use of wheat Consumers' Guide was delayed. These re-

The artificial bristle is made by extrusion and the limitation on their use of rye. quests are now being filled. Copies of the of a mixture of casein and water through Another restriction still in force is one summary of the recommendations of the 20 a suitable die, and then subjected to prohibiting the use of milling wheat and panels are now available and further requests finishing operations. The final product flour suitable for human consumption in can be filled at once. Address requests to resembles horsehair or pig bristle. Like the manufacture of mixed feed. Consumers' Guide, U. S. Department of Agri- other artificial fibers, it can be produced Exports of grain together with wheat culture, Washington 25, D. C.

January 1947 15 Make-overs From Leather, Fur and Felt is the

title of the new bulletin which is obtain- GUIDE POSTS able free from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Information.

Calculated to arouse the interest of needle-handy gals and their mammas are "She Can Make a Cherry Pie a number of subjects discussed in the Quick's a Cat Can Wink His Eye" leaflet, such as: New Life for Old Leather Any housewife soon will be able to and Making Old Fur Serve Again. make a pie as quickly as the girl Billy Boy was queried about in the old rhyme. That

is, if she'll change to apple, and use a mix that's just coming on the market. The carton contains 2 packages, one of pastry Cook's Vocabulary mix, the other of dehydrated apples. So you want to talk like a modern, up- You put the apples in a bowl of water to to-date cook? soak. Stir water into the pastry mix and Then you'll be careful about using the roll it out. There'll be just enough for a word boiled. And never be caught saying 2-crust, 8-inch pie. By the time the bot- boiled eggs, boiled ham, boiled fish, or boiled Raisins "As Is" tom crust is tricked into the pan, the coffee. A thousand times no; it would apples will be ready to pour in. Put on Raisin addicts can thank War Food have been quite all right to say when the top crust and pop it in the oven. What Order 16 for protecting their interests and grandmother was a girl, but now the do you think of that, Billy Boy? enabling them to eat as many raisins as proper word for it is simmer. Only 2 bowls and a spoon to wash. possible in view of the short raisin crop. Modern nutrition research has shown Nothing to put away, no peeling and cores Here's how: WFO 16 says in legal that cooking at too high temperatures to throw out. language "No person unless specifically toughens protein foods—makes them hard There's a catch though you'll have to authorized by the Administrator of the to digest. For this reason is to be — find your own cup of sugar to put in the Production and Marketing Administration avoided in cooking eggs, meat, or fish. }i apples. shall purchase, accept delivery of, or use And so simmer is the preferred word in the raisins or Zante currants for conversion modern cook's dictionary. into alcohol, brandy, wine syrup, paste, Another School for War Brides non-food products, or non-food byprod- This one 'is put on by the New York ucts." Visiting Nurse Association. GI brides In plain ordinary talk this means raisin have a chance to learn child care, a la eaters come first as far as the short crop American. The girls say that while sup- of raisins is concerned. This year's raisin plies used in infant care and feeding are production is not expected to exceed much the same here as abroad, they have 200,000 tons, as compared to last year's Arithmetic? different names even in English and How's Your — — production of 244,000 tons and the 1944 ways of using them are not the same. You better freshen up on your arith- production of 309,500 tons. Average pro- metic if you're buying a used car on credit, duction during the period 1935-39 was is advice in a new bulletin published by 251,150 tons. the Better Business Bureau of St. Louis, Inc. Car buyers, especially purchasers of used cars, often are charged at the rate of 73 percent to 127 percent per annum on the unpaid balance due on their used cars. Often when they buy their jalopies, buyers LISTEN TO CONSUMER TIME don't realize how much they are being Don't Let the Fur Fly charged for the privilege of paying on Every Saturday— Coast to Coast over N. B. C. 11:15 a. m. EST time because the invoice shows only the Stop, don't throw away that battered 10:15 a. m. CST number of payments and the amount of felt hat, that old suede jacket. Could be, 9:15 a. m. MST there's still good material left to make each. 8:15 a. m. PST 'em into a dashing handbag, or a child's Too often the buyer doesn't bother to Dramatizations, interviews, questions and answers moccasins, or a nifty belt, instead. on consumer problems. Tune in. multiply the number of payments by the Brousht to you by the amount of each, so later is shocked when Possibilities for putting old leather, fur, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE he receives a notice from the purchaser of and felt to good use are outlined in a new his mortgage and note, stating the debt in bulletin recently published by the Bureau full. of Human Nutrition and Home Economics.

16 Consumers' guide

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1946 February 1947

Consumers' guide

/

<* R V • mi RECORD VOLUME XIII • NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 1947 people have the food dollars they need, j And so, much of the answer to the question In this issue: of how to make the best use of our farm A Challenge 2 Sweeter days ahead 11 plant will have to come from those who Making dreams come true 3 Cotton carries on 13 business of producing food Pin money 6 Close up on the news 15 are not in the Meat grading again voluntary 8 Guide posts 16 and fiber." Agriculture, therefore, challenges in- ILLUSTRATIONS: Caver, AAA; pp. 3, 4, 5, Tom Pitts; pp. 6, 7, drawings, Katherini Johnson; p. 8, top, Consumers' Gunk; bottom, BHNHE; p. 9, USDA and BHNHE; p. 10, USDA; p. 11, USDA; p. 12, right, USDA, left, dustry and labor to match production with BHNHE; p. 13, 14, USDA.; p. 16, drawings, Katherine Johnson. production, to replace the old economy of scarcity with a new economy of abundance. past few years? How are we to make use Agriculture issues the challenge with full of it for the interrelated activities of both assurance that it can live up to its part of the producer and the consumer? Challenge the bargain. A Secretary Anderson says, "One of the Agriculture cannot close up shop. It's results of all these changes is an agricul- a going concern. It's in high gear. Those Consumers depend upon the products of tural plant which produces far more in who run the shop live by producing. the farm for food and clothing. The farmer total, and is geared to the economy of, a Their fulfillment in life is the care of their depends upon the consumer for the income period in which the demand for farm prod- land and their stock and making the most which makes it possible for him to be both ucts was never fully satisfied. Now we of it for themselves and for others. They consumer and producer. In other words, have ahead of us the twin problems of want as few restrictions as are compatible each must live if the other is to live. maintaining profitable outlets for the ex- with the best interest of all. They recog- Together they have gone through the panded capacity of our agricultural plant nize their full interdependence with in- war and the months of reconversion. They and of adjusting the output of that plant dustry and labor, which is their complete have borne the intimate personal suffering to the demands of a peacetime economy." dependence upon the ultimate consumer. of war. Each has felt the impacts of war's Congress attacked the problem on a Secretary Anderson continued, "Ameri- restraints upon the day's activities. All long-time range when it passed the Re- can agriculture as a whole has the pro- have felt the satisfaction of the victory. search and Marketing Act. This act sup- ductive capacity to meet the demands of an But, now, with the war's end and the plied the principal link which had been expanding economy, and it has the desire acute period of reconversion over, we all missing from the chain on the farm pro- to use that capacity. Agriculture has an look toward the best use of the productive gram drive wheel. The act authorizes a effective program to direct its production and consuming capacities which were built scientific attack on the shortcomings of our into the most needed channels and the under the stress of war. distribution system as it applies to agri- programs to protect individuals against few weeks ago Secretary Anderson cultural products. It is based on two funda- A hazards of short-run fluctuations of price talked about the best use of the agricul- mentals—one, that our increased farm and demand. I think it is no exaggeration tural plant as it stands today. He talked in production puts greater responsibilities on to say that if industry were as well pre- terms of the farmer and the consumer. He our distribution system; and, two, that we pared as agriculture to produce the about an agricultural plant for 25 want to perfect our distribution within talked amounts and kinds of goods that consumers percent greater consumption than it did the framework of American free enterprise. want, and if industry were as well organ- before the war, and all of it with little But in order to make the best use of the ized to cooperate in meeting short-term land used for the accomplishment. agricultural plant for both consumer and extra emergencies and long-term national poli- He spoke of what we had borrowed from the farmer, Secretary Anderson says, cies, we would be more certain of a long- stored up in the millions of "Agriculture by itself cannot assure the the fertility term future of prosperity. the conservation efforts of the opportunity to use the agricultural plant acres from "Agriculture has a real challenge to thirties and emphasized the continuation of fully and efficiently. Advancement in busi- throw down to the rest of our economy. the soil that which we take ness and industry must keep pace with the returning to Agriculture has the productive capacity from it. He pointed out the need for bet- advancement in agriculture. Unless we to meet the demands of an expanding ter diets for many of our people and the have the kind of employment and pur- economy; it has the desire to use that emergency needs for the hungry in other chasing power needed in the cities, farm- capacity. It can use it fully and efficiently lands and that our farm plant, because of ers can easily produce wasteful surpluses. and for the good of all of us if the rest of ability, can meet all demands. And that brings up another inescapable j its the economy can match the pace set by are we to make the best use of fact—no matter how abundantly farmers But how agriculture." this great going agricultural plant that produce, we know from past experience has been built so well, and that has at- that a good diet will not be assured for the tained such heights of productivity in the people of the cities and towns unless those

consumers' guide is printed with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget as Issued Monthly CONSUMERS' GUIDE required by Rule 42 of the Joint Committee on Printing. Official free distribution Superintendent of Docu- A Publication of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is limited. Additional copies may be obtained from the ments. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C, 5 cents a copy, or by C. Washington, D. subscription, 50 cents a year, domestic; 70 cents a year, foreign. Postage stamps Editor, Ben James; associate editors, Anne Carter, Elizabeth Spence; art, Howard E. will not be accepted in payment. Chapman.

Consumers' guide 2 . — mMf Uream Lome lrue

Here's how one farm family is making its way down the road of better farming toward secu- rity and a farm of their own.

A simple, hard-working, self-respecting farm family, the Jesse Dillons of Forsythe County, N. C, have never made extrava- gant claims of life nor asked special favors of fate. All their lives the mother and father have worked hard to get ahead, hurrying from one job to another in the fields and barnyards to make good use of every daylight hour and then toiling extra hours by lamp light to give their eight children a better chance than they had. Yet 5 years ago, as Jesse Dillon and his wife Hattie were just entering into their middle forties, they had reason to wonder where all their striving would lead Despite their good reputation as farmers and as people, the Dillons hadn't been able to rent a farm large enough to yield them a secure living in return for their hard work. To rent a larger place they would need more equipment and operating money Where to get the credit necessary to swing a larger, better farm? The Dillons had character and determination, but they hadn't accumulated enough worldly pos- sessions to be reckoned a "safe" credit risk by a commercial loan agency. In fact, about all Jesse Dillon had to show for 30 years of tenant farming was two old A big garden cuts food costs and provides better eating. Mrs. Dillon and daughter mules, a cow, a little makeshift faim Anise are here shown shelling their'favcrite green beans for use for seed next year. machinery, and a few household effects. That is, if you don't count his good wife community passed on the application, farm families have been able to do for and eight healthy, hard-working kids. Jesse and Hattie Dillon were granted a loan themselves with the help of the Farm Jesse figured the cash value of all his in the amount of $455 for purchase of Security program, which is now adminis- goods and chattels at about $321 —not livestock and equipment and for family tered by the Farmers Home Administration. enough to secure an adequate loan for expenses essential for doing a better job. It is heartening to see the Dillons in operating a larger farm. Now 5 years later, the Dillons have their home, to sense their quiet optimism, That was when Farm Security Adminis- paid back their original rehabilitation loan and to hear from their own lips the prog- tration stepped into the picture for the in full, as well as later borrowings, and ress they have been able to make by dint Dillons. At the suggestion of a bank have saved enough so that they are now of hard work and a little help in the way of which could not make the loan on the ready to make a down payment on a farm a government loan, and supervision in basis of security the Dillons could offer, as soon as they can find a good one for sale planning to get the most out of their farm they applied for a rehabilitation loan, at a fair price. in terms of better living and better income. submitting evidence from their neighbors They've come a long way in 5 years After a year under the rehabilitation that they were thrifty, competent farmers and on an uphill road. The story of the loan program, the Dillons were able to who would work hard and pay their debts. ascent they've made typifies the sort of rent a larger, better farm than the one on After a committee of leading farmers in the thing many hard-working, determined which they were living back in 1940. February 1947 —

Their present farm in Forsythe County is well repaid the Dillons for following the rehabilitation loans, both as they were 207 acres, with 80 crop acres as compared advice of the home supervisor and for not originally made by the Farm Security to the 150-acre farm with 30 crop acres giving up the whole idea of raising tested Administration and as they are now being which they rented in Stokes County. Not chicks after the chinking fell out of the carried forward by the Farmers Home only do they have a larger acreage now brooder house. More chicken dinners, Administration. but the land in the new farm is better and too, rewarded their efforts. For this reason, the original loan which the Dillons have built up the soil by good Those chicken dinners, incidentally, the Dillons got back in 1940 provided for farming practices. loomed mighty big in the memory of Odcll essential family living expenses as well as

With better livestock and equipment, Dillon, the oldest son of the family, all for farm operating expenses. Also, an the Dillons now are able to have a larger the time he was away in the service. FSA home supervisor worked with Mrs. acreage under cultivation. Also, as a During the 18 months he was in Europe Dillon on plans to make the most out of result of the better job of farming they are with the Artillery, the going got pretty her budget for family living expenses. able to get a larger crop yield from every hard sometimes—and then Odell was Mrs. Dillon and the home supervisor acre of land in cultivation. Their rehabil- grateful for the strength and endurance decided it would be wise to enlarge the itation loan enabled them to buy fertilizer that good food and hard work on a pros- family garden and to grow a greater needed to build up the soil. With the aid pering farm had developed in him. He variety of vegetables than in the past. So of the FSA farm supervisor they also was grateful too that in the midst of they budgeted $9 for vegetable seed worked out a plan for rotating crops and danger he was not tortured with any enough to buy yellow squash, beets, lima for following the tobacco with a cover feeling of insecurity about his parents and beans, carrots, and marglobe tomato seeds crop of rye. The rye is turned under to his brothers and sisters. It was good to as well as to put in the old stand-by beans enrich the soil, so that it will grow more know that his family was snugly situated and potatoes and turnips. Buying so tobacco and feed for livestock. on a good farm where they were sure of much seed took a big hunk out of the Before they went into the rehabilitation having three square meals a day. Odell limited funds allotted to living expenses program, Mrs. Dillon tried to hatch her can remember the time when their farm and Mrs. Dillon thought a while about own chickens. Despite all her efforts, wasn't so good, and there wasn't so much putting out that much before the home she often lost about half of her chicks and to eat though the Dillon family obeyed supervisor convinced her that the extra those she did raise were only fair layers. all the copy book rules about working vegetables would more than pay for the On the advice of the FSA home super- hard and being thrifty. added cost. visor she chinked up an old shed for a They did too. From the produce of her A New Start brooder house and tried buying blood- garden, Mrs. Dillon put up about 700 tested chicks, and applying scientific Let's go back to 1941, the year when quarts of fruits and vegetables. That was methods to prevent poultry disease and the Dillons made their new start with a quite a contrast to the 200 quarts she put in increase egg production. Results con- rehabilitation loan. the cupboard the year before. This larger vinced Mrs. Dillon that this practice pays, To do a really efficient job of farming supply of home-canned goods not only as the improved flocks gave more eggs it's important that the family be well fed enabled the Dillons to eat better than they in return for the feed and labor invested. and healthy. Obviously husky people did during previous winters but also it

At first, it wasn't all smooth sailing, who can do a good day's work are better saved them money. With more home- however, for the Dillons were inexperienced risks than those who are below par from produced food to fall back on, they didn't in the mysteries of chinking and failed to lack of food or medical care. have to run up such a big bill at the grocery put salt in the clay with which they filled This common sense idea is recognized in store. As a result they felt justified in the cracks in the brooder house. The the supervision and administration of buying a pressure canner the next year dry weather came, and, without salt to hold the moisture, the clay chinking dryed and fell out. A less persistent family would probably have given up the idea of a brooder house then and there—and with it the idea of raising blood-tested chicks. Not so the Dillons—they started all over again, rechinking the brooder shed, this time with salted clay. Now Mrs. Dillon raises blooded chicks each year as a matter of course. This year she bought 150 and raised 151, thanks to the few "extras," the hatchery put in and the fact that the tested chicks are sturdier and

that she is careful to make use of the new scientific knowledge she has gained about care and feeding of poultry. Growing your own livestock feed pays, the Dillons have found. The lespedeza hay More eggs to eat and more egg money which father Dillon was picking when this picture was taken will come in handy next winter.

4 Consumers' guide and this canner is still one of Mrs. Dillon's working family had always been good now within hailing distance of this goal. most treasured possessions. farmers, as had their parents before them. They have applied for a farm purchase loan

Though their family is smaller now But new times call for new ways and the from the Farmers Home Administration since the two oldest daughters have Dillons are glad to be learning with the and their application has been approved by married and left home, the Dillons still times. In almost every phase of their a committee of farmers who know them killed two fat hogs last fall. They felt farming operations, the Dillons have well. doubly lucky to have a store of 350 pounds profited from scientific advice and expert The only obstacle now in the way of of pork on hand to see them through the help in planning which they got with their life-long ambition to own their own winter as they read about meat prices. their government loan. For example, the farm is to find a good farm for sale at the And not least among the blessings for farm supervisor convinced Mr. Dillon that right price. The Dillons have waited and which they thank their lucky hogs is a it would pay him to raise more feed for worked a long time for the chance to buy goodly supply of home-made soap which his livestock and poultry. a farm —and they don't want to spoil their they made from the waste fat salvaged Before they got their loan in 1940, the chance by doing anything hasty. They from the animal's carcasses. If it hadn't Dillon's total crop acreage was only 7K agree with the Farmers Home Adminis- been for the home-made soap, they would acres in tobacco and 14 acres of corn, plus tration that it would be reckless to pay all have to go dirty because they couldn't a small garden. The following year, they too much for their land. buy any soap, says Mrs. Dillon. put in 6}i acres of rye, 2 acres of crimson Explaining the deep-rooted urge of In having a cow to start with, the clover, 7 acres of wheat, 2 acres of oats, tenant families to have a farm of their Dillons were better off than many farm and 9 acres of lespedeza, besides the usual own, Mrs. Dillon spoke of the uncertainty families who obtain rehabilitation loans. acreage of corn and tobacco, and a larger that comes from having to rent. Still, one old cow couldn't be expected to garden. Not only did they increase their "When you're old they don't want keep a family of 10 abundantly supplied planted acreage, they also stepped up you," she said simply. with milk. per acre production on the old cultivated Fear of being without a farm on which

Why not use part of the loan money to tract through the use of fertilizer and they can make a decent living is not buy a second cow? By raising most of her improved farming methods. The extra presently with the Dillons, since they have feed, it shouldn't cost much to keep her. crops and livestock feed brought extra accumulated enough livestock and equip- And when both cows were fresh, probably profits and better, cheaper family eating. ment to operate a good-sized farm profit- there would be extra milk to peddle after In 1942, the Dillons moved to their ably. Their present landlord wants to the family drank their fill. present farm which is larger and has better keep them on the place they are now When the idea was put to them that land. They were able to rent the new farm farming. way by the FSA farm and home super- because they had built up their credit and What's more, the Dillons have saved visors, the Dillons thought it was worth equipment sufficiently to convince their enough cash to pay current operating costs a try and gladly agreed to use part of their new landlord that they could operate the of the farm without going into debt for loan money to buy an extra cow. Every- larger farm successfully. their crop. thing worked out happily. Now 5 years Each succeeding year, the Dillons have "It's mighty nice to have something to later, the Dillon farm boasts two cows and worked hard to do a better farming job show for your work at the end of the two heifers. They wonder how they ever and increase their savings. Their goal is year," says Mr. Dillon thankfully. "It's got along without a steady supply of milk that of every farm tenant family: To own hard when you have to go in debt for your or the milk checks which come in so handy. a farm of their own. crop so deep that there's nothing left over To the best of their knowledge this hard- By dint of hard work, the Dillons are after you pay the bank."

Anise and her ma take good care of the poultry they raised from Many hands make short work grading tobacco. Helping (I. to blood-tested chicks. They're well repaid in eggs and egg money. r.): John Dillon, an in-law, Odell, Anise, and ma and pa Dillon.

February 1947 5 —

It was money in the bag for a Mississippi woman who crocheted bedspreads from the ravelings of feed sacks; and from sample flour sacks she made quilts. The bedspread brought her $25 with no outlay for material. From the sack ravelings she also Most anyone can use a little extra cash from remnants of the clothes she made for made candlewick bedspreads, table cloths, a little pin money. It comes in handy for her children. They sold like hot cakes. luncheon sets, hot dish mats, roller and tea a new ski suit for junior, a special dress A woman from Arkansas likes to do towels, sheets, pillow cases, dresser scarfs, you wanted but one that just couldn't be a little heavier but well-paying job on mattress covers, and napkins. In addition found in the budget, a new chair, or a little the side. Using the native cedar from to income from her sales she won seven trip to visit Aunt Susie. And a nice thing their farm she fashions cedar chests for prizes on her handiwork at the county fair. about pin money is that it can very often her own use and for sale. She also makes Here was achievement recognition, and be made out of a hobby, or the exercise of folding ironing boards extra money all in one job. some skill or talent one possesses and truly An Arkansas family makes a holiday likes to use. In fact, earning it can be a and money too by tramping through the definite pleasant pastime. Of course, countryside gathering roots and barks that there is some work connected with earning have medicinal quality and selling them it but isn't the kind of work that falls into to a large chemical firm. the class of daily routine duties of business A Southern woman enjoys the perfume and homemaking. of honeysuckle and then uses the vines to The Farmers Home Administration has make baskets. After winning prizes at helped many of the families who borrowed fairs she began receiving orders to the money from it to buy or operate farms point that turned her love of the blossoms to find ways to make extra cash for the into nice pin money. little things that they just cannot squeeze Still another Arkansas woman started out of their regular income. out making furniture for her own lawn Reports from hundreds of families from scrap lumber and ended up earning revealed scores of ingenious ways in which an extra income by designing and making they supplemented their regular income and selling lawn decorations, corner with pin money from jobs they had fun shelves, bookends, and tie racks to her doing. Some of the sources of income Trimming hats is always a source of pin neighbors around town. could only be worked out on the farm or money for a housewife gifted in that Other ways of picking up pin money in small towns. Still many of the ways direction. A Louisiana woman not only are: repairing old furniture; making quilts; they found can be adapted by the city trimmed hats she made them for good repairing shoes; raising canary birds to dweller to his more crowded way of life. extra money. Gathering the native pal- sell; knitting and crocheting dresses, chil- There was the Missouri family whose metto leaves, she allowed them to dry dren's caps and coats; making dolls from hobby was collecting shells and rocks and until they were white, smooth and pliable. rags, corn chucks and corn silk; making making them into novelties for the house. Then she ripped them into strips of hooked, crocheted or pliated rugs from It wasn't much of a jump from that to desirable widths dependent upon the hat old clothes, scraps of material. making them for sale. They not only to be made. These she braided, shaping used their own ideas in originating pieces And last but not least, down South a into a hat when sewed together. Every- but are taking orders from customers for man picked up some extra money by rais- thing she did entirely by hand including any object he would like made. ing peacocks for their feathers. the lining. In addition to the extra A middlewest woman, a skilled seam- Yes, making pin money can be profitable income from the sales of them she also stress, in her spare time made baby dresses and fun. has no hat bill for her family.

Consumers' guide A Louisiana fanner and his family make Here's a way to put your pets to work. That flower garden your going to put in brooms in their spare time. It is casv to It is good for them and profitable to you. this spring can, with a little foresight

do and it is fun. The binder he made at At least that's what a retired Montanan in planning, bring in enough money to home for less than $4. Each year he put learned when he bought 2 Angora rabbits make a nice payment on a new refrigerator in a patch of broomstraw making an that quickly turned into 14, all produc- or maybe buy next winter's coat. That's effort, each time he planted, to select only ing a good to superior grade of wool. what a housewife in Arkansas found when the best seed. The family takes pride in He kept the rabbits in self-cleaning indi- she turned byproducts of her favorite turning out really good brooms and mak- vidual hutches in a building not far from hobby—gardening—into a tidy piece of ing enough cash on the side to buy quite the house. The wool is sheared every cash. She sowed and cultivated plants

a few extras it would not have other- 3 months. It is 3 inches or longer in and bulbs for sale. These she marketed wise had. Of course, you don't need a length with the price going up depending in the spring and through the growing patch of broomstraw to do this trick for on the length and whiteness of the hair. season she sold cut flowers at the same the straw can be purchased at low cost. The 14 rabbits yielded about 2 pounds of little market she established on her lawn. Thev were good brooms so they sold easily. wool a clipping. They gave the retired The pleasures of gardening with its benefi- These new brooms swept clean cash. man a pleasant but not too strenuous job. cial exercise also paid off in cash.

If you like to whittle there's no sense For one who has a flair for painting and The making of book covers is an art, old

in just sitting and whittling. At least drawing, it's time already to think of next in every land. Most schools children learn

that's what a Tennessee farmer who liked Christmas. That is if you want to make how to make them. A Mississippi Valley to whittle when he rested found out. He the nice sum of Christmas money an Iowa woman has turned them into a source of always thought, when he was hard at woman made out of Christmas cards. In pin money. The work she does is not as work, of the pleasant relaxation to come. the years in which she had time she colored elaborate as the old Persian covers but is One day while he was cutting wood he Christmas cards and hand lettered the one with a new twist that anyone can decided the fine hickory he was felling names of the buyers on them. When make. She makes the covers the regular would make good ax handles so in his household duties became too heavy she way out of attractive cloth in the usual leisure time he not only engaged in his no longer could find the time to paint. way, but then she either sews or glues on

favorite pastime, but while doing it he She still made her Christmas money out a heavy sheet of cellophane over the cloth. turned out ax handles which he sold locally of hand lettering the cards she sold. A This keeps the book cover from never for a nice figure. His investment besides year round thing could be made out of this getting dirty or fingermarked. It can his pleasure was 10 cents worth of sand- by doing birthday and other greeting be kept bright and clean by wiping off paper, which isn't so much. cards. occasionally. And it saves books too.

February 1947 7 Meat grading again voluntary

Compulsory meat grading went out with the removal of price controls. Now U. S. grades will appear on meats only if packers request them, as many did in prewar years. Here is brief re- fresher course on meat grades.

Meat came out from under wartime ceil- ing prices on October 15, 1946. More than 4 years of compulsory meat grading ended shortly thereafter. These two emer- gency measures—actually two parts of one regulation—had served consumers well during the years in which they were in effect. July 13, 1942, was the date on which OPA announced that beef and veal sold at wholesale must be graded according to

U. S. Government specifications of qual- ity. Wholesale and retail price schedules, No doubt about what kind of meat you are getting when you see the U. S. Grade Stamp. said OPA, must be related to the grades Consumers can ask their retailer to get Government graded and stamped meat for them. stamped on each meat carcass. It was the simplest way to set fair ceiling prices for all cuts and kinds of meat. consumers long before the war. U. S. degrees of excellence in cattle and beef. And so meat grading went to war. graded and stamped meat first offered to They needed terms that meant the same From being an unregulated civilian whose retail markets in May 1927 proved so thing to the ranchers in the Southwest, first name was "voluntary," U. S. meat popular that by 1941—the last year of the packers in Chicago, and buyers from all grades had to get in step and take over voluntary basis—over 868 million pounds over the country. the term "compulsory." were officially graded and stamped. This The University of Illinois undertook to Approximately 90 percent of all the was approximately 10 percent of all make a study of these terms and in 1902 beef, veal, lamb, and mutton sold during meat—except pork—sold commercially. published its findings in a bulletin. In the war years was federally graded. It It was producers, not consumers, who 1916, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, was stamped "Choice," "Good," "Com- first called for uniform standards for grades making much use of the Illinois publica- mercial," "Utility," "Cutter," or "Can- of dressed beef. By the turn of the century tion, set up the first Federal tentative ner." The latter two grades seldom cattle trading and meat buying were on grade standards for market classes and appeared in retail shops. "Prime," of such a national scale that ranchers, trad- grades of beef. These were not intended which there was never very much, was ers, and buyers all felt the need of a stand- as quality grades for consumers but were combined with "Choice" for the duration. ard terminology for referring to various prepared at the urgent request of industry Some farmers and others who had class 3 slaughter licenses were permitted by the Department of Agriculture to do their own grading. They used letters in place of the official USDA grade terms—AA for Choice, A for Good, B for Commercial, and C for Utility. That's the story of the two kinds of grade stamps you may have noticed on meat at your market. From now on the only official Federal grade designations will be U. S. Prime, U. S.

Choice, U. S. Good, etc. Ove n roasts come from higher grades. Pot roast from lower grade beef can be a

These terms were familiar to many Look for the U. S. grade stamps to be sure. flavorsome dish. Slow cooking does it.

8 Consumers' guide ' for volume and price information from a Now for the Grades neutral source. This was the beginning U. S. grade names are imprinted on the of market news reporting. meat with a roller stamp which leaves a During the first World War these purple, ribbonlike mark the entire length standards were used in the selection of of the carcass. Incidentally, the purple meat for the armed forces and for our is a harmless vegetable dye which usually Allies. Soon after the war, commercial disappears during cooking. Most retail concerns, hotels, steamship lines, and cuts should show at least a part of the restaurants began to specify by their grade stamp. purchase orders beef which met the U. S. Here are the grades for beef and what standards. It was not long before tentative they mean: grade standards for lamb, mutton, and U. S. PRIME.—This is the highest grade veal were also formulated. of beef obtainable. The quantity is very

It was 10 years later, 1926, that as a limited and is used largely by exclusive result of hearings, the grade standards for hotels, restaurants, clubs, etc. Most con- beef were revised and officially promulga- sumers consider beef of this grade to be ted by the Secretary of Agriculture. uneconomical because of the abundance of

On the morning of May 2, 1927, packing fat. The lean is very firm and velvety in plants in seven of our large cities opened appearance; the fat is usually white and their doors to meat graders of the U. S. very firm and brittle, and the marbling

Department of Agriculture who had come (intermingling of fat within the lean) is at the company's invitation to grade and very extensive and uniform. Steaks for broiling are cut from higher stamp the meat. That was the real U. S. CHOICE.—This is the highest grade grades of beef; require quick cooking. beginning of quality grading as we know commonly found in retail shops. Meat it. At first only the Prime and Choice labeled "Choice" is smooth and velvety

' grades were graded . A year later ' Good' in appearance. The lean is bright and was added to the list, and before so very may range from pale to deep red in color, long the service included all grades of beef, with marbling which is readily apparent veal, lamb, and mutton. throughout the lean. The fat covering is moderately thick, white, or creamy white It's All Meat in color.

Before the characteristics of the various U. S. GOOD.—The lean is moderately grades are described, there is one important smooth and velvety, light to dark red thing to remember: There is no material with some marbling. It usually has a Clever chefs are proud of tasty they difference in the nutritional value of slightly thinner covering of fat than make from lower grades of beef or lamb. different grades and cuts of lean beef. You "Choice," and the fat may show a yellow- can get just as much protein, just as many ish tinge. minerals and vitamins, out of pot roast as U. S. COMMERCIAL.—The lean may be from porterhouse. Lean meat is lean somewhat soft and watery or slightly meat. Low grades take more cooking coarse. The color of the lean may vary time, high grades take more money. from light to dark red but there is prac-

Which do you have most of? tically no marbling. The fat covering is Many delicious dishes are made from the usually thin, and may be slightly yellow less aristocratic cuts, and smart house- and soft. This grade gives good results wives will buy grades that fit their pocket- when cooked in moist heat, as for a pot books and time schedules best. roast or .

Lines of fat, called "marbling", are plenti- Swiss steak needs no apology when skill- The "lowly" hamburger is no longer lowly. ful in higher grades, absent in lower ones. fully seasoned, cooked slowly, carefully. Instead it's a favorite way to serve beef.

February 1947 9 U. S. quality grades (top, I.), put on with a roller stamp, run like a purple ribbon the length of the carcass, and should appear on retail cuts. Available to packers on request, these grades are voluntary. U. S. Inspected and Passed stamps (top, r.) are compulsory for meat and meat products shipped in interstate commerce. Large stamp for meat carcasses, small one for processed meats, indicate that products are wholesome food. Haughty pig at left could be boasting that pork does not come under grading system.

hour. This charge makes the service self- Inspection Stamp supporting. On the average, about 50 You will notice on large cuts of meat a beef carcasses can be graded in an hour. round purple stamp about the size of a The cost averages about three-hundredths quarter. This stamp has nothing to do of a cent per pound. That cost of grading with quality grades. It shows that the is too small to make a difference in the meat was federally inspected and passed cost of meat to consumers. U. S. UTILITY.—The lean meat is light to as wholesome food. The law requires Graders are available at all of the prin- very dark red and rarely shows any that it appear on all meat crossing State cipal livestock slaughtering and dressed marbling. The very thin fat covering lines. Number in stamp identifies estab- meat-marketing centers of the United varies from grayish white to decidedly lishment in which meat was inspected. yellow. Much of the beef of this grade is States. Best Way to Cook Meat Cuts produced from animals quite advanced in They are subject to call every weekday packers, wholesalers, retailers, or others age. This grade is relatively low in price by Cut Use and, like the Commercial grade, should be who have a financial interest in the meat. Your dealer can get graded meat for you Low-cost cuts: used for dishes which require long, slow, Shank (including bone) Soup. stew. Navel Stew, hoiling meat. if you ask him to. moist cooking. Similar characteristics Thick plate Do. Corner piece Pot roast. are exhibited by the various grades of veal, Prefer Graded Meat Brisket, fresh or corned Boiling meat, stew. Fore shank Soup, stew. lamb, and mutton. Neck i Stew, mincemeat, meat A Nation-wide survey of consumer loaf. Medium-cost cuts:

opinion conducted by the American Home Heel of round _ Stew, pot roast. Graders Are Experts Prime rib—S ribs: B. Blade Roast. Economics Association showed how roast, 2 ribs. Top chuck Pot roast, stew. Official U. S. meat graders are trained women feel about quality grades. The Boneless rump Pot roast, corned. Round Minute steak, Swiss steak, experts who must have had at least 6 majority of the first 4,000 women to ex- pot roast, stew. Top sirloin Pol roast, roast. years of responsible experience in the grad- press an opinion said they would like all Flank Braised steak, stew. Chuck Pot roast, stew. ing, buying, or selling of meat in large meat, including pork and poultry, cared Cross rib Pot roast. High-cost cuts: wholesale quantities before they are for and handled under clean, sanitary Sirloin Broiled steak, roast. Porterhouse Broiled steak. eligible to become Government meat conditions, and marked clearly with the Prime rib— 8 ribs: A. Prime Roast. rib roast, 6 ribs. graders. In addition, they must pass Government quality grade. Other edible parts: Heart. Stew, stuffed, braised. satisfactorily a 12-month probationary Preferences expressed, in addition to Kidney Stew, meat pie. Liver Fried, braised, liver loaf, period. These stiff" qualifications are grading, were for more boned meats and liver paste. Tongue, fresh, corned, Boiled. designed to insure a uniform application more small cuts. They also voiced a pickled, smoked. Tripe, fresh, pickled Broiled, fried, creamed. of the grade standards. desire for standardized meat cutting prac- Oxtail Stew, braised, soup. Service charge for grading is $2.70 an tices over the entire country.

10 Consumers' guide —

Despite improvement, sugar supplies remain tight and the need for rationing continues. However, consumers can look forward to somewhat more sugar after April. Last year our total per capita sugar consumption More sugar after April bur not enough Europe produced 30 to 40 percent more beet was 73 pounds, as compared the used to justify an end of rationing and price sugar in 1946 than 1945. Also the 1947 to 100 pounds by the average in years. control. outlook in Cuba is for larger production consumer prewar That's the opinion of Government than in 1946. But acreage goals in the Citizens of Canada and England have the sugar experts after weighing probable continental United States for 1947 are the same sugar ration allowance as we do, but sugar supplies against demand. largest on record. However, little sugar nearly all people in the war areas are This sugar news may well arouse can come from the Philippines or other getting along on far less. Still, aggrieved mingled feelings in the housewife who is sugar-producing countries of the Orient some housewives may weary of shortages and ration stamps. in 1947 due, to a great extent, to devasta- wonder why it's up to us to export sugar when we don't have enough for ourselves. She'll take the extra sugar—probably tion caused by the war. Naturally we feel Ah, but don't in the true sense export 5 pounds more per person than last year the pinch since we used to get about a we thank you. But at the same time she may million tons of sugar every year from the any sugar—since we use far more sugar wonder why controls are still necessary. Philippines while Java supplied 1,250,000 than we produce in the continental United States and its possessions. In fact, a And if her food budget is large, she may tons to the world market before the Japa- even feel that she would prefer to pay a nese scourge struck. third of the sugar we consume comes from little more to get more sugar. What's more, raising the price of sugar other countries, only two-thirds of our Unfortunately, however, the answer to wouldn't presto make more sugar foi total sugar supplies being produced within the problem isn't as simple as all that. American consumers, according to the the continental United States and our territories and possessions. The sugar question is as big as the world, sugar experts—not unless prices were in fact, because sugar is produced or sold skyrocketed dizzily. The sugar just isn't But what about those reports of big practically all over the globe. there and can't be grown over night. And overseas shipments of sugar? There's been a lot of misinformation going around in There's a world sugar shortage. World because there is less sugar on world production just hasn't recovered from the markets than customers want to buy, the that connection, owing to the fact that sugar, destined for export disruption caused by the war sufficiently competition is so keen that the only way some Cuban to to catch up with demand, despite efforts we would be likely to get a bigger share other countries, is refined in the United to increase production in this country and of the world's supply would be by bidding States. But our refining this foreign- abroad. During the 12 months ending on up prices sky high. Then other nations bound sugar means more business for June 30, 1946, world sugar production was which have far less sugar than the United American firms and jobs for American only 27 million tons, as compared to 34/2 States might be persuaded to sell some workers. million tons produced annually in the pre- of their very scarce supplies. Another question that is sometimes war years, 1935-39. This adds up to a raised to the puzzlement of the homemaker A Fair Share deficit of 7,300,000 tons, even without is why the United States doesn't hold on taking into account an increase in world Americans are consuming sugar at as to all the sugar it buys from Cuba instead population. high a rate, incidentally, as the people of sharing it with other countries. This Progress in increasing sugar production of any major nation in the world— and at country does buy practicallv all the Cuban has been made since that time, however. a higher rate than most of the nations. sugar crop, it is true. But our Govern-

February 1947 11 Sugar is still short. If you want to stretch your supply, don't Dried fruit contains sugar. When added to cakes, it can supply make layer cakes with a thick sugar icing and filling. part of the sweetening, as well as increase the food value.

ment buys the sugar as a sort of trustee. Also, the higher incomes have upped con- When sorghum, molasses, and cane sirup It was felt that this would be better and sumer demand for manufactured products are used instead of sugar, 1% times as much fairer for all concerned than if the sugar- containing sugar. is required to get the same sweetening be- hungry nations were all to bid against All in all, this means that the day isn't cause they aren't as sweet as ordinary each other in a mad scramble for sugar. yet here when the housewife can walk into sugar. Even more corn sirup is needed— Under the present plan buyers are assured the store and buy all the sugar she wants, a double portion of corn sirup being re- fair prices and Cuba avoids the danger of sans ration stamps. Though the prospect quired to do the sweetening job of one extreme inflation and deflation. Further- for more sugar is good, she would do well portion of sugar. Maple sugar has about more, other countries besides the United to keep her sugar-saving recipes handy. the same sweetening properties as ordinary

States bought sugar from Cuba before the sugar, while one cup of honey is about Other Sweetenings war, so it's probable that Cuba wants to V/z times as sweet as a cup of sugar (though As long as sugar shortages are with us, preserve these markets for her sugar by weight for weight, honey and sugar have the the little matter of other sweetenings is continuing to supply them with sugar also. same sweetening properties). But don't of particular interest. Corn sirups, honey, While venturing the hopeful forecast of forget that sirups add water as well as their cane sirup, sorghums, or maple sirup can more sugar after April with reasonable own special flavor to foods—This must be be used to save sugar, provided, of course, assurance, the sugar experts have their taken into account in using them in that you can get them and they are not too fingers crossed against unpredictable and recipes. expensive for the purpose desired. untimely possibilities such as crop failures, With the record corn crop, the outlook is political unrest, or transportation stop- Sugar-Saving Practices for better supplies of corn sirup provided pages which could upset their calculations. production isn't interrupted. Eating more fresh-fruit desserts is a good

Heavy Demand for Sugar This year's honey crop is smaller than way of sparing the sugar bowl. Dried fruits are rich in sugar, so may be used to Vast quantities of sugar will be required last because of the unfavorable weather. add sweetening as well as their special to permit even this modest increase in the Bees don't like to get wet and they don't flavor and food value, to many cooked per capita consumption of American con- carry umbrellas; hence the rain in many foods such as puddings and custards. A sumers. To allow everybody in the United honey-producing areas during the season delicious sugarless confection may also States 5 extra pounds of sugar and to when bees would normally be collecting be made by combining ground dried fruits increase the allotment of industrial users honey held down production somewhat. and ground nuts moistened with corn from 60 to 70 percent of their prewar con- Also, a large proportion of last year's sirup and honey. sumption on April 1, would require be- crop of honey has been snapped up by tween 700,000 and 750,000 tons above buyers in rural areas, with the result that And don't forget that obvious but often what's needed to maintain our present city dwellers are unlikely to find as much overlooked principle for sugar saving: Be consumption level. honey as they want to buy until the new sure all sugar is completely dissolved to One reason we've been having trouble crop starts coming to market. get its full sweetness. It's good etiquette making sugar supplies go round, is that As trees aren't tapped for maple sugar nowadays for dinner guests to stir their our population has increased from 130 until spring, it's too early to forecast what coffee vigorously, if they don't perchance million to 142 million since prewar years. supplies of this sweet will be. take it black.

12 Consumers' guide COTTON CARRIES ON

There is more cotton coming on the market and house-

wives are on the lookout for better buys in fabrics and

style. A survey in which 1 1,000 women took part gives a good idea of what they are shopping for.

Cotton, the king of textiles, went to But now here comes the good news.

war, has been home for a while and is now It looks like there will be adequate sup-

settling down. Cotton covers a great plies of cotton textiles even if purchasing

domain. It has industrial uses. It has remains at its present high rate. There

household uses. It is fitted for use in may even be a drop in the demand for many kinds and descriptions of garments. cotton textiles on a wholesale indiscrimi-

During the war because of its versatility nate consumer buying scale. Housewives

cotton served on myriad jobs. It went into will be looking for higher quality ma- explosives and battleships and into the terials. This drop in demand will be the issued garments of our troops from the result of the fact that people have filled arctic to the equator. While the bulk of in their immediate urgent needs. This, cotton was at war, consumers at home however, does not mean that the demand were left with the remnants. House for cotton will materially fall off. It dresses, children's clothes, men's shirts, means there will be a continuing long sheets—all were difficult to obtain. Those range demand for high grade cotton and that were obtainable in the low priced a diminishing of demand for low grade brackets were inferior quality fabrics. materials at high price. The quality and The yarn count in the fabric was low. The price of the fabric will become the criteria amount of sizing high. Of course house- of the buyer. wives considered many of the low-priced The American Home Economics Asso- garments poor buys. Yet everyone took ciation, in its recent Nation-wide survey of what he could get. consumer demands showed that out of While this was going on many old 46 characteristics listed pertaining to garments wore out. Sheets went to pieces women's housedresses approximately one- and household equipment, made of cotton, third of the vote placed fabric qualifica- frayed. As a result at the end of the war tions first. and the withdrawals of the demands of the A very good indication of what con- military and our allies, more cotton sumers will demand in the way of fabrics textiles became available for consumer use is revealed in this survey. Eleven thou- • despite the handicaps of conversion of sand five hundred and fifty-seven women machinery in the mills and despite the were chosen to discuss the one topic of shortage of parts for replacements of house dresses, a total of 750 groups in adequate machinery. 22 widely scattered cities were represented. Cotton goods came onto the market They were predominately homemakers not during the last year in greatly 'increased employed outside the home. Farms and

volume but still there was not enough. cities were represented. Cooperating There were great gaps to be filled in. groups were adult education classes, home Returned veterans needed clothing, shirts economic student clubs, and local organ- and socks. They had to set up house- izations connected with the National keeping with all its demands for cotton. Congress of Parents and Teachers, the Worn out household equipment and ward- American Association of University robes of civilians had to be replenished Women, the General Federation of with more cotton. As a result the con- Women's Clubs, Business and Professional sumption as of last July was at the rate of 10 million bales of cotton a year as Women's Clubs, and the home demon- The return of cotton from war means more stration clubs of the U. S. Extension of it for women's dresses, children's clothes compared to 6 million bales consumed in and men's shirts. Cotton for all. 1939. Service.

February 1947 13 The following table points up the Another interesting ballot was on the The women polled also asked for better emphasis which the women placed upon qualities related to weave which consumers labeling of house dresses in order to know fabric. House dresses were voted on the regarded as important. the qualities which the fabric possesses. low-price, medium-price and high-price Votes on qualities related to weave groups. Throughout all of them fabric Votes for informative labels about certain house dress characteristics received marked attention. Numbei pf \ otes on dres- ses of various price ranges Fabric construction desired Votes on characteristics house dresses classi- Number of characteristics Dress votes fied according to the elements of a dress Low Medium High of

Number of votes on dress Well-balanced weave. 1, 231 1 , 470 2, 027 Colorfastness - 11.209 of various price ranges Firm weave 854 1,533 1,524 Shrinkage control 8. 440 Elements of a dress (iood quality, durable 640 904 1, 116 Si/.' of dress, staled in terms buyers can interpret. 5,310 Does not stretch 23 26 73 Fiber and fabric identification 4. 1.34 Low Medi- High Does not ravel 21 51 57 Washing directions 2. 354 um 80 x 80.. 808 1,411 2, 114 Manufacturer's or designer's name 1.802 72 x 72.. 0 83 8 Fabric finishes 1. 575 68 x 74_ 1 106 0 Yarn count 1,022 Style 3, 768 4,986 5, 856 60 x 60, 64 x 64, 60 x 72. 230 114 27 Washability of dresses, of dress fearuies, fasten- Fabric 39, 536 46, 472 53, 041 40 x 60 , 30 20 0 ings (also heat resistant) 687 Cutting _. 2, 849 3, 061 3,810 Price on label - 601 Size and fit - 15,853 17,817 20. 796 Total 3, 838 5,718 6, 946 More information in simplified terms abou; labo- Dress details 58, 768 65, 501 82, 885 ratory tests, durability, tensile strength, abra- sion - - 426 Total 120, 792 137, 837 166, 388 Quality of trimming and buttons 426 In the characteristics related to the When the characteristics the women quality of materials, color fastness lead voted for were organized according to ma- all the rest. Votes for design features relating to fit terials, design, workmanship and care, materials led all the rest in the number of Votes for characteristics related to quality of Number of votes on dresses of various price votes cast, as disclosed in the table below. materials ranges Characteristics of design Votes on characteristics house dresses classi- of Number of voces on Medi- fied according to factors entering into making dresses of various price Low um High and using a dress Characteristics related to ranges quality of material Extra fullness across back and Number of votes Medium High on Low front 2, 396 2, 635 2.804 dresses of various price Full, not skimpy.. 1,868 2.067 2,682 Factors entering into making ranges Large, roomy armscye 1. oss 1.573 1,880 and using a dress Colorfastness 18, 305 18, 989 20, 191 Roomy in right places 1,024 1,407 1,467 Shrinkage control 7,704 9,275 9,252 Long enough, full cut, good-fitting Low Medium High Weave, yarn count, no exees sleeves 740 969 1,125 raveling, sive etc. 3, 838 5,718 6,946 Skirt that does not "ride up" 664 852 944 Fiber and yarn 1,070 1,225 1,825 Well-fitted dress.. 137 290 338 937 450 .336 127 46, 53, 61,456 Finishes. 1, 051 2, 3, Fitted waistline 64 64 64 Design of dress 37. 969 43, 370 54, 327 Weight 548 860 928 Skirt, medium width at hem; 60 to Workmanship of dress 32, 623 37, 565 46, 448 Kind of mateiial 164 250 559 72 inches 49 91 92 Care of dress . . 3, 263 3,452 4, 157 __. 26 26 26 Odor Long enough belts 13 21 25 Dresses long and wide enough to Total 120, 792 137, 837 166, 388 Total 32, 706 ::\ r,:o 42, 854 stay in place when reaching 10 11 11 Narrow shoulders. 7 7 Broad shoulders 2 0 O Neckline large enough to slip over head 0 30 35 Good-fitting, comfortable neck- In this survey 1 ,000 women from coast to coast who told what they wanted about cotton house 1 line and collar 0 3 22 dresses also volunteered many wise observations on the subject. One woman said, "Only a Total- 8, 602 10.020 11, 496 woman with money can afford a cheap house dress because a cheap house dress has to be re- placed so often." On price another commented, "You shouldn't have to pay more for a house dress than 10 dozen eggs." Another thought there needed to be definite improvement in sizing. Stout women want youthful designs in large sizes. Small women want mature designs in small In later issues of the Guide consumers sizes. All ask for a variety in large sizes, a variety of designs for hot weather, and, hotweather will speak on bread and meat. or cold, they want freedom of movement across the back.

11,000 women showed their interest in house dresses by eagerly taking part in a survey, There will be more men's shirts, and buyers in which they each set out the characteristics they wanted to find most in these dresses. will be looking for better quality.

14 Consumers' guide —

Close up on the News . . .

"No Sugar Decontrol," Says Anderson Safety of the New Hampshire Motor Ve- plained. "I grabbed for it, losing control hicle Department, points out. He cites the of the car." Strong pressure on the Government to example of a passenger who testified that Another driver reported that he hit a ease the sugar shortage by immediate de- he " tried to put a cigarette out of the win- car parked at the curb in reaching for a control of sugar was reported by Secretary dow and it blew back in. The driver be- package of literature which fell to the Anderson at an address last month in came alarmed, jumped, lost control of the floor. In another instance, a truck driver Chicago before the annual meeting of the car. It swerved and left the highway, hit- reached down to move a wrench from his National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. ting a light pole." foot. As he did so, the truck ran off the He stated that "to ease the shortage by road and hit a tree. this means would lay up future problems Many other traffic accidents resulting Following are tips on how to be a safe for many farmers, for the Government, and from "unsafe" passengers are reported to passenger issued by the New Hampshire for the whole people". He stated that by the New Hampshire Motor Vehicle De- Motor Vehicle Department: such an act certain interests would gain partment. For example, there was the case from a rise in sugar prices and from rapid of an arguing wife whose husband hit a If you want to smoke, first make cer- sales and resales in a speculative market. cement lamp post because he was so busy tain that it won't bother the driver in any "Fortunately, many people recognize trying to answer her, and the case of the way. Then dispose of the cigarette in a safe it this for what it is— an invitation to sleeping passenger. Said passenger went to manner, preferably by putting in another boom and bust in the sugar in- sleep on the driver's shoulder and caused an ash tray in the car. dustry. Many growers, processors, and him to lose control of the car as he tried If you want to sleep, use the back seat. consumers remember what happened after to straighten up the sleeper. Sleeping in the front seat will have a bad the other world war. In the boom, world Even odds and ends carried in the car psychological effect on the driver—even prices went to 20 cents a pound, and or rather how they are carried—may be a if you don't sleep on his shoulder. in the bust that followed there was plenty factor in causing accidents. If you want to argue, wait until you of sugar on the world market for a half a "Some material on the seat slipped," get home. It's safer to throw furniture cent a pound. We had to resort to quotas, one New Hampshire accident victim ex- than to run into a cement street lamp. crop restrictions, subsidies, and various other governmental measures to overcome the damage. ORDER BLANK "The decontrol propagandists would The publications noted below can be obtained from the United States Depart- have us forget all that—and to what pur- ment of Agriculture. Check the items you want, print your in pose? name and address the spaces provided below and mail this order to the Office of Information, United "They know it would take about a year States Department of Agriculture, Washington D. C. to increase market supplies by producing 25, more in our own fields. The seasons govern IS 56 How to Choose and Use Your fj] IS 48 Home Freezing of Fruits and that. Refrigerator. Vegetables.

' ' Then do they hold out the hope of why Take Care of Vacuum Cleaners W 19 q Mp 608 Watch Your Step Avoid Farm an immediate increase in supplies as a re- and Carpet Sweepers. Accidents. sult of decontrol? I'll tell you. 20 How to Make Your Electric Cords W i—I \a/ 1 ni C » A j d i c • t c* ^ A . |_J 107 hat A (jood Breakfast lo Start A are counting on high prices here W "They Last Longer. . ^ (jood Day. outbid the prices that needy countries to Q W 93 Home Canning of Fruits and Vege- can pay and to bring us a greater share of tables And two wartime publications that meet

» , current needs: short supplies." „ „ i if n i s~ the world's U W 73 Cooking with boya Hour and (jrits. W 34 Fats ... in Wartime Meals. New Hampshire Advises Auto Passengers IS 22 Making Velva Fruit at Home.

IS 28 Cooking with Dried Eggs. 95 Victory Garden Insect Guide. To avoid auto accidents, it's not enough W to have a safe driver at the wheel and a NAME mechanically efficient car, according to an analysis cf accidents recently issued by the STREET New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Depart- CITY (Zone No., if any) ment. STATE Every person in the car must be safety minded, if unnecessary risks are to be (HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR SELECTION?) shunned, Malcolm Wilkins, Director of

February 1 947 15 !

tions. Problems of sanitation and man-] agement were included on the streamlined GUIDE POSTS 2-day program.

Flying Ice Box over a submerged rice field. For rice

A flying ice box that looks like a growing has gone modern on the West zippered bag is reported in a recent issue coast. Planting goes fast in a plane too, of Modern Plastics. Made of fiberglass the rice being seeded over water at the coated with vinyl, the new package rate of 50 miles an hour in strips about refrigerator was designed for transporting 30 feet wide. perishables by air freight. It has five Reason for seeding on water is to beat pockets for holding dry ice. Underneath the weeds. California farmers used to

these is a refrigerated space with a capacity plant their fields with rice and then alter- of 120 cubic feet. The glass fiber used for nately irrigate them and let them dry out. insulation is a half inch thick and weighs Under those conditions the weeds flour- Where's That Sweet Tooth? only 10 ounces a cubic foot. This light- ished. So now most farmers keep their ness, as well as its insulating properties, rice fields submerged after planting until Problem for amateur detectives: Who. led to the use of glass fiber in the new the rice is readv to harvest—and many has the sweeter tooth, that western cow- air-freight refrigerator which is being submerge their fields in advance of plant- boy in the 10-gallon hat and high-heel tried out by a large airline. ing and use planes to sow the rice over the boots or the southern planter with the water. slow drawl and panama hat? California Other modern wrinkles in Elementary, my dear Watson. It's a rice culture, as set forth in the fall issue of good bet that the western caballero eats the Land Policy Review, include the use of more candy than the gentleman from the combines in harvesting rice and of con- South. Candy eating habits differ in trolled drying methods which improve various parts of the United States, you the milling quality of the rice. All quite see. And during 1942, the average different to the laborious hand methods southerner ate only 13-4 pounds of candy of cultivating and harvesting rice which as compared to 23-3 pounds eaten by the still prevail in many parts of the world typical resident of the Rocky Mountain area, according to a survey recently com- pleted by the Department of Commerce in cooperation with the National Confec- tioner's Association of the United States. Eat the Navy Way East, West, North, and South, average This spinach prepared the way naval consumption for the whole country was fliers like it! nearly 19 pounds of candy per capita. Of Nutrition-conscious school authorities the almost a billion dollars that Americans have a fine chance for some powerful spent for candy in 1942, only about 10 balanced lunch propaganda. One thou- percent went for the high-priced boxed sand two hundred formerly used candy, the major part of the candy by the Naval Air Technical Training Centers manufactured and purchased being of the I'll Take Vanilla have been declared of no commercial value bar and bulk variety. Whether vanilla or peach is the choice, and donated to the Department of Agricul- During 1946, Americans bought about could be that there's something new and ture by the War Assets Administration. $600,000,000 worth of candy, wholesale better about the ice cream you buy down They will be distributed to schools operat- value. That means our candy bill was Georgia way this year. Could be very ing school lunch programs. Those lucky over a billion dollars, estimated at retail well, indeed, because a number of Georgia enough to get them can make a high- prices. ice-cream manufacturers went to college pressure attack on that hot-dog-soda-pop last December to learn the latest in ice- lunch. Why, Johnny, that's not what the LISTEN TO CONSUMER TIME cream making. navy fliers had for their lunch! Every Saturday— Coast to Coast As a public service, the Dairy Depart- over N. B. C. 11:15 a. m. EST Rice Growing Goes Modern the University of Georgia College ment of 10:15 a. m. CST

"Gitty yup little airplane, we've got of Agriculture held a 2-day dairy manu- 9:15 a. m. MST to sow rice today." facturing short course at Athens, Ga. 8:15 a. m. PST Thus might a California pilot address Leading authorities on the ice cream and Dramatizations, interviews, questions and answers on consumer problems. Tune in. ice-cream his single motor plane, especially equipped dairy business brought the Brought to you by the with a built-in hopper carrying about 600 makers up to date regarding new scientific U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE to 800 pounds of rice seed, as he takes off findings in the field and answered ques-

16 Consumers' guide

U. S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1947 725455— 47

VOLUME XIII • NUMBER 3 • MARCH 1947 rather than overestimate what we could

sell abroad. . . .

In this issue: "The same applies to cotton. Our cotton goal this year is up— slightly more than Eighteen months after 2 Here comes citrus 13 23 million acres compared with only about Do you agree 3 Potatoes on the upgrade 14 20 million acres in cultivation July Long live our land 6 Close up on the News 15 1, 1946. ... Garden for fun 9 Guide posts 16 Big news for home canners 11 "The 1947 goals call for a substantial acreage of peanuts, and for real increases ILLUSTRATIONS: Cover, Joe Clark; 3, 4, 5, drawings, Howard Chapman; pp. p. 6, AAA; pp. 7, *, Soil Conservation in the acreages of soybeans and flaxseed. Service; to r), Security p. 10 (/ Farm Administration, USDA, bottom, USDA; pp. 11, 12, BHNHE; p. 14, Magrudes . . . We have asked for all out produc- Studio, USDA; p. 16, drawings, Howard Chapman. tion of both sugar beets and sugarcane. And even that won't be enough to satisfy demand.

"The goals call for high production of Eighteen Months After dairy products and of meat. I'm sure I need not remind you that American con- sumers have shown that they wanted more Eighteen months have passed since VJ- He pointed out that many felt that the milk and meat, and that our average per day. The first impacts of immediate post- end of the war would mean immediately capita butter consumption has been run- war adjustments upon agriculture have shifting millions of acres from grains, oil ning at least one-third below the prewar been absorbed. Now comes the time for crops, and cotton to pasture, summer level. taking stock of the agriculture plant and fallow and other less intensive and more "If we are to have meat and milk we consumer needs in terms of long-range soil conserving ones. must have feed and so, the goals for corn peacetime policies for the production and "Actually things haven't worked out and the other feed crops are high. distribution of the products of our farms that way," he said. is still "The world "Let me tell you, however, that the and forests. hungry and short in of food, some cases goals for 1947 don't call for more of every- In discussing these long-time objectives desperately hungry. We have maintained thing. On the contrary, farmers have without reference to specific recommenda- maximum employment and high incomes been warned that our needs will be smaller tions for achieving these objectives, Sec- in this country. For 1947 we have reduced for eggs and commercial truck crops and retary Anderson recently called attention acreage goals for some crops but increased that there should be substantially smaller long-range to some basic goals. them for others. Goals for 1947 call for production of potatoes in 1947 as compared "The kind of agriculture we all want is continued over-all full production. They with 1946. the kind that will provide adequate sup- call for greatly increased production of "All this adds up to a good agricultural plies of farm and forest products and give sugarbeets, flax, and soybeans, but for outlook for 1947. But it adds up to much farm people returns on their efforts that smaller production of potatoes, truck more than that. It underlines and em- are on a par with those enjoyed by other crops, and eggs during the year ahead. phasizes the importance of maintaining groups who make comparable contribu- The revised acreage goals for 1947, which maximum employment in this country and tions to the general welfare. have just been released, are about 1% of encouraging foreign trade. In fact, a million acres under the final goals which "We all want to see greater efficiency in rather happy solution to many of our price were established for 1946, but they are farm production and marketing for the and production problems could be worked some 12 million acres greater than the benefit both of producers and consumers; out if we were sure that maximum em- acreages actually planted in 1946. . . . we want to see an improved standard of ployment could be retained and that we have asked for continued high nutrition and better living standards "We could find ways of maintaining or increas- production. Our ability to export generally for farm families; we all want to wheat ing our foreign trade in such commodities avoid waste of our natural resources. wheat is now limited only by our ability as cotton and wheat." actually to deliver it at ports. Our wheat "In looking ahead to the means of stocks will again be on a relatively low achieving these objectives we are con- cerned with a desirable pattern of produc- level this coming summer and my own tion and marketing for the future and not experience during the last 2 years has been with reconversion to a prewar situation." that we have tended to underestimate

GUIDE im«dM tU, consumers' guide is printed with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget as CONSUMERS' m required by Rule 42 of the Joint Committee on Printing. Official free distribution A Publication of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is limited. Additional copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C, 5 cents a copy, or bv Washington, D. C. subscription, 50 cents a year, domestic; 70 cents a year, foreign. Postage stamps Editor, Ben James; associate editors, Anne Carter, Elizabeth Spence; art, Howard E. will not be accepted in pavment. Chapman.

2 Consumers' guide On what you want in a loaf of bread or a pound of meat. Five thousand housewives have testified. Here they tell what they want from the butcher and the baker.

• The housewives of the Nation have ture. They thought the color of th spoken. They have told what they want a crust and the toasting quality should be loaf of bread to be. They have said what considered. And they did not overlook qualities they want in a pound of meat. slicing quality, thickness of crust, shape, Five hundred and twenty-seven groups of aroma, or the quality of the crumb. All 12 them testified in schoolhouses, in church points were voted on but about one-third they liked whole wheat bread. There was basements, in women's clubs. And through of the women failed to vote on all the a gap between their likes and their actions. the American Home Economics Associa- points. Only 16 percent said they were using it tion they have made their voices heard. Flavor, third on the list, came in first "most frequently" at home. But flavor They put meat under the scrutiny of when the women were asked, "Which hit again. The same groups agreed that if their experienced shopper's eye and said characteristic do you think most impor- there were on the market a good loaf, they what they looked for when they bought it. tant in determining the acceptability of a would "almost always" or "frequently" They did the same with bread. They ex- loaf of bread?" Flavor was the winner buy it. amined 12 characteristics of a loaf of and well in the lead. Forty-eight percent The dash of vitamins and minerals which bread. Are there that many? Yes, here said that flavor was what they looked for. the bakers have added to flour during the they are. On the question of liking or disliking past 5 years, nutritional scientists say, whole wheat bread, flavor moved in once marks a new era in the human diet. The more. Flavor was the foremost reason for demand for these additions has been so Consumers voting specified charac- liking or disliking whole wheat bread. important that many States have put teristic most im- Three-fourths of the group said they liked through laws requiring that bakers enrich Important character- portant in deter- istics in a loaf of mining accepta- it for its flavor. One-fourth of them their bread. Federal regulations during bread bility (percent) couldn't take it because of its flavor. the war required all bakers to add Flavor 48 vitamins and minerals to their bread. Texture 16 Now these Federal regulations are no Consumers intend- Keeping quality 8 longer in effect. It is up to the States. ing to buy a good Aroma ' 6 loaf of whole Housewives were asked, "If your State Color of crust Frequency of wheat bread (per- 4 has of intentions cent) no law on enrichment white bread, Tenderness of crust 4 Almost always 22 do you think that it should adopt such Toasting quality 4 Frequently 28 regulations now so that enrichment would Thickness of crust 2 Occasionally 28 be continued?" Slicing quality 2 Never 14 Housewives in 11 States said there was Shape 2 No vote 8 no State law calling for enrichment of Color of crumb 2 bread. Eighty-one percent of the women Freshness and other factors 1 Total 100 voting in these States declared that with No vote 1 the abolition of the temporary Federal statute requiring enrichment they favored Total 100 However, when the housewives were a State law to take its place. Only 3 per- asked, "Do you like whole wheat bread? cent voted against it. The housewives figured that a loaf of Why? If a good loaf of bread were on the Then came the question of what the bread should have keeping quality, tender market, how often would you buy it?", housewife looked for on the bread's gay

crust, should be flavorful and of nice tex- about 70 percent of the housewives said wrapper. What did she want it to tell?

March 1947 3 —

Bread being the staff of life, she wanted to And they voted on something else bread. The housewives voted on "How know whether it was a sturdy staff. trivial but important. City dwellers in thick the slice." This was the question,

Forty-six percent said that they looked one-room apartments had a say in it. So "If you buy sliced bread, do you favor the for the nutritional content and 46 percent did homemakers with large families in thickness of the slice?" said they wanted to know the net weight. small towns and on farms. It was a ques- Tying for second place were a statement of tion of what size loaf of bread they Consumers preferring ingredients and the baker's name; thirty- would like to buy. Although the survey Thickness of specified thickness four percent voted for each of these char- does not tell the residence of the voters, 8 bread slices (percent) acteristics. The following table shows percent lined up solid for the half-pound 1/4 inch 21 how the consumer lined up on the facts loaf. Sixty-seven percent lined up for the 3/8 inch 48 they should like to see on the labels. pound loaf. Only 6 percent wanted Im- 1/2 inch 30

pound loaves and 3 percent came through Other 1 for 2 pounds. Sixteen percent didn't vote. Consumers wanting The size of the loaf in relation to price Total 100 specified fact on Facts wanted on bread label (per- was considered in this question. "Would the bread label cent) you buy a 2-pound loaf of bread were it Nutritional content 46 available for 1 cent less than the price of A few months ago the Government Net weight 46 two 1-pound loaves?" Here is the table on regulation was removed which made it Ingredients 34 that one. mandatory for all meat to be marked Baker's name 34 choice, good, or commercial, according to Kind of bread 33 its quality. The removal of this regu- Date of 20 Consumers intend- lation, in effect during the war and for Number of slices 4 ing to buy a 2- over a year after the termination of it, Frequency of pound loaf at 1 Thickness of slice 4 intentions cent less (percent) now makes the practice of marking meat Amount of milk 3

Almost always. . 6 according to its quality a voluntary prop- Sliced or unsliced 1 Frequently 9 osition on the part of the packers. They Percent extraction, price, other. 1 22 can, however, continue to give this service

28 if the consumer wants it. The weight of the loaf of bread has long 35 With this fact in mind, the survey made been a measure of one's money's worth. by the American Home Economics Asso- Many States have put laws on their books Total 100 ciation, in which 5,000 consumers spoke requiring that weight be on the label. on what they Wanted in the way of meat Other States have had no laws of that sort. and service in the butcher shop, is of par- Twenty-seven percent of the women inter- To slice or not to slice—that has been ticular interest. This question was asked viewed in those States having no legisla- a question. During the war when we were the housewives at the time meat grading find grade tion of that sort voted for it. Three per- saving crumbs a short-lived regulation was mandatory, "Do y©u the cent said they didn't want it and 70 per- prohibited the slicing of bread. It was mark either stamped on the meat or posted cent didn't vote. soon removed. Consumers wanted sliced near it? If you don't see a grade mark

Consumers' guide 4 identification, do you ask for it? Did you women were asked, "Are you satisfied ent cutting practices and if not, what ask for Government graded meat before with the present system of grade marking? changes do you want?", they lined up there was Nation-wide marking and grad- If not, how do you want to be informed with 63 percent saying present cutting ing of meat?" Only one-fourth of the about the quality of the meat you buy?" practices were satisfactory, 23 percent had consumers did not find the grade mark In reply to this, 25 percent said that they unsatisfactory criticisms and 14 percent of stamped on or posted near the meat they were not satisfied The dissonant voices them didn't vote. bought. Twenty-five percent asked about suggested that all meat, including poultry, They were also asked about their satis- the grade if they did not see it. And be marked with a grade mark that could faction with present trimming practices before meat grading was mandatory only be better seen and be more apparent to the and given a chance to suggest changes 12 percent of the women asked what shopper than the old method of the purple which they might want. More than 30 grade of meat they were buying. lettering of "choice," "good," and "com- percent of the consumers rated the present mercial." Many suggested that a different trimming practices as unsatisfactory and color stamp should be used for each grade wanted the removal of more fat and bone .onsumers .onsumers of meat when it is marked. For example, before weighing. The score was 50 per- Qu ery answering giving no Yes No answer choice could be marked with green, good cent thinking the present trimming prac- with red, and commercial with blue. This tices were satisfactory, 32 percent unsatis- (percent) (percent) (percent) would make it possible for the shopper to factory, and 18 percent with no vote at all. Is grade mark see from a distance the grade mark. Here found on or When asked whether they wanted more are the replies to the question. near meat? 66 24 10 boned meat and if not, their reasons for not Do you ask wanting it, 35 percent of the consumers a vote against the for meat Con- Con- Con- came through with ex- sumers sumers sumers tension of the practice of more boning. grade if voting voting not percent not in yes no voting However, 52 wanted more boned (per- (per- (per- .... meat and 13 percent did not vote. sight? 25 50 25 Query cent) cent) cent) Did you ask The women were also queried on the Is present for Govern- way meat is cared for in the store, and system of ment grad- what they like or dislike in the handling of grade mark- ed meat meat in the stores. Improvements they i n g meat before it would like to see put into effect, were satisfactory? 68 24 8 was uni- commented upon. Generally, they wanted Do you want versal. ... 12 50 38 more cleanliness, they wanted better kept pork grade display counters, cleaner meat blocks and marked?. . . 14 4 22 utensils. They wanted the butcher's However, in this survey made when hands clean and they asked for certificates grading was mandatory there was some Cutting practices also came under the of health for meat handlers. dissatisfaction indicated with the method scrutiny of the women. In answer to the So did 5,000 consumers have their say of marking the grades on meat. The question, "Are you satisfied with the pres- on bread and meat. Do you agree?

March 1947 5 Long live our land

• Down in the free State of Maryland, the people cling jealously to the right to make up their own minds—and to say what they think. One of the things that they're thinking and talking about is the farmer-directed soil conservation districts program under which soil erosion and water conservation problems of the State are being attacked on an acre by acre basis with the aid of the Soil Conservation Service. They are think- ing and talking about this along with millions of other farmers in every State who are taking part in the Nation-wide program to save our soil.

It is significant then that, at a recent Maryland State meeting of a major farm organization, one of its officers said. "As farmers we love the land. At least So reluctantly the engineers filled in the Take the evidence of the young Howard we should, or we ought not to be farmers. terrace and concentrated their demonstr- county farmer who was questioned regard- The land is like our lives. If we waste the taion efforts on farms of a few landowners ing the family's experiences with con- land, it's like wasting our lives." who could take it. servation farming. This simple statement by a farmer was As time passed, other demonstrations in Slowly the young Maryland farmer be- the more impressive considered in light of the same vicinity proved the value of soil gan to list some of the ways conservation the fact that not many years past, a large conservation in practical terms of larger farming had proved itself on their farm. number of Maryland and other farmers yields and bigger cash returns that couldn't The low piece of land down in the hol- considered soil conservation just a fad. be laughed off. Then the farmer who had low hadn't been much account back in the An extreme example of this attitude his contour furrow filled in asked to have days when they used their old system of occurred less than a decade ago when an it dug again. farming. It was water-logged. Now, with irate landholder turned on a Government proper drainage and run-off control, it is Seeing is Believing soil conservationist who had innocently just about the best piece on the place. dropped by to offer to help the farmer in A quick drive through any of the Mary- Then that sloping field to the right. A making the best use of his land according land or other States' farming communities third of the fertilizer along with some of to its needs and its capability. which have made a good start on system- the top soil used to wash away during the "Get off my land or I'll use this whip. atically attacking their soil conservation season. This debris would all pile up at It's my land and I'm not going to let any problems supplies a clue to the changed the bottom of the gully, until the sediment crazy conservationist mess it up with attitude of the Nation's farmers. was a foot or two deep in some places. crooked furrows! " he shouted. Even to the casual observer it's apparent Since this same field has been planted In another instance, a farmer had agreed that farms which show signs of carefully according to the new plan in contour strips, to let his farm be used to demonstrate the planned and faithfully executed soil con- all running across the slope—with strips benefits accruing from scientific conserva- servation work are the most prosperous of grass, hay, and c ultivated crops alternat- tion farming methods. But no sooner was looking. The homes too have a well- ing—the expensive fertilizer stays where the job started than he came with tears tended look which suggests that the fami- it's put. And the irreplaceable soil stays in his eyes to the Soil Conservation Service lies who live in them live well. too. A fellow doesn't have to do any technicians who were constructing a con- The well-tended land seems to speak fancy bookkeeping to prove that a kind of tour terrace on his farm. He simply could and say, "You take care of me. I'll take farming saves money. not go ahead with the experiment in the care of you." Come a dry spell, the land that's planted face of ridicule of his wife and neighbors. But it's not the land alone that bears in strips on the contour holds the moisture witness to those who heed its silent evi- better too. All together this adds up to dence. Many farmers bear witness too. better crops, and bigger profits. Editor's Note: This article is a discussion of Farmers who, a few years ago, somewhat Then too, now that the land is set out the work of the Soil Conservation Service through the farmer-managed soil conservation districts. A pre- skeptically decided to give the newfangled on the contour, it's easier and cheaper to vious article discussed the Agricultural Conservation theory a try now count the benefits they operate the machines round and round on Program administered by the Field Service Branch reaped adopting level it to puff up and down of the Production and Marketing Administration. have by systematic, com- the than was prehensive farm-conservation plans. hill the old way.

Consumers' guide That's the story of one Maryland farm "Jump right in," said Collins. considerable share of the credit should go that's changed over from the old, wasteful This he proceeded to do, starting with a to the fact that they are getting more and way of farming to the modern efficient field that was practically ready for planting better hay since the State farm was put way. It is a story that can be duplicated with the corn running up and down hill. on a soil conservation basis. many times over, with variations, through- Collins could see where the soil had been Mr. Collins feels sure that the milk from out the United States. gullying away down the rows. The con- the cows on the State farm is better and Small wonder that a number of neighbor servationist's explanation that planting more nourishing to humans because of the farmers in Howard County, Md., have the corn in strips across the gullies would soil conservation practices now in effect already followed the example of this farm retard the erosion sounded logical. Quickly on the land. It stands to reason that good family in putting a conservation plan into Collins started his crew to work helping soil produces better food for human beings effect on their farms. Still others have lay out the contour lines. They surprised than does depleted soil. applied to the soil conservation district him by taking an interest in the project, Growing Interest to have their farms surveyed by soil con- and they made good linemen. servation technicians so that they can That was in May, seven years ago. To- Such cases of successful conservation farming multiplied times are start on a comprehensive scientific plan to day the entire State farm is being worked many con- vincing farmers in treat every acre of their farms in line with in accordance with a complete farm con- Maryland and through- out the country. Countrywide, complete its needs and its capacity to produce. That servation plan. soil conservation treatment has increased is fundamental, because land differs, just Results have been gratifying. Under the per acre yields by an estimated 20 percent, as people do. Consequently, the soil con- old method the yield from 40 acres of corn at least, in addition to saving power, seed servationists classify it according to its was sometimes as low as 250 barrels. Last and fertilizer, and machinery wear. capability into eight categories. Class I, year, the corn yield was 398 barrels of Today all but two of the free State's the best, Classes II and III which also can graded corn and 37 bushels of short corn. 23 counties are organized be cultivated, Class V which should be That's an increase of nearly two-thirds. into conservation districts. trend is used only for grass or trees, and so on. Before 1939, the prison farm was aver- The same apparent aging about 14 bushels of wheat per acre throughout the United States as a whole. On a Larger Scale planted. Last year the yield was a little In less than a decade since the first Soil Testifying to the benefits of soil con- better than 22 bushels. Conservation District was set up in Anson servation applied on a larger scale are the In the old days, the State farm used to County, N. C, in 1937, 1,750 farming results obtained on the 1,268-acre prison spend $3,000 to $5,000 a year for hay and communities have voted to set up their farm at the Maryland House of Correction straw. In 1943, after strip cropping was own districts, covering close to a billion near Jessup, Md. fully established, the farm spent no money acres of farm land and nearly three-fourths Now an enthusiastic apostle of soil con- for hay and straw. The following year of all the farms in the country. servation and all its works, Prison Farm there was a carry-over of hay. In 1945, 41 This means that farmers in these dis- Superintendent Harry L. Collins confesses head of feeder cattle were bought to use up tricts have voted to attack their soil con- that at first he was a bit doubtful whether the surplus but they couldn't eat it all up. servation problems systematically. Each he would be able to do a good all-round The farm also furnishes feed for a fine district operates independently within the conservation job with only prison labor. herd of 45 dairy cattle. These cows, in- framework of its State law and in coopera- Considering the big turnover on a prison cidentally, averaged 12,820 pounds of tion with a State conservation committee. farm, it seemed daring, if not foolhardy, milk per cow in 1945- This is more than 3 The program is supervised by a board of to undertake a new kind of farming. times the State average of around 4,000 local farmers who are elected by the

"What's the best way to take a cold pounds. While this high production is in district and serve without pay. shower?" asked one of the soil conserva- part due to the breed of the cows, which Soil conservation districts are empow- tion technicians who was advising him. are all registered, Mr. Collins feels that a ered to call upon the Soil Conservation

Note the silt and sand that has washed out The owner of this farm built these terraces To help prevent wind erosion, this field of

of this corn field. Note also the poor corn. himself to help hold the soil and moisture. stubble was treated with a one-way plow.

March 1 947 7 done in something like 20 years, if tech-

nical assistance, labor, machinery, etc., are made available. Thereafter will be the continuing job of maintaining the conservation work. The needs study also shows, State by State, the man and equip- ment years, seed and plants required. To some city people, the farm may seem just a picturesque place that would be nice to visit sometime in the summer—or per- haps a peaceful spot to which to retire. Few realize an estimated two-fifths to two-thirds of the raw materials used in industry are produced on farms. Industry

also depends on farm markets to keep its

sales records up and its pay envelopes full.

Most important of all, townspeople can't afford to forget the fact that they are dependent on farms for most of the food they eat and much of the clothing they

This is a map of the 1,638 Conservation Districts established as of June 15, 1946. wear. If the soil is lacking in essential

elements not only does it yield less abun- Service and other agencies—Federal, State, acres are now being treated in line with a dant harvests but also the food that it does or local—for technical advice and other scientifically prescribed plan. Individual give is of poor quality. help. Usually, the Soil Conservation Serv- farmers defray the cost of the improve- For these reasons farsighted townspeople ice technicians are asked to make a survey ments, aside from the technical help. are joining forward-looking farmers in district recognizing that they have a vital interest of the most urgent needs of the In The Nick of Time and then to assist with the technical con- in saving the land on which we all depend This is rapid progress within a decade servation planning and treatment. In for life itself. but action taken only in the nick of time, some instances, the Soil Conservation according to soil conservation experts. Service lends equipment to a district. Between 1895 and 1935, America was Again the farmers band together and buy losing its topsoil at a rate of about a the equipment themselves. Or they may million acres a year, Dr. Hugh Bennett, employ private contractors to do terracing, Chief of the Soil Conservation Service, pond building or other special work. Thus estimates. through group action the districts are able Since that time, soil conservation meas- to meet urgent erosion problems that one ures have cut this down considerably. But farmer alone would not be able to combat. we still lose probably 500,000 acres a year Conservation practices and projects vary from erosion. widely from district to district in accord- America can't afford this continued soil ance with the land use problems and with loss. Already our population has in- the farmers' needs in the particular com- creased and our soil resources diminished munity. All together more than 50 major to a point beyond which it is not safe to go. practices—ranging from contour tillage, If we were to take all our unfit land out of terracing, and strip cropping to pasture cultivation today and use our remaining improvement, water developments, and farm land according to its needs and ability farm woodland management— are em- to produce safely, we would have little ployed in such combinations as needed in more than the two and a half acres per various parts of the country. Size of the capita under cultivation that are required districts also varies with the need. In one to support our population adequately. intensively cultivated area of California Just what needs to be done to make our there are 10 districts in a single county, as farmland permanently productive is known compared to a Nevada district which as a result of a Nation-wide conservation stretches for over seven million acres. needs study that has been made by the At the end of 1946, about half a million Soil Conservation Service. This study, farmers with a total acreage of 171 million results of which were compiled in 1945, acres were proceeding to put detailed acre showed that almost a billion acres of by acre farm conservation plans, recom- farm land in the United States needed

mended by the Soil Conservation Service, complete soil conservation treatment. Dr. This is an air-view of a Pennsylvania farm into effect. As a result nearly 100 million Bennett estimates the basic work can be planted in contour strips to save the soil.

8 Consumers' guide arden (or fun

satisfaction, and a definite economic con- tribution to his food budget. On the diet side home gardens can play an important part in the better health of the nation. Doctors and nutritionists have long pointed out the need of more vegetables and fruits, and also the fact that as a people we are a long way from eating them in quantities that make for the best general health. They advocate get- ting vitamins from the garden and orchard

whenever possible, for there is vitamin A in leafy green and yellow vegetables, and tomatoes are rich in vitamin C.

The Basic Seven Chart, in which the Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics sets out a pattern for a healthful diet, recommends one or more servings a day of leafy green and yellow vegetables, one or more servings a day of tomatoes and raw cabbage along with citrus fruits, and two or more servings a day of potatoes and other fruits and vegetables.

Some of the rewards for better health which come from a balanced diet rich in We have gardened for war ana grown in the back yards of towns, at the products of the garden are clear eyes, good edges of villages, and on suburban estates. complexion, sound gums and diges- famine. This year we can garden good They were planted adjacent to factories tion. According to Drs. McCollum and for fun and quality produce. and worked by men and women who were Simmonds the liberal use of protective putting in 6 days a week at machines. foods in addition to their value as a preven- • The month of March sounds the alert School children made gardens and city tive medicine, make for "preservation of for all home gardeners. dwellers trekked at twilight to little the characteristics of youth." These pro- patches of open land to put in a crop and In the warmer parts of the country they tective foods, among which vegetables and harvest it. The job was well done. are planting now. In the areas where the fruits rank high, can do more for women earth warms later there are sure signs of Diets at home were supplemented with than beauty shops. action. Remembrances of last year's new food that otherwise would not have been We are a long way from achieving pro- green peas quick from the pod to the available. Food was released for our duction and consumption in the amount of kettle, and the meaty sun-ripened toma- troops and our allies and later for the re- these foods that we need. The goal out- toes, and the green salads that hit the establishment of a war-devastated world. lined by the Food and Agriculture Organ- table just right, are now uppermost in the Victory gardeners did their part. ization of the United Nations sets out the minds of millions of last year's gardeners. Now the green thumb of victory garden- supplies of food estimated for 1950 as com-

Present reminders of last season's work are ers is itching again. No war emergency is pared to prewar. It is made on a basis of on hand, too, in the remaining stock of driving them on; but the benefits of home 12 percent increase of population but calls home-canned products that did yeoman's gardening, recognized long before the war, for 48 percent increase in fruits and vege- service during a winter of food shortages are in postwar days dramatized by what tables. That means a great bulge in pro- and high prices. In fact coming to life gardens mean to the gardener and the duction of commercial truck growers with again is the fun and challenge of gardening. community. home gardeners helping along.

During the past war years and the year This year there will be gardens for good Not only do the actual crops of home of famine and threatened famine around the food, good health, and good living. These gardens that are consumed tend to bring world, the old-time gardeners and millions gardens, of course, will give us more assur- up the amount of protective foods used, of new recruits came to the front and did ance that we will have an abundance of but also home gardens stimulate the pur- their part toward filling the gap in food fresh vegetables and fruits, to improve the chase of fresh vegetables. In fact a study supplies. There were farm gardens for national diet. At the same time they will made of city families from data collected home canning and daily use. Gardens were make for the gardener, relaxation, spiritual by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed

March 1947 in seeing the growth of the plant, and a feeling of accomplishment when the results of the care given the garden show up at harvest.

And then there is personal discipline established without a word from above.

It is the discipline that comes from needing to do a task to get a result. Competitive instincts too are satisfied by the gardeners' triumph when the results of their handi- work are compared with those of other

There's fun and health for old and young in gardening. For office and factory workers gardeners. it gives a change in pace in their activities. The rewards are more fresh foods. In addition to the cultural aspects of

gardening and its stimulation of better diets, home gardening can be one means of thar factory gardens must have constituted Watson B. Miller, Administrator of the forcing the improvement in fruits and of city dwell- Federal Security points out that a pleasant introduction many Agency vegetables offered for sale. Even as it ers to the vegetable counters of their stores. "the change of posture required for garden- has the tendency to increase the consump- families sedentary The purchase of vegetables by ing is of immense benefit to the tion of commercial crops it calls for their having no gardens were compared to the worker. Spading, planting, watering and improvement. It makes the housewife purchases of families having gardens. thinning bring unused muscles into play look for better-quality vegetables. The study revealed that the families who to round out and maintain bodily develop- So it is that this year's gardeners, re- had gardens actually bought more or at ment. The simple act of bending over to lieved of pressure produced by the war or least as many vegetables as they raised. pull weeds sends additional blood to the other emergencies, can go at their job for It is apparent that the yields from their brain, and with it more oxygen to refresh the pleasure of it with the end of produc- own gardens created an appetite that had a tired mind. Stretching to tie up vines or ing for quality instead of quantity. not existed before. pick high-growing fruit, fills and expands The extent to which gardening consti- the lungs. tuted an incentive for further exploration "Less obvious but equally important is in the vegetable kingdom by factory work- the health reward to the gardener's nervous ers is pointed up by their participation in system, his mind and emotions," Mr. factory garden programs. The Ford Motor Miller says. "Contact with the outdoors, Company with the average number of with soil and sunshine and growing plants, 91,694 employees had 52,000 or 58 per- is one of the city dweller's best counter- cent taking part in the home garden pro- balances for the strain of urban living. The gram. The Firestone Tire and Rubber contrast between his work and his garden Company at Akron with 16,000 employees hobby relieves tension and promotes re- had over 10,000 or 78 percent working laxation." their own gardens. The fact that the Benefits of school gardens are many. workers at this plant enjoyed their vege- School gardens can be made a part of the tables was shown when in a second year regular classroom work. Here in the actual of factory gardening, carried on without soil, sowing the seed, and cultivating and the publicity campaign urging it, 25 per- harvesting the crop, lively interest in cent more employees enrolled the second nature is aroused and there is a chance to year than the first. This year it is antici- study the science of plants and to establish pated that without the incentive of war habits of diet which include the eating of or famine there will be an increase over more vegetables. the prior year. Then the gardening experience can have These workers as well as the other mil- deep effects upon the emotion and char- lions who went into the gardens during acter of the child. In a disturbed and un- the war, and who are going in this year certain world when the child is frantically again, got and will get out of their work trying to adjust himself to the complexities more than the crop itself. The exercise of an intricate life, work in the garden which gardening entails is splendid for gives repose and poise. For here is nature the city dweller who spends his day at a at work in her sure and timeless way. desk or a bench or a shop or factory. This Here too in the sprouting seed is the whole exercise has the advantage of a strenuous mystery of life in all the world. sport and yet it can be so carried out that There is equal satisfaction for both child the individual's physi- and adult in garden work. And there are it can be geared to This boy is learning and doing a useful job cal condition. satisfactions that come to the individual in nature's classroom.

10 Consumers' guide —

procedures, home canners will be able to turn out a product with better flavor, tex- BIG news for home canners ture and vitamin value and a product that is safeguarded against spoilage and botu- lism. They can do this with a saving of • And it's really good news for America's recommendations. On the other hand, the time and fuel. Despite warnings, some 20 million home canners! processing time should be increased for homcmakers have clung to inadequate A more solid, scientific basis for home asparagus, lima beans, corn, and beets methods of canning low-acid foods in a canning of low-acid foods is now ready for when packed in quart jars. However, re- boiling-water-bath, oven or open kettle. recommendation to housewives, thanks to search shows that most non-acid foods can To these, the new improved, steam-pressure 3 years of intensive scientific research be safely home canned with less severe processes offer a greater incentive to can by the Bureau of Human Nutrition and heating under steam pressure than previ- low-acid foods safely and well. Home Economics. ously recommended. For example, proc-

In the past it has been necessary for home essing temperature for meats is now set New Directions for Canning Vegetables canners to rely rather heavily on experi- at 240° F. instead of 250° as formerly In issuing the new direction tables, the mental work done by commercial canners, recommended. Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home even though industrial practices and equip- To date, safe procedures have been de- Economics emphasizes that: ment differ radically from those used in veloped for processing 12 popular vege- The new process times and pressure are for home canning. Commercial research tables, beef, pork, and chicken using home- foods prepared and packed according to the helped the home canner by establishing type steam-pressure canners under home directions given and might not be adequate for the important fact that steam pressure is conditions. Special pains were taken to foods differently handled. essential in canning low-acid foods to safe- assure that the new procedure would safe- GENERAL RULES—For processing guard against botulism—a serious form of guard against spoilage and botulism. choose young, tender vegetables, and can food poisoning. To test the amount of heating sufficient to them quickly while fresh. Wash the veg- Because the housewife in her kitchen sterilize the foods, some packs were exper- etables thoroughly. If the directions call cannot duplicate the precise methods of imentally inoculated with spores which for packing the vegetables in hot cooking canning plants, however, it has been are even more heat-resistant than those of liquid and the amount of liquid is not customary to allow for a generous margin the Clostridium botulinum which causes botu- sufficient, use boiling water. of safety in recommending processing time lism. All together more than 4,000 glass These general rules apply for exhausting for canning low-acid vegetables, meat and jars and tin cans of food were processed tin cans: If food is sufficiently hot (160° F. poultry in the home. As a result, exces- during the experiments, which are being or higher) when packed in tin cans, no sive processing often made home-canned continued to include other foods frequently further heating is needed before sealing the low-acid foods unattractive and low in canned in the home. cans and processing in the steam-pressure vitamins. Many practical benefits will accrue to canner. But if food in the center of cans

New findings indicate that processing American families from this important re- is below 160° F., or if no thermometer is times for food in pint jars can be safely re- search by the Bureau of Human Nutrition available, heat the open tin cans of pre- duced from 25 to 50 percent below previous and Home Economics. By using the new cooked food in boiling water or steam for

Did any spoilage organisms survive the processing? These jars of More than 4,000 jars and cans of food were processed in the 3- food are being given a bacteriological test to find out the answer. year study on which the new home-canning directions are based.

March 1947 11 —

water; boil 5 minutes. PEAS, GREEN—Shell; wash. Cover In glass jars: Pack hot to % inch of top; with boiling water; bring to boil.

cover with hot cooking liquid, leaving }'> In glass jars: Pack hot to 1 inch of top; inch head space. Add % teaspoon salt to cover with boiling water, leaving 1 inch pints; 1 teaspoon to quarts. Adjust jar head space. Add % teaspoon salt to pints; lids. Process pint glass jars 20 minutes, 1 teaspoon to quarts. Adjust jar lids. quarts 25 minutes, at 10 pounds pressure Process pint and quart glass jars 40 minutes (240° F.). at 10 pounds pressure (240° F.).

In tin cans: Pack hot to )\ inch of top; /// tin cans: Pack hot to ){ inch of top;

fill to top with hot cooking liquid. Add fill to top with boiling water. Add %

}{ teaspoon salt to No. 2 cans; 1 teaspoon teaspoon salt to No. 2 cans; 1 teaspoon to to No. 2K cans. Exhaust if necessary No. 2/2 cans. Exhaust if necessary (see (see above directions for exhausting tin above directions for exhausting tin cans).

cans). Seal tin cans. Process No. 2 tin Seal tin cans. Process No. 2 and No. 2/2 cans 25 minutes, No. 2]i cans 30 minutes, cans 30 minutes at 10 pounds pressure at 10 pounds pressure (240° F.). (240° F.). BEETS—Cut off tops, leaving taproot SPINACH—Can only freshly picked, and 1 inch of stem. Wash. Cover with tender spinach. Pick over; wash boiling water; boil until skins slip easily thoroughly. Cut out tough stems and 15 to 25 minutes, according to size. Skin mid-ribs. Place about 2% pounds in a and trim. Can baby beets whole; medium cheese cloth bag and steam about 10

or large beets cut in )'i inch slices, halved minutes or until well wilted.

or quartered, if necessary. /;/ glass jars: Pack hot and loosely to

In glass jars: Pack hot to % inch of top; Yz inch of top; cover with boiling water,

cover with boiling water, leaving }i inch leaving }•> inch head space. Add }i tea-

head space. Add % teaspoon salt to pints; spoon salt to pints; }•> teaspoon to quarts. 10 minutes; then seal tin cans and process 1 teaspoon to quarts. Adjust jar lids. Adjust jar lids. Process pint glass jars at once in the canner. Process pints 25 minutes, quarts 55 min- 45 minutes, quarts 70 minutes, at 10 pounds Altitude affects pressure requirements utes, at 10 pounds pressure (240° F.). pressure (240° F.). for canning. For every 2,000 feet above sea In tin cans: Pack hot to }a inch of top; In tin cans: Pack hot and loosely to )i level, add 1 pound pressure to the 10 fill to top with boiling water. Add }{ inch of top; fill to top with boiling water. pounds ordinarily used for processing. teaspoon salt to No. 2 cans; 1 teaspoon to Add % teaspoon salt to No. 2 cans; % tea- Following are the new processing direc- No. 2K cans. Exhaust if necessary (see spoon to No. 2}-2 cans. Exhaust if neces- tions for a number of popular vegetables. above directions for exhausting tin cans). sary (see above directions for exhausting As space is not available for reprinting Seal tin cans. Process No. 2 and No. 7}/i tin cans). Seal tin cans. Process No. 2 tin directions for all the 12 on which research tin cans 30 minutes at 10 pounds pressure cans 60 minutes, No. 2% cans 75 minutes, has been completed, directions will be (240° F. ). at 10 pounds pressure (240° F.). limited to some of the earlier vegetables, many of which are already appearing in southern gardens. ASPARAGUS—Wash; trim off scales and tough ends; wash again. Cut into 1- inch pieces. Cover with boiling water; boil 2 or 3 minutes. In glass jars: Pack hot to Al inch of top; cover with hot cooking liquid, leaving salt Y* inch head space. Add % teaspoon to pints; 1 teaspoon to quarts. Adjust jar lids. Process pint glass jars 25 minutes, quarts 55 minutes, at 10 pounds pressure (240° F.>

In tin cans: Pack hot to }{ inch of top; fill to top with hot cooking liquid. Add

}i teaspoon salt to No. 2 cans; 1 teaspoon to No. 2/2 cans. Exhaust if necessary (see above directions for exhausting tin cans). Seal tin cans. Process No. 2 and No. 2% tin cans 20 minutes at 10 pounds pressure (240° F.). BEANS, SNAP—Wash; trim ends; cut into 1-inch pieces. Cover with boiling

12 cirnus

Record Crops of Oranges, Grapefruit, and Tangerines Pro- vide Housewives With Thrifty

Fruit Buys.

• Citrus is here in a big way—and still for the generous amounts of vitamin C find this new addition for their collection coming. Although a late freeze has hit which they contain, as well as for their of canned fruit juices.

Florida since an all-time record crop of fine flavor which gives a lift to meals and Canned fruit juice tastes better if it's oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines was snacks all through the day. Because the aerated by pouring the juice several times forecast on the basis of February 1 condi- vitamin C in citrus is relatively stable, from one glass to another. This restores tions, a record crop of citrus was still housewives who need to turn out a quick the air that's removed in canning, helps expected. breakfast can squeeze the breakfast orange restore the "fresh" flavor. It's the same Prospects on February 1 were for a total or grapefruit juice the night before and idea as using freshly boiled water to make citrus crop of 204 million boxes. This have it ready in the ice box to serve the tea. Beverages tend to taste flat if the air includes nearly 119 million boxes of next morning. is removed. oranges, nearly 5 million boxes of tanger- For such as prefer to use a can opener, Another relatively new product is frozen ines, 66 million boxes of grapefruit, and the good word is that supplies of citrus single strength citrus juice which is mar- nearly 14 million boxes of lemons. That's juices will be abundant. Also supplies of keted in retail packages like other frozen 18 percent more oranges than last year and canned grapefruit segments will be much foods. This is a boon for homemakers almost 50 percent more than the 10-year more plentiful than last year, which was who want to have "fresh" juice without average during 1935-44. It's 4 percent the first one since the war that the armed going to the bother of squeezing it. more grapefruit than was produced last forces didn't take all the canned grapefruit Another relatively new product is frozen year and almost two-thirds above the segments. And already this year the citrus concentrated citrus juice. This, however,

10-year average. Tangerine production canning industry has produced more canned is primarily distributed on a commercial promises to be 14 percent above last year fruit segments than they did in the whole scale, principally through dairies which and nearly two-thirds larger than during of the 1946 season. reconstitute it and sell it in bottles. the decade, 1935-44. While the lemon In addition to the old stand-bys such as Frozen concentrated citrus juice has the crop will probably be about 4 percent canned grapefruit juice, canned orange advantage of saving shipping space, since below last year, it promises to be about 21 juice, canned lemon and canned citrus seg- a large part of the water is removed by a percent above average. ments, a number of newer products are process originally developed by the Florida This is cheering news to fruit-hungry appearing on the market in increasing Agricultural Experiment Station. When consumers, since the plentiful crop spells volume. reconstituted with water it has a flavor abundant supplies of succulent oranges, Tangerine juice is a relative newcomer. and food value which compares very grapefruit, and tangerines to add flavor and Until recently attempts to can tangerine favorably with fresh juice. nourishment to their diets. Big supplies juice weren't too successful as the product Commercial manufacture of citrus crys- also tend to lower price. This makes contained too much oil and deteriorated tals in powder form is another innovation. citrus among the best buys on the fruit easily. Methods for manufacturing a This dehydrated product is said to be very market. . palatable, stable product have now been flavorful when reconstituted but its manu-

Citrus fruits are important in the diet developed, so consumers should be able to facture is still in the infancy stage.

March 1947 13 :

Potatoes on the upgrade.

• A superduper crop of potatoes, both as DDT played their part too in doing in quantity and quality, was produced last away with insects and letting the whole season by our farmers. Another large crop come through. To top it off there crop is on the way this year. were fine weather and growing conditions. And now it's only the "cream of the A surplus of last year's crop exists crop" that consumers will be getting if a despite the fact that every effort was made plan urged by the Department of Agricul- to find useful outlets. Several million ture is carried out. Recently the Depart- bushels will have to be placed in temporary ment asked growers and shippers of pota- storage, and a larger than usual supply in toes to pack U. S. No. 1 grade potatoes permanent storage. For some of these with a minimum diameter of 2% inches for stored potatoes there will be no practical round potatoes and 2 inches for the long use. type instead of 1% inches which is the So it is that the Department of Agricul- standard for U. S. No. 1. ture is urging the consumers to get the Furthermore the Department wants to "cream of the crop." eliminate potatoes measuring more than 3/4 It is well for consumers to take advan- inches in diameter or 18 ounces in weight, tage of the bargains of quantity and quality even though present standards call for no and turn them into tasty nutritious dishes. limitation on maximum size. Here are some ways to use these superior The reason for this is the abundant sup- quality potatoes ply of potatoes on hand and the bumper The best way to save food values is to yields that can be expected in 1947- In cook potatoes in their jackets. And of both 1945 and 1946 our farmers harvested the two ways of cooking them in their bigger and bigger crops. Nineteen hun- jackets, boiling conserves more vitamins dred and forty-five's yield of 425 million than baking. So even if the potatoes are bushels, then the largest crop on record, to be served parsleyed, mashed, creamed, was produced from 200 thousand acres less hash-browned, or in salad, start them on planting than the 1934-43 average. For their way boiled in their jackets. When 1946 lower potato acreage goals were rec- raw potatoes are called for in a scallop ommended. These goals were expected to or soup, keep the peelings thin. Peel produce approximately 373 million bushels. potatoes just before cooking. If allowed Instead production jumped to 478 million to soak, the potatoes lose some of their bushels. This made a surplus of between nutritional value. On the rare occasions 90 and 100 million bushels of potatoes. when they must be peeled ahead of time, The reasons for this overproduction were put them in salted water. Serve them that farmers in areas where potatoes didn't quick-cooked and hot. The grow so well reduced their acreages while longer they stand exposed to air, the more farmers in fine-producing regions increased vitamin C they lose. Left-overs should be theirs. covered and kept in a cold place until The new and efficient insecticides such you're ready to use them. Better grade potatoes abundant.

14 Consumers' guide — —

Close up on the News . . .

Forward Step on World Food Front modity situations, study needs for inter- governmental action on commodities, and A significant step toward world-wide help the FAO Director General in prepar- peting with spinach for the vegetable cooperation to banish famine and maintain ing the agenda and material for the annual shopper's money will be a bumper crop of food prices at levels fair to both producers FAO conference. kale in the eastern part of the country and consumers was taken on January 24 20 percent larger than a year ago. in Washington, when the FAO Preparatory This all adds up to abundant supplies of Commission on World Food Proposals Sweetpotato Champions Market Their Product greens. It means that the marketing adopted a series of recommendations by Eight 4-H winners of the Sumter housewife won't have any trouble in find- which national governments can work to- County, S. C, sweetpotato contest went ing plenty of the leafy green vegetables gether to this end. to New York City on January 28 to sell a that nutritionists say many of us eat far The report has been forwarded to the carload of their crop in the big city. too little of. Abundant supplies of greens Director General of the Food and Agri- One hundred and sixty-one boys in 16 part will also afford the housewife an oppor- culture Organization. Next step is for counties took in the competition. tunity to add a touch of spring freshness to him to transmit copies to each of the FAO Each boy planted 1 acre of a superior winter diets. Also an important consid- member nations, to the international or- stock of sweetpotato, cared for it, and eration in these budget-stretching days, ganizations concerned, and to the Execu- harvested it according to recommenda- abundant supplies make for lower prices. tive Council of FAO for consideration. tions of the best methods known. Average Spinach and kale both rate high in vita- Later a date will be set for a general FAO yield was 267 bushels per acre of U. S. min-A value. They also help out with conference to decide on further action. No. l's. vitamin C. Like other leafy green vege- Delegates from 17 governments were Winners were selected on a community tables, spinach and kale are good sources of represented at the FAO Preparatory Com- basis, since the object of the demonstra- iron. Kale is also a good vegetable source mission meeting which adopted the recom- tion was to show neighbors and farmers of calcium. mendations. Also attending were ob- that by cooperative production of a qual- t*-+* ****** servers from 16 other nations and repre- ity product and good marketing methods sentatives of 4 intergovernmental organi- the individual grower may get full benefit Cash in on Carrots zations. of progressive methods. Sumter County Carrots may not make your hair curly

It was agreed that action by national won over the 15 other counties and the 8 but just the same they will rate a preferred governments is the most practical course highest winners in the county received place on marketing lists this month. for reaching FAO objectives. The Com- the prize of a trip to New York from the Forecasts are for a big crop of winter mission—among other items approved food firm which cooperated in the plan. carrots. It's expected that the winter recommended that buffer stocks, set up The boys followed their sweetpotatoes crop, which is marketed from January as a measure to stabilize prices and guard from planting, through cultivation, har- through the early spring, will total about against famine, should be administered vesting, and marketing, all the way to a 8,322,000 bushels. This is 6 percent nationally under internationally agreed great city market and to the ultimate greater than 1946 production and 42 per- rules instead of by any internationally consumer. They had learned the fact, cent above average. financed agency. This recommendation too often overlooked by farmers, that it While prices earlier in the season held up is in line with a suggestion by the United is not enough to grow a product of su- fairly well, it's anticipated that larger sup- States delegation and differs from the perior quality. It must be marketed by plies will bring lower prices. For this original proposal of FAO Secretary Sir intelligent, progressive methods, too. reason and because carrots are a good staple John Boyd Orr as regards means but not vegetable, many cooks will want to use as regards objectives. Abundance of Spinach and Kale Forecast them served raw or cooked, alone or in So that national governments will have March promises to be a good month mixed salads, and in stews. a yardstick by which to judge their own for Popeye, the Sailor Man, and all his Carrots rank high among the vegetables agricultural and nutrition programs, the spinach-eating followers. for their vitamin-A value—and as such recommendations provide for an annual Prospect is that a good crop of spinach provide a relatively cheap source of this review of accomplishments of the individ- will be coming to market this month, on important nutrient. Like some other vita- ual nations. top of record supplies of canned and frozen mins, vitamin A helps protect the body Formation of a World Food Council to spinach. During December, supplies of against infections. During the war, foods serve during the year as a policy link- canned spinach in the hands of wholesale of high vitamin-A value came into promi- between 7AO and the member govern- distributors were about double those of a nence because of their use by aviators as a ments when the FAO conference is not in year ago and stocks were moving slowly. preventive of night blindness. Vitamin session was also recommended. The coun- Stocks of frozen spinach on January 1 were A is also important for good skin and good cil, composed of representatives of 18 60 percent larger than a year earlier. linings to nose and mouth and other body member governments, would review com- Also in the green department and com- tissues.

March 1947 15 Green Pastures to Order Why not lengthen the pasture season to GUIDE POSTS save winter feed costs—and make bossy happy? "Why not indeed!" might well have been the response of the show-me Missouri operator fined $500 and put under years 3 farmer to such a surprising question. But, probation for buying correctly labeled instead, Missouri farmers have shown it imitation pepper and repackaging it to can be done. By following through on sell as the real article. research findings of the Missouri Agricul- Bona fide pepper dealers are wishing tural Experiment Station on improvement Uncle Sam all sorts of lutk in catching the and development of pastures, farmers have culprits, as they fear that the public might been able to extend the pasture season to lose its taste for pepper if it's fed too long 1}{ months. That's 1% months longer inferior imitation, of corn on an made than the normal 6-month season obtained starch, salt, hulls and ground cottonseed under old farming methods. spiked with a dash of oil of pepper. Maybe that ain't hay—but anyhow it's The pepper shortage and the high price a lot of feed. In fact, the extra feed ob- of pepper together explain the recent boom tained on the improved pastures during the in the pepper counterfeiting business. As extended pasture period was the equivalent supplies of real pepper increase and Govern- of 37 million bushels of corn. When corn Modern Treasure Hunt ment action against illegal operators be- is worth 80 cents a bushel, Missouri farm- gins to have a cumulative effect in retard- A new sort of treasure hunt has been ers would profit to the tune of almost 30 ing other potential violators, the situation recommended by the Canadian Govern- million dollars from the extra feed. ment to parents of grown-up children. should tend to clear up. Tapioca to You The idea is to dig through the attic on the chance that a stock of diapers is hidden Do you know your tapioca? it's of course. Right, away among the souvenirs. Canada is still Why pudding, a in the throes of its wartime diaper short- dessert stand-by made from the tuberous age, you see. So a supply of diapers would root, manioc. But that's only a small part be a most welcome gift to some young of the story of manioc as set forth in a recent issue of Agriculture in the Americas. mother who is hard put to find this im- portant item in the infant's wardrobe. A widely grown food plant, manioc also To give extra drive and push to the goes under the names of cassava and man- diaper treasure hunt, the Canadian War- dioca. In tropical countries, it's a ranking time Prices and Trade Board suggests that foodstuff for millions of people who con- members of church groups or other organi- sume the root as bread, as a vegetable, and zations collect idle didies and distribute as an intoxicating liquor. In this country, them to homes where a real need exists. tapioca flour is used industrially for many purposes, among them the manufacture of "Curses, Foiled Again" easily digested cookies and crackers. That trio of old villains, sticking doors, Manioc roots contain a material which

windows, and drawers, stand to take a is toxic when the roots are eaten raw.

sound beating at the hands of the chemists This toxic material is removed by heating of the Forest Products Laboratory in the root and pressing out the juice. After

Madison, Wis. They have discovered a it's processed, however, the juice of the

way to put an end to these disposition bitter variety of manioc is used as a con-

destroyers. diment. This condiment, which is called

Nonswelling wood promises to be an cassareep, is a basic ingredient of the well- answer to the frustrating nuisance of doors known West Indian dish called pepper pot. and windows that refuse to budge on hot humid days. It's produced by a special LISTEN TO CONSUMER TIME treatment with certain chemicals which Beware, Pepper Counterfeiters Every Saturday— Coast to Coast penetrate the cells of the wood and retard over N. B. C. 12:15 a. m. EST Watch out. Pepper counterfeiters are swelling. 11:15 a. m. CST abroad. Besides contributing to happiness in the 10:15 a. m. MST Sleuths of the Food and Drug Adminis- home, the new nonswelling wood will be 9:15 a. m. PST j tration are on the lookout to seize ship- more useful for many industrial purposes. Dramatizations, interviews, questions and answers on consumer problems. Tune in. of pepper have gone out tendency to swell, for ex- ments fake which The of wood Brought to you by the to many cities under false labels. A number ample, makes it less valuable for use in the U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE of shipments have been seized and one manufacture of aircraft.

16 Consumers' guide April 1947

Consumers' guide VOLUME XIII NUMBER 4 APRIL 1947 What are the basic reasons behind this sustained world food crisis which makes In this issue: it more severe and continuing than the

Mo re Grain for the Hungry 2 Pointers on sheets 10 hunger that followed World War I? What? 3 few well Why? How? A chosen herbs 13 It's principally due to the fact that When you choose cheese 5 Close-up on the news 15 World War I was not a world war in the Youth serves science 8 Guide posts 16 sense that World War II was. ILLUSTRATIONS: Cover, Howard Chapman; pp. 3, 4,5,6, 7, USDA; pp. 8, 9, BHNHE; 10, 11, 12, drawings, pp. The toll taken by the recent war in Howard Chapman; pp. 13, 14, BPISAE; p. 16, drawings, K. J. Burdette. devastated areas in Europe, Russia and North Africa were vast compared to much smaller areas over which the battles of More Grain For The World War I raged. The whole of the Far East which was engulfed in World

War II was untouched by World War I. Hungry At that time there were great surpluses of food piled up in Siam, Burma, Nether-

Grain and more grain from the fields food consumption in the United Kingdom lands, East Indies and the Philippines, but there was a shortage of ships to move it. of the American farms is again acutely is from 5 to 10 percent less than it was last So it was ready for shipment abroad as needed by tens of millions of the world's year and during the war. Although the soon as the armistice made boats available. hungry. To many of these individual cuts in rationing in the United Kingdom near In the Far East today shortages prevail millions, wasted by several years of have not yet adversely affected the health starvation diets, the need is more drastic instead of surpluses. In 1920 Siam, Indo of the average Britisher, who is in better than ever before. It is good to know China, and Burma exported over 400 mil- shape physically than before the war, fur- that by the end of this month this country lion tons of rice. Last year their exports ther cuts would slow down the badly will have shipped 400 million bushels of were about a million tons. This year only needed production of British workers. grain and flour. And best of all, this 2 million tons of rice will be exported from On the world's per capita food supply grain has been shipped 2 months ahead of there as compared to 4 million tons before the United States Department of Agricul- the schedule which called for the delivery the war. This means that the people who ture's Office of Foreign Agricultural Rela- of this amount by the end of June. had consumed their grain in the form of tions states that in 1946-47 But even these gigantic movements of food produc- rice must draw upon the world supply of our grain are not adequate. There must be tion was about equal to that of 1935-39. wheat and other cereals. In 1920, imported nearly 150 million enough to fill the void in the world's food However, offsetting that are other factors. we Philippines. basket. This must be filled if the peoples The world's population has increased by tons of sugar from the By of western Europe and the British-American 7 or 8 percent. And another fact, during the beginning of World War II we were zones of German occupation are to get back the 1935-39 period the world was by no taking a million tons a year. But now the Philippines instead of on their feet so that they can produce and means up to the standard which nutrition- being an exporting make their own way in the world again. ists regard as a minimum for health. With country must import sugar for its own use. Until the reestablishment of some economic this increased demand came greater pur- In addition to the widespread devasta- tion and paralysis of production brought order is brought out of the present chaos, chasing power in this country and other these people will remain impotent, and nations such as Mexico and Brazil where about by the war, the recent postwar inroads stay in continuous need of the meager consumer incomes increased due to enlarged months have seen made on poten- rations of grain to hold bodies and souls industrialization. tial food supplies by drought and floods in together. A relatively small cut in the world per areas where the food is most needed. The winter, In fact, because of the practically com- capita consumption of food might not recent severe the worst in many Europe, the plete break-down of their economic and seem alarming. But the point is that the years, struck damaged winter of France and almost paralyzed physical ways of life, and the slowness of decrease is not distributed evenly. In the wheat recovery during the past year, we find the United States, the Bureau of Agricultural transportation of the small supplies food situation at almost the same stage of Economics estimates that in 1947 the available. it is that Europe looks forward to crisis as it was last year. average American will have about 3,400 So supplies between this In western European countries outside calories a day. That is 5 percent above meager now and Germany, there has been some improve- his prewar average. This means that the year's harvest. ment as compared to last year at this time. rest of the world's per capita consumption However, gains in some areas have been is cut a greater percentage than the 7 or offset by losses in others. For example, 8 percent loss indicates.

consumers' guide is CONSUMERS* GUIDE Issued Monthly printed with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget as required by Rule 42 of the Joint Committee on Printing. Official free distribution A Publication of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is limited. Additional copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington Washington, D. C. 25, D. C, 5 cents a copy, or by subscription, 50 cents a year, domestic; 70 cents a year, foreign. Postage stamps Editor, Ben James; associate editors, Anne Carter, Elizabeth Spence; art, K. J. will not be accepted in payment. Burdette.

2 Consumers' guide uhat? $Uu/t hmr}

• Why is potato consumption per capita declining?

• What are the possibilities of developing air transportation for tropical and subtropical fruits?

• What is the dollar-and-cent value of the nutrients contained in the dif- ferent foods we eat?

• What varieties of cotton are best suited for the manufacture of sheeting?

• Why can't stores in small towns and villages handle fresh vegetables on a year-round basis the same as stores in the big cities?

• The Research and Marketing Act of 1 ton of tomatoes per acre in experiments 1946, passed by Congress last summer, may by the Delaware station over yields ob- provide the answers to these and many tained by the usual practice of broadcast- other questions that affect our welfare. ing the fertilizer on top of the ground. By The new legislation authorizes agricultural adopting research results of the Missouri research at all stages of the marketing station on the improvement and develop- An agricultural marketing inspector grades from the farm to the retail ment of pastures, farmers in that State have process— grapefruit sections at a canning plant store—and backs up this expanded pro- been able to step up the pasture season using the continuous inspection of the gram by authorizing appropriations start- from 6 months to 7% months, which means United States Department of Agriculture. ing at 9% million dollars in 1947 and additional feed equivalent to 37 million reaching 61 million dollars in 1951. bushels of corn. And so it goes. Each

Significantly, the act is a clear recognition research project makes its contribution to that farm products have not really been better living. marketed until they reach the ultimate A second authorization for appropria- consumer. tions for research on utilization of agricul- The act authorizes additional funds to tural products starts with 3 million dollars State agricultural experiment stations, the in 1947 and reaches 15 million dollars in amounts authorized starting with 2}>2 mil- 1951- This will permit expansion of lion dollars in 1947 and increasing to 20 research in a field where considerable million dollars in 1951- In authorizing headway already has been made. these funds, the act places special emphasis During the war, scientists at the North- on marketing and regional research by the ern Regional Research Laboratory of the experiment stations. If we can judge the Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Scientists at the Northern Research Labora- future by the past, this will be money well Chemistry of the United States Depart- tory perfected method for increasing the spent. ment of Agriculture at Peoria, 111., quickly yield of penicillin by feeding the mold on For example, scientists at the New Jersey increased the yield of penicillin by feeding a new diet of farm products. station discovered streptomycin, which is the drug-forming mold a diet of corn- more effective in the treatment of some liquor and lactose. About 12 diseases than penicillin or the sulfa drugs. million pounds of the corn-steeping liquor, At the California station, the crossing of a byproduct from the manufacture of corn commercial cantaloup varieties with di- starch, and 6 million pounds of lactose, or sease-resistant strains eliminated powdery milk sugar, are now used annually in the mildew and saved a great industry from manufacture of penicillin.

extinction. At the New York (Cornell) The lowly buckwheat plant is being station, artificial insemination studies have used by chemists in the Eastern Laboratory

made it possible to spread the good quali- at Wyndmoor near Philadelphia, Pa., to ties of superior sires over the herds of the produce a drug called rutin, which gives State, thus making for increased returns to promise of being beneficial in treating per- dairymen and more milk at a lower cost to sons who are suffering from high blood consumers. Broadcasting and plowing pressure associated with increased capil- Technologist at the Southern Regional down 1,200 pounds per acre of 5-10-10 lary fragility. It is estimated that about Research Laboratory conducts tests to fertilizer before setting the plants has given pounds of rutin, extracted from 10,000 the show what types of cotton and what yarn consistent yield increases of approximately leaves and blossoms of the green buck- structure are best adapted for certain uses.

April 1947 3 wheat plant will be required to meet the water. It resembles wool also in its heat- Consumers are specifically singled out experimental demand for the drug this insulating and moisture-absorbing proper- for attention in the marketing section of year, and more than 1,000,000 pounds a ties. Its major weakness is its low wet the act. One provision definitely au- year to meet medicinal requirements strength. thorizes and directs the Secretary of Agri- should the present promising results be Velva Fruit, an ice-cream-like product culture "to conduct and cooperate in con- borne out. This would mean that about that can be made from fully ripened fruit, sumer education for the more effective 50,000 acres of buckwheat would be much of which is lost because it is fre- utilization and greater consumption of needed each year for the production of the quently too soft for shipment, is a new agricultural products." drug. development in the food field. Several Many of the other provisions that have At the Southern Laboratory, New Or- hundred thousand gallons of this delicious to do with research in the marketing field leans, La., research has resulted in the whole-fruit dessert have been made and may appear, at first glance, to have little production on an experimental scale of a sold commercially a direct result of relation to the welfare of consumers. Re- peanut-protein fiber. Called Sarelon, the — research at Western Laboratory, search in market news, warehousing, trans- fiber has a light cream color and a softness the portation, interstate trade barriers, somewhere between that of silk and wool. Albany, Calif. statis- tics, and the like apparently are of interest It takes dyes similar to those used on silk A third appropriation authorized under only to shippers, warehousemen, whole- and wool and shrinks very little in hot the Research and Marketing Act starts at salers, jobbers, retailers. But such re- 1)2 million dollars in 1947 and increases to search has the primary purpose of reducing 6 million dollars in 1950. This is a special charges. fund available to the Department for use in handling Smaller handling cooperation with the State agricultural charges, of course, generally mean lower prices to consumers and increased returns experiment stations. It could be used for regional projects, such as the breeding of to producers. livestock, weed control, and the develop- The act provides for an 11-man National ment of safeguards foi the use of new and Advisory Committee. The membership of powerful insecticides. this committee is as follows: Howard E. A fourth appropriation to conduct Babcock, New York State farmer, writer, marketing research and marketing services and chairman of the board of trustees, Cornell University; Fred Bailey, legisla- on a greatly expanded scale is authorized, for the National the appropriations authorized starting at tive counsel Grange; Robert R. Coker, vice president of a large V/2 million dollars in 1947 and reaching 20 seed million dollars in 1951. This part of the South Carolina company; John H. Davis, executive secretary of the National Research at the Eastern Regional Labora- act declares it to be the policy of Congress tory, Philadelphia, made possible com- ' Council of Farmer Cooperatives; Charles to promote a ' scientific approach to the manufacturing of rutin, a drug of mercial problems of marketing, transportation, F. Kettering, general manager of the Re- value in treating fragile and weakened search Laboratory Division, General and distribution similar to the scientific Mo- capillaries. Kitchen, executive methods which have been utilized so tors Corporation; C. W. president Fruit successfully during the past 84 years in vice of the United Fresh connection with the production of agri- and Vegetable Association; Albert K. rancher student cultural products." Mitchell, New Mexico and of livestock marketing problems; James G. Consumers will be interested in a pro- Patton, president of the National Farmers vision that will make for improved stand- Union; Walter L. Randolph, president of ards of quality. Most consumers, frankly the Alabama Farm Bureau Federation; speaking, are not good judges of quality, H.J. Reed, dean and director of the Purdue even when the product can be looked over University School of Agriculture; and Kerr in the store, as in the case of meats. If Scott, State Commissioner of Agriculture, the product is in a container, as in the case North Carolina. of canned fruits and vegetables, consumers for specific are at an even greater disadvantage. Thus Committees commodity many buyers want the name of the grade groups are also provided for in the act. These are being formed in order to provide to be their guide to quality. This is a broader representation of the many groups simple matter if the mark, tag, or certifi- that have a keen interest in agricultural cate stays on or with a product until it reaches the consumer. Many "consumer research. grades" are available now, such as for This, then, is the broad outline of the meats, poultry, eggs, butter, fresh and Research and Marketing Act of 1946. It This Market News Wire Room is the focal processed fruits and vegetables, dry beans is an act that provides for research to point in distribution of United States De- and peas, rice, and honey. The Research further the welfare of, not just producers partment of Agriculture news to the nation's and Marketing Act is designed to improve and not just consumers, but of all the principal terminal markets and shipping of the Nation. points. and popularize this service. people Consumers' guide ——

You'll find more variety than you've seen in years. Cheese experts have been busy learning better ways to make better cheese. Consumers can profit by their findings.

* We ate more cheese in the early years of the war than ever before in our history overseas demands rose to their peak, in be almost fresh or thoroughly ripened and, 6.3 pounds per person was the national 1946 when our supplies increased we broke as the technicians say "broken down." high score. our previous record of cheese-eating by This means that the ripening process Of course it can't be honestly said that getting away with 7.0 pounds apiece. changes the lumpy, curdy texture to one this cheese feast was spontaneous. Meat And prognosticators say we'll probably that is firm but pliable and mellow—and was rationed—remember—anjd cheese eat as much in 1947. the flavor " tangier" —as aging progresses. wasn't. Thousands of us learned perforce Cheese was an important part of our Aging Cheddar cheese to the point of what nutritionists had been saying for soldiers' rations, and Uncle Sam saw that "sharpness" formerly took from 8 months years, that cheese makes a good main dish the cheese they got was of high quality. to a year. Mild-flavored American re- for any meal, gives the body high quality It was easy to acquire a taste for it. As quired 4 to 7 months. But cheese-curing protein like meat, eggs and fish, and adds a result the preferences of some of the 11 time can now be cut nearly in half, with calcium and B-vitamins to the diet. million new civilians have helped to raise the pasteurized milk product, thanks to a We learned too, what gourmets and our average. method recently described by research tastewise folks had long known, that workers in the Bureau of Dairy Industry in cheese is not just cheese— a substance to put Cheddar, The Favorite the Department of Agriculture. in a sandwich or on top of macaroni—but By far the favorite in this cheese show These scientists found that the pasteur- several different foods, their flavor and is Cheddar or "American." Of the 7 ized-milk cheese held in the curing room consistency ranging all the way from soft, pounds of cheese of all kinds we ate in at 60° Fahrenheit was as fully ripened in delicate creaminess to firm, sharp zestiness, 1946, American Cheddar accounted for 4.8 from 3 to 4 months as cheese held at 50° any of which could add delight to ordinary pounds leaving 2.2 pounds for all other or lower for 6 months, provided the cheese menus. varieties. was made from milk that was of good We really learned to love our cheese, it Cheddar gets its name from the English quality, that had been pastuerized. The seems, for although we had much less village of Cheddar, Somersetshire, where cheese held at the higher temperature also only 4-9 pounds per capita— in 1944 when tradition says, it was first produced more developed more and better flavor than the than a hundred years ago. Made of cows' cheese held at the lower temperatures. milk, it comes in various sizes from 8 to The method is an outgrowth of earlier The Farmers' Stake 100 pounds in weight. The trade has work which demonstrated that the use of In Cheese Production names for these sizes: Daises, Cheddars, pasteurized milk was an important step in In 1946 cheese made in this country Young Americas, Squares, and Longhorns. used 11 billion pounds of milk. producing cheese that would be uniformly Cheddar may be yellowish-white or col- Farmers received approximately 375 high in quality. was ored a deeper yellow. It is generally made million dollars. Food value and adopted by many cheese makers during flavor variety are the homemakers' from whole milk, and whole-milk Cheddar the war years. chief interest in cheese. How great must contain not less than 50 percent milk that interest is makes a difference to fat in the solids; it can be made from the farmer, for milk sold to make Help for Housewife partly skimmed or skim milk, but if made cheese represents a sizable part of thus it cannot be marketed as Cheddar, Some progressive manufacturers of Ched- his income. Abont 10 pounds of milk go into every pound of cheese. but must carry some qualifying adjective dar are now bringing it out in half-pound, such as "part-skim" or "skim." It may pound, and 2-pound packages, rectangular

April 1 947 5 —

Slabs are run through curd mill where me- Here milk is on its way to becoming Cheddar cheese. Slabs of curd from which all the chanical curd fork cuts them into small bits. whey has been drained are turned repeatedly until proper amount of acid is formed.

and easy to slice. This is a welcome move, manufacturers now sell small packages of your market list remember it is better to

for how to store the partially used wedge grated American Parmesan. These should buy it in small quantities as you use it, of cheese until next time has always been be kept tightly closed to retain flavor and unless you have room for a sizable segment

a problem. The new packages are wrapped quality. of the whole cheese, as it dries out quickly in foil or transparent film and heat sealed. Bel Paese, one of the less known soft after being sliced. Second on the list of consumer preferences cheeses, is being made with great success Unlike Cheddar, which is made from for cheese come Cream and Neufchatel. commercially, following the formula and either raw or pasteurized milk, Swiss, so far Statistics on these two varieties are com- manufacturing procedure perfected by the has not generally been made very success- bined, since the products are similar except Bureau of Dairy Industry. Bel Paese fully from pasteurized milk. Research is as to creaminess. Both come in small tin- beautiful country—is the trade-mark of an continuing for a formula using pasteurized foil- or cellophane-wrapped packages and Italian firm. The American product is milk. This is important to consumers, are best when eaten a few days after they called Bel Paese-type and can be best since bacteria found in raw milk sometimes

are made. Genuine cream cheese is made made from pasteurized milk. survive in cheese.

from a mixture of milk and cream thick- Fourth on the list of favorite cheeses is ened by and by the addition of Swiss. Formerly we imported at least

rennet to aid . Neufchatel is made half of all the Swiss cheese used in this Pasteurized Milk Preferable from whole milk with less cream added. country. Shoppers made a great to-do Seven States and at least two cities have According to the Definitions and Stand- about "real" Swiss versus American. regulations requiring the use of pasteurized ards of Identity for foods of the Food and Now our cheese manufacturers have learned milk in cheese. California, Illinois, In- Drug Administration, Cream cheese must to make a product equal in quality and diana, New Jersey, New York, and New contain not less than 33 percent milk fat, flavor to the finest impoited Swiss. York City require that cheese be made

and not more than 55 percent moisture. Official name for Swiss is Emmenthaler, from pasteurized milk, or held 60 days Neufchatel must contain not less than 20 for the Canton of Emmenthal in Switzer- before distribution if unpasteurized milk

percent milk fat and not more than 65 per- land, where it was first made. One hun- is used. Colorado requires that cheese be cent moisture. All of which is just to say dred and fifty to two hundred and twenty held 120 days, and Portland, Oreg., 180

that Cream cheese is richer. pounds is the usual weight of a Swiss days if made from unpasteurized milk. Newcomers in the top ranks of cheese cheese. As a rule they are round and The Oregon State regulation says that preferences are the Italian types which in flattish—2% to 3 feet across and 6 to 9 milk used in cheese must be pasteurized if 1945 reached third place. Before the war inches thick. Holes or eyes in Swiss it comes from dairy herds infected with we imported 21 to 25 million pounds of cheese are formed naturally from the Bang's disease. The regulations cover cheese annually from Italy, and domestic carbon dioxide that appears in curing only Cheddar cheese and the soft types production was comparatively small. De- and are fairly regular in spacing and shape. like cottage, except in Indiana and Cali- mand for both the hard and soft varieties of They vary from the size of a nickel to that fornia where they apply to all types. Italian cheese persisted and production in- of a half-dollar. Tiny cracks indicate too In 1945 Canada passed a regulation creased rapidly when imports were cut off. high fat content but do not usually affect requiring that all milk for Cheddar cheese Wisconsin, New York, and Michigan are the flavor of the cheese. Pin holes are a be pasteurized, or the cheese held for a the largest producers of Italian types. sign of poor quality and often a bitter varying number of days depending on the Parmesan, known to many as the insep- taste. curing temperature. arable companion to Italian spaghetti, is Curing Swiss cheese takes from 6 to 10 According to recent issues of trade an extremely hard cheese which will keep months in Europe and 3 to 6 in the United papers, dairy specialists in two of the

for years. Almost impossible to cut, it States. When ready, it has a hard rind principal cheese producing States—Wis- can be broken and grated easily. Several and will keep indefinitely. When planning consin and Minnesota—now are consider-

6 Consumers' guide mg proposed regulations requiring the ginning to use the continuous inspection Camembert, another French cheese of pasteurization of all milk used for cheese. service of the Department of Agriculture. the mold-ripened type, has been duplicated Representatives of industry, and State and Under war contracts all cheese was pro- so well that even before the war the Federal agencies are sponsoring the duced under continuous inspection and domestic product had almost replaced im- measure. producers found they made a better product ports. Scientists in the Bureau of Dairy In- more efficiently under those conditions. Edam and Gouda from Holland, are dustry have perfected a practical test for For the past 6 months one large dairy semihard, yellow cheese made of cow's determining whether the milk used in products company has been making process milk. Sold in the familiar flattened red making cheese was pasteurized. This cheese under continuous inspection, mar- sphere, connoisseurs are welcoming the

Sanders and Sager test is a modification of keting it through one of the great chain domestic product which is being made now the phosphatase test commonly used in food stores. Every package or container in small but increasing quantities. testing the adequacy of pasteurization in is marked with the familiar shield many Li mburger —famous (some would say milk. It is so sensitive that the presence consumers have learned to look for on infamous) for its aroma, has many de- of a pint of raw milk in a ton lot of canned fruits and vegetables. Inside the votees. A small, flat cheese, about 6 by pasteurized milk can be detected from a shield are the words Processed and Packed 6 by 3 inches or smaller, it is very soft small sample of the cheese made from the Under Continuous Inspection of the United when ripe and, surprisingly enough, has milk. This reliable test is of great im- States Department of Agriculture. While a mild subtle flavor. Originally imported portance to industry and the public. this in not a grade it is the buyer's guaran- from Belgium in considerable quantity, tee of a wholesome, clean food. practically all the Limburger in this coun-

Process Cheese try now is American. Cheese experts say the American variety, made from pasteur- Process cheese is the name applied to all Cheese Choices ized milk, is of high quality and has reworked cheese. American Cheddar, Cheese shoppers this season will have slightly less aroma than the Belgian. Swiss, brick and Roquefort may all be many more than the four top varieties to processed. In general, processing consists choose from. In addition to those, and Liederkranz, in spite of its foreign name, of grinding up the cheese—several kinds the uncounted variations of process cheese, is a strictly American product. It re- sembles but is definitely can be used together—cooking it with "cheese foods" and "cheese spreads" they Limburger milder. certain added salts which "mellow" it and will find several types which for years It comes in a somewhat smaller, rectan- prevent fat separation, and pouring the hot were almost entirely imported from gular foil-wrapped package. cheese into wrapper-lined molds or into Europe. American cheese makers have Cheese fanciers who want to know jars or glasses. During the cooking proc- learned to duplicate not only the Italian more about their cherished food can read ess flavors and condiments such as and Swiss types but many others. descriptions of 290 different kinds in pimentoes and pickles may be added. Roquefort, a high favorite, formerly im- Varieties of Cheese, Bulletin No. 608. For Basic flavor and texture of the finished ported from France where it was made of practical hints and recipes on everyday product depends mainly on the kind, sheep's milk and aged in caves for 5 or 6 uses for cheese send for Cheese in Your quality and age of the cheese used, and the months is now successfully produced here Meals, AWI-16. Both are free from the length of time and temperature at which from cows' milk and aged under conditions Office of Information, United States De- it is cooked. which duplicate the temperature and mois- partment of Agriculture, Washington 25, Manufacturers of process cheese are be- ture of the French caves. D. C.

Here we see three sfeps in making Swiss cheese: turning over the Swiss cheese stays in temperature- and moisture-controlled room curd, "harping" it into particles, and testing for curd firmness. 2 to 3 months. Twice weekly it is washed and sprinkled with salt.

April 1947 7 —

• If you live in these United States, chances are you get from your Govern- ment—directly or indirectly—up-to-date scientific help on many an everyday How to make kitchen chores easier for the homemaker? An architect and problem. The help may come in a Gov- housing specialist work on efficient shelf spacing for a kitchen cabinet. ernment bulletin, or relayed by your radio, newspaper, or magazines—the Consumers' Guide, for example. Much of the research being carried on by Government bureaus is entrusted under direction, of course—to bright young people who have recently been graduated from our schools and colleges. Splendid work being done by young men and women in the Bureau of Human

Nutrition and Home Economics is typical of the contribution which youthful scien- tists in the various Government bureaus are making to research in the public interest. Research jobs in the BHNHE are by no means limited to home economists. Home economists with training in nutrition, textiles, household equipment or some other specialty do play important roles. But there are also biologists, chemists, Studying performance of different types of home food freezers, a physicist and household equipment specialist prepare to record food temperatures. physicists, statisticians, bacteriologists and many other types of scientists in this Bureau.

Small though it is, with a research staff of about 180 persons, the BHNHE is the only Federal agency concerned wholly with problems of the family and the consumer. Its task is to conduct research on consumer use of food, fiber, and other products from America's farms. Hence the wide variety of studies con- ducted by the Bureau and the many types of specialists who are carrying them for- ward. A picture tour into a few of the Bureau's research labs and offices will serve to give an idea of the problems being at- tacked. At the same time such a glimpse into a Government research bureau will reveal a goodly number of alert young

people working to push forward the out- This biologist is about to weigh this rat—one of the "test tube" rats in vitamin posts of useful knowledge. research. The animal has been fed on an experimental diet.

8 Consumers' guide How does the food taste 7 One of the many jobs of these This young home economist at the textile laboratory is test- researchers is to sample foods for their eating quality. m S a fabric sample to determine how much sizing it contains.

How well do we eat? To find out, this food economist Specialists develop cooking methods which conserve food studies the nutritive value of our food supply. value and have good taste and eye appeal.

Aim: To find best processing times and temperatures for Using a special recording machine this young physicist in a home canning. This apparatus records heat penetration. textile laboratory tests elasticity of knitted fabrics.

April 1947 Despite increased production, supplies are still limited. Wise shoppers will buy only what they need, shop for quality, and take care of the sheets they have on hand.

• Just a minute, Madam Shopper. The In order to buy sheets wisely, the struction. But then again, a fancy price is time has not yet come to go on an all-out shopper needs to know the characteristics no guarantee of quality. buying spree to replenish your war-torn of a good sheet and the particular type best How, then, is a buyer to recognize a supply of sheets. The latest word to the suited to her needs and pocketbook. sheet that measures up to the general wise housewife is: Following are the characteristics of a specifications for a good sheet adapted to

Make your old bed "linens" do as long good sheet, as set forth by the Bureau of the particular needs of her family? as they can be coddled to survive another Human Nutrition and Home Economics on Labels which give specific information laundering. It's still sabotage to yield to the basis of extensive service tests: are the buyer's best assurance that she is that hoarder's urge to buy beyond your A good sheet is firm in weave. getting her money's worth. minimum requirements. It is practically free from sizing. An ideal label would tell the following It is torn rather than cut from the bolt. points about a sheet, say the home Remember, lots of veterans' families are Hems are securely sewed with strong economists: trying to set up housekeeping without the thread and short, even stitches (about 12 Number of yarns per inch; breaking benefit of prewar hope chests. And even or 14 to the inch). strength, weight and amount of sizing; if that thought doesn't stop you, the out- The better grades of combed yarn sheets width and length of sheet before hemming; look for better buying days ahead should are made from cotton ranging from about and whether the sheet is first or second put a brake on giddy overbuying. 1% 6 to iys inches in staple length. Shorter quality. Although production of sheets during fibers of % to 1 inch are used for standard Even before the war, few cotton sheets the first quarter of this year increased qualities of muslin and fine count sheets. on the market were labeled to give all this slightly above production during the Aside from these general quality speci- information. However, some manufac- same period last year, sales have generally fications, a number of other factors must turers gave information about the number kept pace with production. Supplies are be taken into account to get the most of yarns per inch and others gave data on still far short of demand. serviceable sheet for your money. breaking strength while some guaranteed This means the selection of sheets isn't Sheets must be long enough and wide their sheets for so many washings. An in- as good as it should be later when supplies enough to suit the user's bed and physique. catch up with demand. Just when that The life of many an otherwise good sheet will be depends on too many variable has been all too brief because it was too factors to with certainty. Since con- say short and so couldn't stand the yanking trols are off the manufacture of textiles, attempts to stretch it to fit the bed or manufacturers will naturally concentrate sleeper. on the lines that are the most profitable to Then there is the matter of weight and them. texture. Where hard wear is expected, a

Expert opinion seems to be that the heavy muslin is a good choice. Where supply situation for sheets will gradually appearance and luxurious softness is at improve, however, and sometime during a premium, percale sheets offer definite

1947 supplies will catch up with demand. advantages. Sometimes light weight re-

Then— and only then—is the shopper sults from the fact that the fabric is loosely likely to find a full selection from which woven. This makes for poor wearing to choose the bed sheets best suited to her quality. But if the sheet is closely woven needs and purse. from fine yarn, it should hold up—and the For this reason the canny buyer will saving in laundry bills should be taken refuse to buy just anything she can get, into account in estimating cost. regardless of value or need. She will shop Price tags, incidentally, are not a good carefully for what she must buy—and for measure of value in judging sheets. A the rest, will hold off for better shopping cheap sheet may be no bargain because it's Don't iron the life out of sheets. Avoid days ahead. just that—sleazy and shoddy in con- too hot irons and don't iron folds in sheets.

10 Consumers' guide creasing number of housewives were acting on the conviction that it is thrifty to buy sheets manufactured by reliable mills that labeled their sheets and stood behind the label. During the war, the Office of Price Ad- ministration, in order to protect consumers from excessive price increases and quality deterioration, tied the prices of the various grades of sheets to definite minimum stand- ards set up for each grade. These standards helped prevent excessive deterioration in the quality of sheets. At the same time minimum standards helped protect repu- table manufacturers from unfair competi- tion on the part of irresponsible concerns who had no reputation to lose. As a con- sequence, OPA efforts to prevent deterior- ation were more successful with regard to sheets than in other lines where price was not tied to minimum quality standards. With the lifting of controls, however, demand-acting-oti-supply is again the decid- ing factor with regard to quality and price in sheets. This means that Madam Shoppei wil decide.

If take-what's-offered buyers and price- the result tag shoppers are in the majority, sheets ranged from as low as 59 in the Holding the sheet up to the light helps a as is likely to be quality deterioration warp and 44 in the filling! buyer spot such imperfections in the weave. For then manu- competition gets keener. Weight is another factor affecting the Sheets marked other than first should be quality facturers will tend to cut prices and serviceability of sheets. If sheets are sold at a lower price than the standard to get trade. But if buyers shop carefully very light in weight and loosely woven, quality brings. for value and show their appreciation of they wrinkle and are uncomfortable to In buying seconds or run-of-the-mill quality and in- brands that give them the sleep on, as well as unattractive looking. (ungraded) sheets, a wise precaution is to essential for intelligent buying, formation If sheets are too heavy, on the other hand, examine them carefully to see where the to manufacturers will be on their toes they are cumbersome, hard to wash, and defects are. These flaws are usually the supply consumers with serviceable sheets. expensive to send to the laundry. weakest places in the sheet. However, Meanwhile how to choose wisely with In choosing a particular weight of sheet, some flaws affect appearance only and not such information as may be available? the buyer's individual preference and needs wearing quality. Hence some seconds shopper should remem- First of all, the are the deciding factors. It's smart to find may be good buys. ber points of a sheet and try to the good out what particular weight of sheet is best Sizing is the filler used in manufacturing against these check the ones on sale suited to your needs and stick to that. sheets to give them a smooth finish and to specifications. Buying sheets by weight— that is by the give body to poorly woven fabrics. After Thread count, or the number of yarns to number of ounces per square yard—may a few washings heavily sized sheets turn the inch—lengthwise (warp) and cross- sound strange. But it's exactly what the out sleazy. wise (filling)—is an important factor in Federal Government and many private in- It's a good precaution then to look on the serviceability of a fabric. A good stitutions do. the label to see if the percentage of sizing wearing sheet has about the same number Breaking strength is another measure of is given. The amount may vary from 1 of yarns in one direction as the other. the wearing quality of a fabric. For this percent in high grade sheets to 25 percent By holding the fabric up to a strong information, the buyer must depend on in low grade sheets. Here again a factual light and noting how the warp and filling labels—merely jerking at a sample of cloth label affords the most reliable means of yarns look, a shopper can get some idea of doesn't give the answer. If the breaking judging sheet quality. the evenness and balance of a fabric. strengths are given on the labels, chances Selvage and hems also affect the wearing Heavy-weight sheets sturdy enough to are that the sheets with the greatest break- quality of sheets. As the selvages receive stand up under hard usage usually have ing strength will give the best wear. hard wear, many sheets are made with about 72 yarns per inch in the warp and 68 Perfection of lveave is another consideration selvages that are wider and heavier than in the filling. Yet a study conducted by in buying sheets. To rate a standard or first in other fabrics of similar construction. the Bureau of Home Economics some quality label, a sheet must be practically In a sheet with a tape selvage, for instance, years ago revealed that the thread count free from weaving imperfections such as extra yarns are woven in to strengthen the in 21 nationally advertised first quality uneven yarns or thick and thin places. edge.

April 1947 11 :

Ironing folds down the center of the sheet

is also bad. Folds pressed by the iron are further pressed down in storage by the weight of the piled sheets. All this pres- sure tends to break the threads of the sheet along the fold. If you are troubled by having your sheets shrink up too short to give good service, try ironing them lengthwise instead of across. Continued ironing in one direc- tion makes the sheet longer that way and shorter the other. Part of the loss of

length, however, is due to shrinkage. As

sheets are rarely, if ever, preshrunk, al- lowance should be made for shrinkage when buying sheets. On windy days take sheets off the line as soon as they are dry. Flapping in a

stiff breeze whips out the hems. This damage may be slight at first but becomes

serious if sheets snap and crack all day Yanking is hard on sheet and sleeper. Tall guys need long sheets. long in a strong wind. Don't use sheets for laundry bags. This still they are uncomfortable The hems on high quality sheets are bed. Worse practice subjects them to unnecessary and don't wear well. A sheet that pulls turned evenly and closed at the ends. The strains—snags, tears, dirt and spots. wads up is more likely to stitching is fine and threads fastened out of place and Don't put your freshly laundered sheets than one held down firmlv and securely. be torn on the top of the pile and wear them to While hemstitching is sometimes used smoothly. shreds while the others rest at the bottom it's a good rule always to know the to make the hems more attractive, the So of the pile. It's better management to size of the sheet you need before you go thrifty buyer would do well to remember keep all your sheets on the job in turns you're not sure, measure the that this adds to the cost and shortens the shopping. If than to overwork some and let others thickness of your mattress and wear of the sheet. Often breaks occur in size and gather dust on the shelf. for generous tuck ins. the hemstitching and the entire hem rips allow Lots of trouble? At first, perhaps. Sheets 99 to 108 inches long (torn off. Most sheets have a 3-inch hem at one But soon the essential points for wise the most satisfactory for gen- end with a 1-inch hem on the other. Some length) are buying and care of bed "linens" becomes Satisfactory widths percale and fine count sheets have a four eral household use. an automatic part of the thrifty house- sheets are: 63 inches for single beds; inch hem on one end. If that's the case, for wife's routine. And a very worthwhile twin or three-quarter beds; be sure the sheet was an inch longer in the 72 inches for money-saving habit at that! for double beds. first place to make up for the wider hem. and 81 inches Otherwise you'll be indulging in the lux- Making Sheets Last Longer ury of a wide hem at the expense of the serv- length of the sheet. First rule for getting the maximum When buying sheets with colored hems ice out of sheets, then, is to buy them individual needs. be sure they carry labels guaranteeing that carefully to fit your TRU-LABEL Proper care of the sheets after they are the color is fast. SHEETS As bleaching weakens fabric slightly, bought is also essential. FIRST QUALITY ^INSPECTED unbleached sheets are somewhat stronger Following are some pointers on the care TORN SIZE BEFORE HEMMING X inches than others of the same quality that have of sheets turned part TENSILE STRENGTH been bleached. To most people, how- Sheets wear better if they are Ibs.perinch FILLING Ibs.per inch to the narrow hem WARP ever, the greater attractiveness of white of the time so as have That's because the sheets more than compensates for the slight at the head of the bed. THREAD COUNT between the center of the — WARP BY FILLING loss in durability. most wear comes and the pillow. That's the spot Size is another important factor in the bed WEIGHT OZ. PER SO. YD. the shoulders serviceability of sheets. They should be where the sheet is rubbed by OIVE THE FACTS CO. MFRS. long enough and wide enough so that the of the person sleeping on it. on the bed- HoNESTYVILLE, AnYSTATE under sheet can be tucked in well under Guard against rough places y ends of bed springs which the mattress all the way around. The top stead or exposed Mattress pads U.S.A. sheet should tuck in securely at the foot often cause snags and tears. and mattresses. and sides of the bed and turn back far protect both sheets launder- enough over the covers to protect them. Avoid use of strong bleaches in injure sheets. ideal label would give the above facts. Skimpy sheets don't look right on the ing. Too hot irons also An Consumers' guide 12 —

Not much garden space is required to provide the average family with an ample A few well-chosen herbs stock of savory herbs. Usually one short row or a few feet of a row for each of the

• The wise cook knows her herbs, and tips for growing them are outlined in a annual plants or a half a dozen plants of the perennials will suffice. whether the object is economy or luxury. recent United States Department of Agri- is any special aptitude required for Yet despite all the scientific progress in culture publication, Savory Herbs, Culture Nor cookery during this generation, many and Use. (In case you're interested, you growing the ordinary herbs. They thrive modern-day cooks do not know as much can get a copy for 10 cents by writing the under the same conditions as vegetables. about savory plants as did their grand- Superintendent of Documents, Govern- A few require a bit of coddling to assure mothers before them. ment Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. the proper soil-moisture conditions. Sage, rosemary, and thyme, for Fortunately it's not too late to learn. for a copy of Farmers' Bulletin No. 1977.) example, require well-drained, moderately moist soil, while Now is a topping time in fact, since high For a start, the herb garden should celery, living-costs put a premium on cooking include the six herbs which the French parsley, chervil and the mints do best on soils that retain thrift— and herbs have a witching way of appreciatively call "les fines herbes." considerable transforming plain everyday dishes into The six plants which have received the moisture but have good drainage. The exotic viands. accolade from the renowned cooks of majority of herbs are not finicky, however, One excellent method of learning about France are: sweet basil, chervil, sweet growing sturdily under a wide range of soil conditions. herbs is to grow them. Indeed, no home marjoram, thyme, rosemary, and tarragon. garden should be without its plot of The complete list of herbs for the be- When winter comes, persistent herb savory plants, in the opinion of herb ginner's garden follows: (To help the cook gardeners can even move a part of their specialists at the United States Depart- use them skillfully after they are grown garden indoors. There's a trick to it ment of Agriculture. and harvested, the plants are divided into though, as the annual varieties of herbs "give in The beginner is advised to start by types.) normally up the ghost" the fall planting a few well chosen herbs. Ex- Herbs for the Beginner after they have blossomed and produced pensive mistakes can thus be avoided, seed. To coax them to grow indoors dur- Pungent herbs: Rosemary, sage, winter while the herb amateur masters the fun- ing the winter it's necessary to plant some savory. damentals of herb culture and use before of the seed outdoors early enough in the Herbs strong enough for accent: Sweet attempting the endless refinements. These fall so that the new plants can be success- basil, dill, mint, sweet marjoram, tarragon refinements, by the way, challenge the fully transplanted before frost. Perennials (French), thyme (English or French). best skill of horticultural and culinary such as chive, geranium, thyme, mint, Herbs especially good in blends: Chervil, connoisseurs and fill volumes of books, rosemary, sage, and sweet marjoram are chive, parsley, summer savory. r ancient and modern, mystic and practical. mo e easily grown indoors during the As the gardener becomes familiar with winter. What To Plant? the quirks of herb culture and masters the

About a dozen kinds of herbs are enough art of using them skillfully in cooking, Herb Harvest for starting an herb garden, advise the additional herbs may be added to the gar- This doesn't mean that a winter herb experts. That many are needed in order den, a few at a time. Useful additions to garden is necessary to assure a steady, to provide a suitable array of flavors for the small herb garden include: Anise, year-round supply of homegrown herbs. use singly and in blends. Many more caraway, celery, coriander, costmary, cu- On the contrary, the fragrant ha-vest would likely prove confusing to the novice min, fennel, garlic, lemon balm, lovage, including seeds, leaves, flowering tops, or herbalist, so are not recommended. mints of other varities and species, Italian even roots, as the case may be, of the dif- A suggested list of herbs for beginners broadleaf parsley, and pot marjoram. ferent plants—can be cured and stored away for later use. Tender leaf herbs which have a high moisture content must be dried quickly in the dark in order to retain their attractive green color. Among the herbs in this class are basil, costmary, tarragon, lemon balm, and the mints. A touch of sun while drying doesn't affect the color of the less succulent leaf herbs, such as sage, rosemary, thyme, and summer savory. Too long exposure to the sunlight should be avoided even for these, however. As for herb seeds, they should be harvested when mature and thoroughly dried before storing. Some herbs—such as sage, lemon balm, and rosemary —can best be propagated by stem Storing has its fine points too. The old cuttings. Others grow readily from seed. This box is for rooting cuttings. colonial custom of hanging bunches of

April 1947 13 savory plants from the rafters of kitchen been developed they were used to drown Perhaps, she craves to make an extra or pantry is outmoded. Not so pictur- out the odor of putrification, as well as special event out of a beef roast. Then esque but more efficient is the present prac- to add spice to the food. she may glamorize it by spreading finely tice of filing the various herbs neatly away Cooking with herbs is an art, say the chopped fresh marjoram leaves or powder- in separate and tightly closed containers, cooks. Hence it is best learned by patient, ed dry marjoram over its surface. designed to in the flavor and out painstaking practice, rather than any keep keep by Instead of fish, plain and unadorned, she light. cut-and-dried formula. suc- the To become a may wish to add a pleasing flavor by using Reason behind this system is simple and cessful herb artiste, interest, imagination, dill butter or finely chopped dill, basil, experimentation needed. logical. The flavor and odor of the and are or tarragon leaves. And she may very various herbs is for the part due to a pictures, tastes for herb flavor- most As with profitably add a dash of powdered thyme volatile essential oil in individuals. or contained the ing vary with However, to her usual clam chowder recipe. leaves, seeds, and fruits. If this is per- long experience has developed certain When a bit of change from the familiar mitted to evaporate, then the herbs lose guiding principles. For example, some egg dishes is desired, an agreeable varia- much of their flavor. Sunlight fades the herbs blend harmoniously with almost tion may be achieved with the use of a color of herbs, hence the need to store any food, while others blend with only a blend of one of the "fine herbs" used as an them in the dark or in light-proof con- few. Interesting flavor effects may be accent in combination with one of the less tainers. For the best results, then, herb obtained by combining a leading flavor stridently flavored herbs or with just a culturists are advised to play the miser with two or three others that mingle with suggestion of another "fine herb" flavor. with their savory plants and lock them it almost imperceptibly. Herbs should not be overlooked in mix- away until it's time to cook a tasty dish. For the adventurous cook, herbs offer ing salads or cooking vegetables. Basil This is not to belittle the use of herbs endless opportunity for dressing up famil- leaves, either fresh or dry, give distinction for their fragrance. Indeed, it was a iar dishes in new and exciting ways. But to tomato dishes, cucumbers, and green custom in medieval times to strew the there are pitfalls, too, as too strong salads. anise leaves are particularly floors of churches and of private homes flavors, clumsily blended can result in an Fresh in apple salad. boiling cab- with sweet-smelling plants. While this unpleasant taste. good When or potatoes in their jackets, a was probably done partly in an attempt to They add zest to meats, eggs, and fish, bage few seeds of caraway be added. blot out the evil odors that resulted from give distinction to soups, character to may the primitive lack of sanitation, still it's salads, piquancy to desserts, and a special Mints and balms lend a pleasing aroma a pretty thought that our ancestors joyed tang to teas and other beverages and flavor to beverages. Curly mint, to walk on scented leaves and rubbed their apple mint, orange mint, spearmint, lemon Flavors To Suit Your Taste furniture with aromatic herbs. But that's balm, or lemon thyme, add a pleasing Even while abiding by a few simple a story in itself, quite apart from the accent to tea, whether it's served steaming rules, the cook with a well-filled herb chest culinary uses of savory plants. or in a tall frosted glass. Or refreshing is free to create an almost endless variety drinks may be brewed from the herbs Cooking With Herbs of new flavor combinations to suit her own alone and the brew of lemon balm or tantalizing odor of herbs is, how- particular taste and that of her family. The mint quaffed with lemon or sugar. ever, an important factor in their use in If she wants her fresh ham roast to One of the best ways for beginners to cooking. We use them among other masquerade as turkey, for instance, she learn to use herbs is by making herb things to add a pungent or subtle aroma can rub it with powdered sage before cook- butter. Fresh, unsalted butter is best for to our foods. But in the days before ing and serve it with a pan of dressing this purpose, because it readily absorbs the modern methods of had that's flavored with poultry seasoning. subtle flavors of the herbs, but salted butter, margarine, pork drippings, and rendered chicken fat can also be used.

If fresh herbs are used, they should be cut finely and blended with the butter. One well-packed level tablespoon of fresh green herbs, such as parsley or chive, is enough to flavor 4 tablespoons of butter.

If dried herbs are used, }i teaspoonful will do the trick. Dried herbs may be allowed to stand for a few minutes with a little lemon juice before mixing with the butter. Let stand for several days in small covered jars in the refrigerator. Before serving on broiled or fried meats, add a touch of lemon juice. Herb butter also adds an interesting variation to the usual flavor of boiled, poached, or scrambled eggs and makes an intriguing sandwich spread, if a dash of lemon is added.

Consumers' guide New Clothing Developments Studied Textile Labels PLUS schools reported an acceptance rate above

Latest answers to the eternal clothing Consumers must remember to read the 80 percent while 10 schools reported that problem were studied by State Extension descriptive legends which accompany trade- 90 percent of the pupils drank the milk.

Clothing Specialists from 41 States and marked labels if they want to know the In cases where the teacher drank the Puerto Rico in an intensive 2-weeks re- fiber content of the fabrics they are buying. milk and showed signs of liking the milk, fresher course, February 17 through March This is the message implied by a recent response of the children was more favorable

1. After hearing experts from government decision of the Federal Trade Commission. than in instances where the beverage was and industry give their opinions on the In allowing the continued use of the trade- merely handed out to the children. Ex- clothing outlook at the opening sessions mark " Alpacuna" the commission directed planation of the food value of milk also in the Department of Agriculture in Wash- that "in immediate connection and con- tended to increase the acceptance rate. In ington, D. C, the group took a quick tour junction therewith, wherever used, there schools where a large percentage of the of a number of government research labora- appear words clearly and conspicuously pupils did not accept the reconstituted tories and some textile plants to get the designating all the constituent materials milk at first, it was found that the record low-down on new developments. or fibers therein contained." could be improved markedly by adding flavorings to the milk chocolate, vanilla, The flood of new clothing materials and The trade-mark name had been used ex- — fruit juices, spice or syrups, for instance. new finishes for old fibers appearing on the tensively on men's overcoating which However, in Alabama acceptance market has posed consumers with addi- contained alpaca, wool, mohair and cotton, where of the reconstituted milk was unusually tional buying problems at the same time but no vicuna fiber. good, ranging from 92 to 100 percent in it has presented them with a wider range the four schools reporting, the of choice, according to a number of speak- milk was Dry Milk Tried in School Lunches reconstituted with water and no flavoring ers. With so many synthetic textiles on was added. the market, for example, the various fibers Good results have been reported from a are no longer easily identified by sight or recent experiment in the interest of good simple household tests. Similarly with eating, whereby the Department of Agri- Plans for National Arboretum Progressing culture finishes, the buyer can't tell by looking at distributed nonfat dry milk solids A blueprint for developing the National to a number of schools in milk deficit areas. a fabric how it will stand up—whether a Arboretum into a great "library of living The dry milk was donated primarily for "flame resistant" finish will survive wash- plants" for use by students and plant beverage use in schools participating in ing, or a "rain repellant" coat can go scientists throughout the world has beei. the National School Lunch Program and successfully to the cleaners, or a wrinkle presented to Secretary of Agriculture Clin- only to those unable to obtain fresh fluid P. resistant fabric will only resist wrinkles ton Anderson by the National Arbore- milk in their area. tum Advisory Council. while it's young. A summary of reports received up to the If the plans recommended to the Secre- Importance of factual labels giving this middle of February indicates that school tary of Agriculture by the Council, are information to aid the buyer in getting authorities were enthusiastic about the developed, the National Arboretum would the right fabric for her needs and to help dry milk program. Georgia teachers, for become a clearing house for the some 125 her give it the proper care after she buys example, observed that the children ate arboretums and botanical gardens scattered it was underlined. their lunches much better since milk had throughout the United States and would Interest the of Extension specialists in been served. Increased participation in be available to scientists who could use its the clothing problem stems from the fact the lunch program as a result of including facilities for research on hardy economic that the question is a big one in the lives milk with the lunches was noted in another and ornamental outdoor trees and shrubs. of farm families. It's State. a 855 million dollar Also encouraged by results of the Although it was established by an Act question, in fact, as measured by clothing experiment, several States now plan to of Congress in 1927, and located on a 395- expenditures of farm operator families offer this type of milk to other schools in acre tract in the District of Columbia, so back in 1941. In addition, a large number milk-deficit areas. far only preliminary work has been done farm of families have a special interest in Acceptance of the reconstituted milk as in developing the National Arboretum, general developments in the clothing field, a beverage varied widely among the 22 except for the planting of collections of as they produce raw products from which schools reporting—from 56 percent accept- young, rare plants which are being col- clothing is made—wool, cotton, hides. ance to 100 percent. Thirteen of the 22 lected from all over the world.

April 1947 15 fighting, accidents sometimes happen to

fire fighters in mountain wildernesses far GUIDE POSTS beyond the road's end. Also, sickness sometimes strikes suddenly in spots out of reach of motor roads or even pack trails. To meet this very real problem, the Myriad uses made of animal byproducts Forest Service has now added a parachut- are outlined in a recent issue of Domestic ing doctor to its staff. The flying doctor Commerce. Following are some examples: is employed on a consultative basis and Not only are the bones of animals used will be available to go on call by plane in animal feed, but also small quantities and parachute anywhere in the northern of bone are used in the manufacture of Rocky Mountain Region. baby food. The new "para-doctor" was trained at The glands many of them essential to — the Forest Service "smoke jumper" train- life are used to make medicines. One of — ing center. the most familiar uses of gland products "Smoke jumpers," by the way, are the is that by persons who have diabetes and brave lads who parachute down to fight need insulin. The pancreatic glands of forest fires in inaccessible mountain coun- about 80,000 to 100,000 animals are re- try. They pioneered in learning to jump quired to make a single pound of insulin. in wooded terrain—so much so, in fact, pound of insulin goes a long way, A that many of the techniques used by the Plenty of Pie Room however, being sufficient to supply ap- "smoke jumpers" were included in the proximately diabetics for 1 year at an When building a house, it's well to 550 training of our paratroopers during the average units a think of baking a pie—or stirring up a rate of 50 day. war. frothy cake, per chance. If you crave home-baked bread, pie, and cake, that is, Bur Brushed and want to consider the cook. Showers to Order Baking requires more working space Had you thought of brushing your best Hops production on many Oregon farms than any other ordinary day-to-day cook- coat with burs? No? It's just as well has hopped up 25 to 40 percent above ing process. What's more, a liberal space because you probably wouldn't do a good previous yields, thanks to made-to-order it. finest showers. allowance makes the job easier. job of But many of our fabrics are brushed with burs to produce the soft When the hops need a bit of rain, the A minimum counter surface of 24 by 36 nap finish which adds so much to their farmers turn on a sprinkler irrigation inches is required for preparing baked warmth and attractive appearance. The system and the plants take a drink. The goods, studies by the Bureau of Human machine-driven steel brushes used to raise hops seem to like the synthetic rain and Nutrition and Home Economics have the nap of most fabrics do not have the farmers do too. Today an estimated shown. However, an area 24 by 42 inches enough "give" for broadcloth, camel-hair 5,000 to 7,000 acres in the Willamette is more convenient for the cook. cloth for topcoats, fine wool blankets and Valley are under this system of irrigation, The kitchen is the most used workshop many other industrial fabrics. For these whereas 10 years ago farmers depended in the farm home. In fact, farm house- the burs of the teasel plant are used. The on luck and the weatherman to deliver wives spend between a third and a half stiff, prickly burs are arranged on a revol- rain when needed. The new irrigation of their working time in the kitchen. ving cylinder and the hooked spines do practice is an outgrowth of experimental

their work as the cloth passes over it. work done by the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Everything but the Squeal These burs are not ordinary wild teasels, but Fuller's teasel, natives of southern The larger yields of hops produced by Refrigeration has helped meat packers Europe, where they have been textile Oregon farmers in 1945 netted them extra save everything but the squeal. assistants, as it were, from ancient times. cash to the tune of more than $690,000. spoilage in the days before To avoid Only about a dozen experienced growers refrigeration, meat animals destined most are in the teasel business. Some are pro- for slaughter had to be shipped alive to duced in Oregon where the climate is were to con- LISTEN TO points near where they be favorable, but most are imported. In CONSUMER TIME sumed. This method was wasteful. Not 1939, the last year before teasel imports Every Saturday— Coast to Coast only was it expensive to ship the animals from Europe were cut off, we imported over N. B. C. 12:15 p. m. EST such long distances, but also it. was diffi- 48,962 pounds. During the war a small 11:15 a. m. CST cult to reclaim of the byproducts 10:15 a. m. MST many supply came in from the Argentine. because the slaughterhouses were scattered 9:15 a. m. PST and refrigeration facilities lacking. Dramatizations, interviews, questions and answers Parachuting Doctor on consumer problems. Tune in. Under those conditions it wasn't eco- Brought to you by the nomically practical to build up the vast How to get a doctor in the mountains, byproduct industry that has developed but quick? U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE since meat packing became centralized. Despite all their skill and care in fire

16 Consumers' guide May 1947

Consumers' guide

E3 R A R Y

MAY 1 2 1947 VOLUME XIII NUMBER 5 MAY 1947 janitor or workman employed around the school during the summer. For example, the installation of inexpensive In this issue: an hand sink will make it unnecessary for kitchen Vacation plans for school lunch 2 Look out for forest fires 10 employees to use the food sink for washing to 10 million mouths 3 for How feed Food peace 13 their hands. Paint jobs can freshen up So your community wants a hospital 5 Close up on the News 15 storage room or parts of the kitchen that Saving ways 8 Guide posts 16 have suffered through use during the past

ILLUSTRATIONS: Cover, OWl; pp. 3, 4, Departments of Markets; p. 6, upper left, Federal Works Administration, term. others, OWl; p. 8, PMA; p. 10, drawing, K. J. Burdette, Forest Service; pp. 11, 12, Forest Service; p. 13, International And there are plans to be polished up

Council; right, Wide World Photos, left, Emergency Food p. 14, UNRRA; p. 15, USDA; p. 16, drawings, K. J. now for the school-community canning Burdette. projects in which the school and com- munity groups work together to preserve locally grown foods for next year's school

lunches. It is a good time too to decide Vacation Plans For School Lunch to keep the school lunch supervisor on through the summer to help make the • The end of the school year isn't far of drainage, water supply and power. canning program get top results. By off. the last bell rings millions of There may be some moving around of When undertaking such a program the most children will whoop away into their sum- existing equipment that will save time nutritious and tasty fruits and vegetables vacations, hundreds of thousands of and labor costs. With everyone still on mer can be obtained by processing them where teachers will leave their school's com- duty, from cook to school superintendent, they are grown at the peak of their per- munity for the long holiday. Parent- problems of cross traffic, that make for fection. Not only that, such a community Teacher Associations will become less more work and less efficient work, can endeavor widens the market for locally organizations will turn their be ironed out observing the difficulties active, civic by grown produce. The food budget should attention to projects other than the school. while still in action. be prepared well in advance of the can- So these last few weeks of May are an Often a rearrangement of the equip- ning season and now be given a final time for schools having a lunch ment, can during the sum- excellent which be done review. program, or schools considering starting mer, will remedy the bad situation. The budget should be based upon the one, to crystallize their plans for the com- Experiences of the year may have estimated number of children that will be year. those that have a lunch proven that steps were wasted ing For many by eating school lunches, the type of the operating, these days are invalu- those employed in the kitchen because program lunch to be served, and the amount and able for making a survey of the past year's of the bad placement of a sink or range. variety of canned fruits and vegetables Plans for the coming year can be Alterations of this sort can be easily made work. needed to supplement fresh produce while teachers, students, during the summer. better made through the coming school year. The sponsors, and workers can still bring their All concerned with the project can look plan should call for plenty of food but not suggestions together. to see other items for good house- ideas and whether over-stocking. Not enough should be costs can be checked against labor keeping are in order. Is there a place on Food put by so that canned food will be used to miscellaneous costs to determine if the soiled dish table for collecting gar- and the exclusion of fresh foods that are also line. If one is out of bal- bage? Is there space for a garbage con- any are out of needed. A check can be made too on the ance it may be that the cause can be deter- tainer at the preliminary food unit? And sources of food—whether the produce is quickly and measures worked out is the flyproof place outside the kitchen mined to be grown locally, contracted for from for correcting the difficulty before the for holding the garbage in good order? abundant producing areas of the State, or next term. It is a good thing to check the lights canned on a share basis with a State or Perhaps it will be found that the pur- too while the lunch room is a going con- county home which has its own farm. chase of a potato peeler would cut down cern. Fixtures should be placed so that cost over a period of time. If this is so, the areas in which work is being done are a check should be made now on the price adequately lighted. Lights over serving of the potato peeler, not forgetting to in- tables can be shaded and made more clude installation costs. The most efficient effective for the display of food. place in the kitchen can be decided on so Sanitation factors too can be checked, that when it is installed, during the and directions for improvements of un- summer, it will be located in proper reach sanitary operations may be made by the

CONSUMERS' GUIDE Monthly consumers' guide is printed with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget as w required by Rule 42 of the Joint Committee on Printing Official free distribution A Publication of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is iimited. Additional copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington D. copy, or by Washington, D. C. 25, C, 5 cents a subscription, 50 cents a year, domestic; 70 cents a year, foreign. Postage stamps

Editor, Ben James; associate editors, Anne Carter, Elizabeth Spence; art, K. J. will not be accepted in payment. Burdette.

2 Consumers' guide How to feed 10 million mouths . . .

from most all the States of the Union. This is the daily task of NewYork City's The State of New York ranks first crowded wholesale markets. Other among the States in which this produce originates, California comes next, and towns and cities have their market Florida third. These tens of thousands of carloads of facility problems too. fresh produce that arrive in New Yoik City constitute nearly 12 percent of the total commercial production of fresh fruits * New York's most exciting, late night 50 percent of the produce is brought in by and vegetables in the United States. life isn't found under the glitter of Times train and this must be ferried across the Among the commodities accounted for Square. In fact, about the time the signs Hudson on car floats from the New Jersey in these huge shipments of food, potatoes of Broadway are being dimmed, this other side, unloaded at the piers, trucked across rank first with the largest number of night life really gets underway in a little the cobbled highway and laid down at freight carloads. Oranges were a close area at the silent tip of lower Manhattan the market. second, with apples, lettuce, and tomatoes Island. It is only 2 blocks wide. Its one- There's no planned reason for the use of following. With these leaders came 44 half mile in length is bordered on the west this expensive land, and for these frantic varieties of fresh fruits and 73 varieties of by piers that jut out into the Hudson packed-jammed little streets being the fresh vegetables. River. On the east are the dark towers of greatest focal point of intake of fruits and Although there are 12 other New York New York's skyscrapers. vegetables for New York and the sur- City markets as well as different railroad, Into its cramped streets lined by squatty, rounding areas. None of the buildings steamship terminals, and chain-store ware- ramshackle, brick buildings the greater was designed for marketing. No streets houses, more than two-thirds of the produce part of the perishable foods that will feed were laid out to handle traffic. The mar- is handled at the old Washington Street the New York area's 10,000,000 people, ket just started there and grew. Dealers stand. when day breaks, is brought in and dis- took over buildings, warehouses, tene-

tributed. It is the Washington Street ments and the like that had been erected Inefficient marketing conditions of this Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market. a century ago and the institution carried sort are of vital importance to the con- Here every night, by truck, by boat, and on. sumer, the farmer, the wholesaler, and the by train food pours in. Horse drawn drays, Yet into this ancient area nightly comes retailer. Old fashioned or inadequate facil- and push carts jockey their way through fruit and lettuce from the West Coast, ities add extra labor costs and other the trucks. Transcontinental trucks and citrus from Florida, early cucumbers from charges to the movement of the goods. the small ones of nearby farmers jostle the Louisiana, apples from up-State New Every one loses. The consumer pays trucks of local jobbers and merchants and York, eggs and produce from the farms of more or does not buy; the farmer sells less retailers that come to carry away the in- the Midwest, melons from the South, than he would if the extra costs were not coming loads to the retail stores. potatoes from Maine and Idaho. In fact, tacked on to the selling price. To add to the excitement of the scene there are truly truck crops of all sorts When it is considered that the total cost of distributing the fruits and vege- tables after they reach New York City are almost as much as the cost of producing and transporting them to the city the im-

portance of savings at this point is evident.

New York is not alone when it comes to having a market facility problem to solve. Marketing facilities are links in a moving chain that conveys food from the farm to the kitchen. These facilities are represented by the clapboard shelters along country railway sidings where farmers bring in their crops for sorting into loads sized right for shipment. The warehouses of canneries and processing plants in pro- ducing areas handling the fresh crops are links as well as big terminal markets. In

strength these facilities range all Market facilities range all the way from great terminal markets to push carts. Push cart the way markets in New York are now off the street and have their own improved facilities. from weak to inadequate.

May 1947 3 The U. S. Department of Agriculture sure of time, and when labor was scarce, This consultation service provided by made a survey of terminal markets in 20 the failures of our marketing setup were the Department of Agriculture lasts until

cities serving metropolitan populations of brought into dramatic focus. Farm trade the work is completed. Last year this totaling some 40 million people. These groups, civic organizations, Chambers of service was requested by State and local Commerce, and State and city officials marketing people in about 25 cities. Al- markets handled more than 800,000 car- recognized more acutely than ever before though the difficulty and the cost of still loads of fruits and vegetables annually. that something must be done. obtaining material for the actual con- The survey showed that extensive im- In order to meet the marketing facility struction of the improvements are holding provements were needed in the fruit and problems of varied communities the De- them up, the time is being used in the vegetable wholesale marketing facilities partment of Agriculture, which has for refinement of the plans. In some instances in 15 of the 20 cities. Thirteen markets years been studying marketing facilities it was found that buildings of old fair- lacked direct railway connections. Eight throughout the country, brought together grounds were suitable for conversion into cities had duplicate markets owned by specialists in all facets of the work. marketing facilities. The use of them the railways, 20 cities contained 64 sepa- Specialists in handling, storing, trans- resulted in a saving of $300,000. Interest rate markets, 11 cities were found to be porting, displaying, and distributing too is State-wide in a number of con- handling an excessive amount of produce various commodities were assembled. So templated projects. Marketing people in by hand, 11 were handicapped by excessive too were experts in designing marketing one State are working out plans for a hauling. Traffic conditions were too con- structures, planning lay-outs, and installing State-wide system of concentration—and gested in 15 of the cities, and two-thirds equipment for a truely efficient market. terminal—marketing facilites. of the markets were in old poorly designed These experts can supply advice on and In still another State, farmers want a store buildings. plans for construction and improvements survey made of marketing facilities for The job of getting more up-to-date, on all kinds of markets from an adequate fruit, vegetables, poultry, and eggs. efficient, and less costly marketing facili- shelter shed on the right of way near a When the State marketing authority ties in large terminals is a big one. An village railroad station, to a vast terminal requested the service and city officials and out-grown, out-moded terminal is expen- market equipped for receiving trucks, farm and trade groups agreed, the De- sive for everyone from consumer to farmer trains, and ships and equipment for the partment undertook the study that has and puts extra charges on the public as a warehousing and distributing of all types resulted in the assembly of economic in- whole. And, the actual work of reorgan- of commodities. formation upon which a working project izing and reestablishing up-to-date mar- Their services are available for solving can be built. The site is already being keting facilities is too big for any single these problems from the beginning. They considered. group to undertake. The jobbers and investigate the producing areas, the type And the legislature of a Southern State wholesalers can't do it alone, the rail- of transportation, and the best possible recently worked with the representatives roads can't do it alone, nor can the con- site for the market. They advise on con- of the Department of Agriculture and State sumers and farmers. It is a public prob- struction costs and operating costs. They officials to prepare a bill, which was passed, lem and responsibility. figure the chances of paying off the in- appropriating $550,000 for a centrally During the war when vast quantities of vestment in a reasonable time as estimated located market, the contract for which food had to be moved under heavy pres- against the sources of income. has already been let.

A small fruit and vegetable stand in New Yo rk's Essex Street Trainloads of fruit are brought to lower Manhattan by car floats. Market takes the place of push cart market facilities. At Erie Railroad Terminal pier, wholesalers are buying.

4 Consumers' guide — So your community wants a hospital

Now is a good time to try for one. The Hospital Survey and Construction Act was recently passed by Congress

to help you. Here are a few pointers on how it will work, and what you can do to get started. ????

• Perhaps you belong in one of the thous- ands of communities where "If we only

had a hospital ..." is an oft-spoken wish. Or perhaps yours is a family where, "If the hospital hadn't been so far away ..." brings bitter memory of tragedy that might have been avoided. There are thousands and thousands like you. And now something is being done about your application for funds to the Surgeon Gen- regarding the recommendations for them. situation. eral of the U. S. Public Health Service. If These hearings are important to you. Our country has started on the greatest he approves it, the State is entitled to They bring the question of whether or not hospital program ever undertaken by any receive funds for one-third the estimated your community gets a hospital to a point nation. There's a chance that your com- costs of its survey and planning, provided where you can put in your oar. Up to now munity may get its wish at last. this amount falls within the State's allot- things have been happening, but you The Hospital Survey and Construction ment. (Allotments for the survey are couldn't get at them. Now your commu-

Act is exactly what its name says it is: An made on a basis of State population.) nity can speak its piece. For if the master act to find out what hospital facilities Surveys are already completed in 34 of the construction plan shows that any types of

there arc in this country, and to help build 52 States and Territories and underway in hospital or health center is recommended

new ones or additions to present hospitals practically all others. for an area including your community it's where they are most needed. Congress The completed survey will show, among really up to you to mobilize for action. has authorized an appropriation of 375 many other statistical and technical things,

million dollars to build hospitals and what hospitals, clinics, and health centers What the Rural Community Can Do health centers during the next 5 years. are in operation, where they are, and You can determine what your health Uncle Sam will put up one-third of the cost most important to you—where they situation is and make recommendations on of your hospital. It's up to you to get the aren't. We know from the U. S. Public ways to improve it. This will require other two-thirds. Health Service and from the Bureau of the community organization and work on a Of course, it isn't as simple as that Census that 40 percent of our 3,000 coun- big scale. sounds. It couldn't be. This is just to ties, representing 15 million people, have give you the idea For even if the entire no registered hospitals. We know, too, You must show also that you can raise two-thirds to match the 375 million were that 4 out of every 10 counties have no full two-thirds of the money for construction raised, the total which would be one bil- time public health centers. But now we to match the one-third to be provided by lion, 125 million dollars— would not be are going to know what even the smallest Federal funds, and that you can support a enough to build all the hospitals we need. community requires. The State agency hospital or community clinic of the type

So where will they be built? Which are to is responsible for publishing the results of indicated for you on the construction plan.

be the lucky communities? the survey. What if you desperately want the The answer lies first of all with the Next step after completion of the survey hospital, the survey shows you need, but

State. If a State or Territory wants its is to draw up what is called a "master are forced to accept the fact that you can-

. citizens to share in the benefits of this construction plan " It will be worked out not afford it? Think back to the days National Hospital Program it will, as soon in cooperation with local communities, to when the consolidated high schools were

as possible, designate an official State meet the needs shown by the survey. This first introduced into rural communities. agency to conduct the work and appoint plan must be published, too. Hearings Every village with a one-room school an advisory council to assist them. will be held at which communities will couldn't have a high school. They finally This State agency may then submit an have the opportunity to offer suggestions saw that they had to get together.

May 1947 —

So it will be with hospitals and com- There's something else you can do. next step up is the district hospital. This munity clinics. Several communities or You can apply to your State legislature will be a large hospital of 200 beds or more even counties can combine to build a rural for State aid for construction and mainte- of the type usually called "General Hos- hospital at some central trade center. Or nance. Four States, New York, Missis- pital" and almost always located in a city. if that is out of reach, a smaller group of sippi, North Carolina, and California, Above the district hospital and the communities can get together to build and have contributed from one-third to two- mainspring of the whole regional plan will support a community clinic. This is the thirds of the costs to help some of their be a base hospital. A base hospital is smallest unit in the plan—a sort of one- poorer and less populated counties with usually attached to a medical school, and 100m school in the hospital program hospital plans. has at its disposal the services of specialists and is planned to serve areas which could "Rural Hospital" is the term applied to in all fields. When the whole program is not justify a 40 to 50 bed hospital. any hospital of less than 100 beds, in a non- working, a patient might be sent from the

What if, even then, it's obvious that metropolitan area. It and the community little out-of-the-way community clinic on all of you together can't raise two-thirds clinic are the two units which will affect up to the base hospital for expert diagnosis of the price for the hospital you need, not rural communities most directly. In the and treatment of his case. to mention proving you can support it? master construction plan for a region, the It will all be one system, with internes

Many rural and small-town communities would be happy to have This X-ray clinic is operated in connection with a housing project a hospital like this 100-bed establishment at Sylacauga, Ala. in Chicago. Few rural groups have protection of this kind.

This brave rural citizen can take it! Anti-tick serum given at the These farm people in Arizona are lucky. They already have a FSA farm labor camp will make the woods safer for him. hospital. Thousands of other communities are not so fortunate.

Consumers' guide — — and student nurses from the base hospital What the figures do not show, but what They will know what your State agency frequently getting part of their experience U. S. Public Health Service knows to be is and how to find out about the construc- in the smaller hospitals and community- true, is that not only are there fewer doc- tion plan. They might be glad to call a clinics. Patients in remote sections will tors in communities without available hos- meeting and explain the plan. Meantime not be at such a loss when serious illness pitals, but they are mostly in the okler age there are a few pamphlets you might get: strikes. They will already have friends brackets and incapable of carrying a large Measuring Your Community for a Hos- up the line who can advise and help them. general practice. pital, by the American Hospital Associa- tion, 18 East Division Street, Closely connected with each of these About fifty thousand doctors and den- Chicago 10, 111. Price cents. units—community clinic, rural hospital, tists have been released from the Army and 25 district hospital, and base hospital —will Navy. Plans for even the smallest unit, The following are free from your State agency: be a health center. Thus, for the first the community clinic, should include office Planning the Hospital Be. time in history there will be provided an space for doctor and dentist. To opportunity to combine preventive and Public Health Centers. The terms of the act do not include this. curative medical service and to demon- Hospitals—Coordinated Hospital Serv- It will be for the community to decide strate that the basis of any health program ice plan. whether or not they wish to offer this. is preventive. Planning for an Integrated Service Farm communities have long realized A Rural Hospital and Health Center. Community Will Benefit that they were handicapped by lack of The District Hospital. doctors and hospitals but except in a few The community where a small hospital Health Centers Designed for Rural Needs. instances they didn't know what to do or community clinic is located will be about it. The prepayment plan tried out practically certain of having a doctor in more than 1,200 counties by the Farm and a good one. One of the drawbacks to Security Administration, now the Farm- rural practice has long been lack of modern ers' Home Administration, has proved facilities. If a doctor has his choice he successful. will settle where there is a hospital within reasonable distance for his patients. The experience will help those counties But don't forget, a doctor has many more to get organized to take advantage of the nonhospital than hospital cases. While Hospital Survey and Construction Act. 1 out of every 10 persons in a community For, although ideally hospitals will go to may be admitted to a hospital during a the places that need them most, actually year, many times that number will call the the communities which organize first will doctor to their homes or see him at his have the best chance. We must face the office. fact that many areas which need hospitals

Studies made by the U. S. Public Health still won't get them. Service just before the war shows that areas After all this perhaps you will say, "It having an average of 4.6 hospital beds per sounds fine, but what can I do?" The

1,000 population had approximately one answer to that is the same as the answer doctor for every 600 persons, while areas to so many questions in rural communities, having less than 1 bed per 1,000 population "Call your County agent, your Farmers had approximately one doctor for every Home Administration representative, or,

1,350 persons. if available, your county health officer." COORDINATED HOSPITAL SYSTEM Ill****** HIM 1*11*11

DISTRICT HOSPITAL

May 1947 7 " SAVING

WAYS....

To help you make the most of your food money and keep diets safe for health.

• May is a between-season time in many parts of the country. Stored supplies from last fall's crops are running out and summer's plenty has not yet arrived. This year, with the general advance in prices of many foods, added to pre-season scant supply, budget-conscious shoppers may not find it easy to make food allow- It takes planning to keep a family of four properly fed on a modest food budget. ances cover all the requirements of good nutrition. To help these economy-minded When you shop for bread and cereals or in a heavy skillet over low heat. housewives make the most of the food dol- remember to choose the brown whole- Putting a "lid" on the stew and baking lar here are a few tips on ways to save on grain or enriched products for their extra it as a pie stretches the servings still far- the basic foods. Some of these suggestions vitamins and iron. Bread made with milk ther. Make the meat pie cover of pastry, are good standard procedures. Others are or milk served with cereals makes a high- or a layer of mashed potatoes, rounds of for use in food and budget emergencies. quality protein combination. biscuit dough, or corn-meal mush brushed To save money, avoid expensive ready- with melted fat—and brown in the oven. Bread and Cereals baked items. A little meat goes a long way also in

One way to prevent bread waste is not stew scalloped with macaroni or spaghetti, Meat and Other Main Dishes to overbuy. Because bread becomes too stew with a border of riced potatoes oi stale for many people's taste in a few days, With meat prices high and food money flaky rice, or between biscuits or buns ar it should be bought in small quantity. limited ingenious homemakers will use meat shortcake or a hot meat sandwich At home keep bread cool and well covered the lessons learned in war years. Choose with gravy. to prevent mold and drying out. The the cheaper grades of meat—Utility and And cereals. A pound of ground meat refrigerator is the best place to store a Commercial—and learn to make one pound makes enough hamburg steak or meat well-wrapped loaf if there is room. taste like two. patties for 4 servings, when broiled or

Otherwise keep it in a ventilated bread Because meat is such a flavorful food, sauteed "straight". But the meat goes box in a cool place. stretch the meat savor as far as possible, farther, and texture is often better, com-

If, in spite of thrifty shopping, bread and step-up appetizing flavor in other bined with milk and bread crumbs, oat- becomes a little too dry for the table it can ways. Here are some flavor-saving possi- meal, or cereal flakes. be put to many uses. Thin slices, dried bilities with "a pound of meat and— out and lightly browned in a slow oven, And seasonings. Well-seasoned stuffings Use the Bones have extra flavor and may be served like are excellent extenders. Garden herbs, You have been hearing a lot the last the melba toast which takes the place of curry powder, and Mexican spices can pep few years about saving every bit of fat bread on tables in many smart restaurants up flavor in dishes sparse in meat. from meat. But have you also considered and hotels. Slightly hard slices of bread And vegetables. Two pounds of lean raw making use of every bone? Bones left also may be used for toasted cheese sand- meat without bone make 5 to 6 servings of from roasts, steaks, chops, or any other wiches and for French toast. a good all-meat stew, but one pound can cut . . . bones from chicken, the knuckle Use crusts and other odds and ends of be combined with vegetables in any de- bone of veal or beef which is the tradi- bread for the supply of crumbs which every sired combination to make that many tional "soupbone," cover any of these cook likes to have on hand. These servings. To bring out the full flavor of bones with water and add vegetable crumbs may be used for coating food for meat in a stew, cut it into small pieces, trimmings to make the "soup stock" , or topping baked dishes, stuffing sprinkle with salt and pepper, roll in flour which is the foundation of more kinds of vegetables and meat, or for such specials and brown in fat, with or without onion. soup than you can count. Bones give the as crumb pie crust, crumb cake and crumb Browning the meat well before adding stock flavor as well as some calcium and cookies. moisture is the flavor trick. Another way protein, especially gelatin. Keep the jar or tin of crumbs covered and to add flavor is to brown the flour to be Fish may also be cheaper than meat and in a cool place to keep the contents dry. used for thickening the gravy, in the oven will give you good protein.

8 Consumers' guide — For other main dishes serve dry beans cinnamon rolls, and sweet quick breads and should always be covered. In these navy, kidney, lima, or soybeans—dry peas occasionally, instead of more sugar-con- days when fat is one of the more precious and lentils. suming cakes and pies. foods, no good-flavored, left-over fat should Grade B and grade C eggs are just as 3- Use fewer or no frostings on cakes. be allowed to become rancid because of nutritious as grade A, and are usually Don't frost the sides. careless keeping. cheaper. 4. Cook cereals with prunes, raisins, or dates, and serve without sugar. Vegetables Milk Use molasses often instead of white sugar If you live where locally grown vege- evaporated or dry milk are cheap- in cooking. Children like it and it's a When tables come to market in May, your pro- er than fluid milk, use them at least part cheap source of iron. Molasses adds flavor blem for this part of your diet is not hard. of the time. can use fresh skim milk and food value to baked beans, ginger- You Choose those in best supply, because they for part the whole milk. It costs less bread, puddings, and bread. of are usually cheapest. Carrots are nearly and gives everything whole milk you always good bargains, and can be used Shortening and Salad Oil are does except vitamin A and fat. They raw or cooked. with the cream. if you use these food, too, wartime experience removed So On Learn to use the leafy tops of young milk, be sure you get vitamin in is profitable for they are still in short skim A beets and turnips. These, like kale, green and yellow vegetables, liver, and supply, and higher in price than they were. spinach, mustard, and collards, are cheap good idea to have in mind you table fats. A when sources of vitamin A. They contain other are planning menus is, Broil or Bake Dry milk (nonfat) will be available in vitamins and iron, too. whenever you can. Don't fry. most retail stores by May. Prepared care- In many parts of the country May is too Avoid small wastes. They can cut fully it can take the place of fresh milk in early for local vegetables. Those you down your supply faster than you think, many dishes. see in the market at that time are shipped the oil that runs over the side of the can or To prepare fluid milk with the powder, in from the South and West. It's hard to is left in the salad bowl; the cooking fat measure cold or warm water into a bowl, resist these fresh green favorites. But if not scraped out carefully when the con- sprinkle the powder over the surface, and your budget says NO, you can take com- tainer is discarded, left in the frying pan, beat until the powder dissolves. Or, the fort in your stock of home-canned foods or spoiled by careless cooking or improper milk powder and water may be shaken in or in the good supply and lower price of storage. Scrape dishes, pans, and con- a tightly closed glass jar or bottle. Do commercially canned vegetables. All tainers of fat carefully. A rubber-tipped not use boiling water. The powder is canned vegetables, except tomatoes, should dish scraper of the type now selling again likely to lump. be easily available this May. Remem- at kitchen supply counters is one of the The liquid milk sours as does fresh milk, bering how we missed them during the best utensils for removing that last bit of and may be used in the same way as other war years, it should be no hardship to fat—or any other food. sour milk or buttermilk. Cottage cheese concentrate on them for awhile. Much fat is wasted by careless cooking. can be made from the clabbered sour milk. Once fat has been scorched, over-heated, Fruit When using dry milk in baking, you can or allowed to become rancid, it is good for mix the powder with other dry ingredients Fruit, too, will be shipped in from the nothing but soap making. In frying, heat and use the proper amount of water for South and West to markets in other parts should always be carefully watched to mixing. For added nourishment, use of the country. If your budget says wait prevent wasteful scorching. more of the dry milk or the same amount till plentiful supplies bring lower prices Careless measurements, hit-and-miss of fluid milk instead of water for mixing. you can be happy that you still have some methods, and unreliable recipes all may of your own handiwork to fall back on or Dry milk can be added to some foods in contribute to fat waste. A carelessly that there is more commercially canned which fluid milk is not normally used, as made cake that turns out an unappetizing fruit for you to choose from than we've in meat dishes. failure, for example, is a waste not only had since 1941. of fat but of precious flour and sugar. Sugar Canned fruit is a sugar saver. It's a

We have more sugar this spring than Drippings—Save Drippings Carefully dessert that doesn't call for the sugar bowl. You can save part of the syrup to sweeten we've had since rationing began, but still To keep its good flavor and prevent sauces and iced drinks. Canned grape- not all we'd like to have. Try these ideas rancidity, fat should be kept cold, covered fruit juice, orange juice, blends of the two, to make your supply go further: and dark. Heat especially, but also air as well as tomato juice are in record supply. 1. Stretch sugar in baked goods with and light hasten the chemical change that They provide an inexpensive way to honey, molasses, corn or other sirups. causes fat to become rancid and inedible. get the daily vitamin C you need in your Honey may replace sugar cup for cup, but Kept near the stove—as is so often the diet. use half the quantity of other liquid called case—and open to air and light, and also for in original recipe—and keep baking to dust and even insects, fat soon becomes temperature moderate. Corn, cane or unfit to eat. Material in this article is based on publi- maple sirups can replace sugar measure for The jar or can in which left-over fat cations of the Bureau of Human Nutrition measure. Reduce liquid by one-third. and drippings are saved should be given and Home Economics and the Office of Infor- 2. Serve sweet yeast breads, such as a permanent location in the refrigerator mation, U. S. Department of Agriculture.

May 1947 9 :

for forest fires

Well-meaning but careless people are responsible for nearly 90 percent of the annual $30,000,000 loss caused by forest fires. Here's how not to start them.

Such carelessness comes high too ! Dur- These losses have been suffered in face of ing recent years about 200,000 forest fires the fact that there's a critical and growing have occurred annually, sweeping over timber shortage. We are annually using some 31,000,000 acres of land each year. up 18.6 billion more board feet of saw Value of the forest products lost through timber than is being produced by young fire averages $30,000,000 or more annual- trees growing up to take the place of those ly—and that's not taking into account cut or damaged by fire, insects or decay. damage done to our watersheds and farm- Depletion of our timber resources would lands when moisture-holding, soil-holding not only wipe out whole industries which

forest cover is swept away by fire. depend directly on wood products but Fire loss would have been higher too, would also have a disastrous effect on but for quick and effective fire-fighting farming and on navigation on our inland measures taken to put out fires in our waterways by loosing floods now held National Forests and in other wooded back by a protective cover of woodland. areas protected by organized fire protec- Loss of our forests would upset our • So you're planning a trek to the woods? tion systems. Statistics of fire loss are a whole industrial economy and would hit

Then don't forget your canteen, your convincing argument for systematic fire every consumer and worker. Wood is a grub and mayhap your chigger ointment. protection prime material in the manufacture of a But most important, don't forget to re- During 1945, forest fires swept 12 percent myriad of items which are a part of our member all the fire-prevention rules. And of the unprotected woodlands in the United daily existence: The newspapers and mag- if you don't know your forest fire preven- States, as compared to less than 1 percent azines we read; the houses we live in; and tion rules backwards and forwards, Mister of the land under organized protection. so on. A large sector of the population or Missus, you've no business going camp- Striking testimonial to the practicality works in industries in which wood is ing or picnicking or even hiking or driv- of fire prevention and control work is the essential. So our forests are essential not ing in the woods. marked decrease in forest fire losses which alone to a few individuals or industries The hard fact is that the large majority has come with the growing public aware- but to job security of everyone and to your of forest fires are started by plain, ordi- ness of the importance of taking effective national prosperity and well-being as well. nary, well-intentioned citizens. Not by measures to combat forest fires. By While fire prevention and control is only lightning. Or by spontaneous combustion. 1945 the area burned by forest, woods, and one phase of the fight to save our forests, Or by maniacal incendiaries. But rather range fires during the year was cut to it's an important one. Also it's a fight by pleasant people like you or me or our about half its prewar annual average. that no professional fire-fighting force nice neighbors who wouldn't harm any- Still the loss is far greater than we can (even one far bigger than we now have body for the world. afford. Last year enough timber to build on any of our forest areas) could win with- Ninety percent of all forest fires are man 200,000 five-room homes went up in smoke! out help from you and you and you. caused—and the great majority of these Forest fires destroyed enough wood to The best time to stop a fire is before it result from carelessness and negligence, make over 5,000,000 tons of newsprint starts, as any veteran forest ranger will according to the U. S. Forest Service. and 90 million railroad ties. tell you. That's where you come in.

10 Consumers' guide : — So keenly do the agencies concerned area to be burned so as to make a fire that costs thousands or hundred of thou- with preventing forest fires feel, that the break. Have plenty of tools and help for sands of dollars. campaign slogan adopted this year by the the job. Never start a fire during hot or That is why we need an organized and Advertising Council, Inc., in their behalf dry or windy weather. In many in- scientific system such as we have in our is stances, it's better not to start a fire at all, National Forests, or on non-Federal land Remember, only you can PREVENT FOR- anyhow, for much valuable soil-making under a cooperative system with the EST FIRES! material goes up into smoke when land is Forest Service aiding State authorities Because there are so many ways in which cleared by burning. Where feasible, it's and private owners. destructive fires can be thoughtlessly usually better to turn the plant rubbish Speedy detection of fires is the number started, the U. S. Forest Service, the State back into the soil than to burn it. one requirement for an efficient fire pro- forest services, and the other agencies co- tection system. As an aid to detecting Fire Fighting operating in the fire prevention campaign the smallest blaze, the Forest Service has have spelled out the particular fire hazards Once a forest fire has started, prompt established lookout posts throughout our which well-intentioned but bungling indi- action by properly trained, properly super- National Forests. Where the country is viduals of different groups may stumble vised fire fighters is all-important. Delay mountainous, these lookouts are posted over— if they don't watch out. or inadequate control measure may mean on high peaks that overlook the surround- Campers, for example, are warned to be the difference between a little fire and one ing country. In level country, towers constantly on the alert against the camp- sometimes up to 100 feet in height are fire hazard. Rule one is to observe State built for this purpose. These should be fire laws. If a permit is necessary, get carefully located so that there will be no one from a ranger or fire warden before "blind spots" which observers cannot building a fire. Then clear a circle at watch from their lookout posts. least 5 feet in diameter by scraping away Trained fire watchers are on duty at all all inflammable material. Dig a hole in times of danger in these lookouts. In the center of this cleared space; build your addition to good eyesight, fire watchers fire in this hole, and keep the fire small. need to have an accurate knowledge of the Before leaving your campfire, stir the terrain they are observing. They must be coals while soaking them with water. able to recognize the first signs of fire and Turn any unburned sticks and drench both to estimate its intensity and the speed and sides. Soak the ground around the fire. direction in which it is traveling.

Be sure the last spark is dead. Watchers have equipment to help them

Here's the word to smokers from the plot the direction of the fire on a map of fire prevention experts: Stop to smoke, the territory. They relay this information after picking a safe place that's cleared of by phone to a fire boss at area headquarters dry or inflammable materials. Observe of the Forest Service. By plotting the "no " rules in areas that have direction of the fire from two observation been closed to smoking because of high posts, the fire boss can accurately calculate fire hazards. Break your match in two the position of the blaze and dispatch fire after you blow it out. Hold the burned fighters and fire-fighting tools to the spot. ends till they are cold. Crush out your When the trouble is in the midst of a cigarette stub, cigar stub, or pipe ashes. roadless wilderness, getting fire-fighters

Be sure they are also "cold". Then as and fire -fighting equipment there quickly an added precaution, put the remains of isn't so simple. That's when the Forest your smoke in the ashtray of your car Service smoke jumpers come to the res- or, if you're afoot, bury them. cue—arriving in the nick of time by plane Not all forest fires are caused by tourists and parachute. or greenhorns. Not by a long sight. When the Buck Rogerish idea of para-

Every year, destructive fires are started chuting fire fighters to wilderness spots by farmers and ranchers who recklessly set was first tried out, a safe technique for out to clear their cropland by burning dropping men into rough and wooded without taking proper precautions. terrain had to be developed. For this purpose special suits were designed for the This is special advice to farmers and fire fighters to bale out in. It was decided ranchers from forest fire authorities: Never that the well-dressed smoke jumper should burn brush, weeds, or trash without first wear a football helmet and a steel wire- finding out the score. First get a permit mask, a padded suit, a steel-ribbbed leather from a ranger or fire warden, if State laws corset and ankle braces which are fastened require it. Don't light the torch without over his heavy boots. first scraping a trail or plowing around the He's using a back-pack pump to fight fire. This costume is calculated to protect the 1947 May 11 !

Planes rush smoke jumpers to forest fires in inaccessible spots. Propelled by a 10-mile wind, this fire is spreading destruction. smoke jumper if he lands on a rough spot area—and so the trainees went immediately iar walkie-talkie, for instance. or a tree top. To get himself down from to work on a real fire-fighting job. Romantic and important as smoke jump- the tree tops, the smoke jumper carries a Results were successful. By the end of ers with their air-ferried equipment are in rope in one pocket. In another he carries 1940, parachutist fire crews had put out fighting forest fires in wilderness areas, a small two-way radio set that packs into a more than a dozen lightning fires in inac- ground crews and equipment transported 3x3xll-inch box. This radio enables the cessible territory, in the Northern Rockies. by trucks are still the backbone of the smoke jumper to report the situation to In a single day, four parachutists controlled fire -fighting system. headquarters as soon as he reaches the two fires in the Bitterroot National Forest, Good roads are an invaluable asset in ground and to ask for some additional help Mont., at a cost of only $320. This was fighting fires, so the Forest Service is and equipment if he needs them flown to $20,000 less than it cost to put out a interested in developing good road sys- him. A simple parachute arrangement previous fire that occurred under similar tems into forest areas where this is prac- for dropping supplies works so well that conditions in the same territory—but ticable. Some wilderness areas in the high even eggs for the forester's breakfast can which got out of control while the ground mountains will always be roadless, how- be dropped from the clouds without forces were slowly making their way to it. ever, and others probably will never have breaking. Tricks learned by smoke jumpers about adequate roads because the expense is too Before the first jump was taken, a small bailing out in wooded and mountainous great to justify them economically. That's group of 16 fire fighters who volunteered country came in handy in training para- where the smoke jumpers come in. for the job were trained by a professional troopers during the war. In fact, the How to be a smoke jumper? Novices parachutist. First, a 180-pound dummy armed forces borrowed many of the tech- need not apply, since the jobs usually go was dropped into the mountain wilderness niques used at the Forest Service school to veteran fire fighters who are familiar by way of a test and finally one of the for smoke jumpers at Missoula, Mont. with the terrain in which they will jump. smoke-jumper trainees bailed out. He Equipment developed for use in fire fight- But don't let that stop you. Everybody landed okay. ing was also adapted for military purposes. is elected for a big job combatting forest An intensive course of training jumps Small, portable two-way radio sets de- fires. As the slogan of the 1947 forest was slated to be next on the agenda. But signed to enable fire-fighters in isolated fire prevention campaign says, about this time a series of bad lightning areas to keep in touch with their fire Remember, only you can PREVENT storms started an epidemic of fires in the bosses were forerunners of the now famil- FOREST FIRES.

PREVENT FOREST FIRES ! PREVENT FOREST FIRES ! PREVENT FOREST FIRES ! PREVENT FOREST FIRES

Be sure your match is out Crush out your cigarette Use the ash tray Put your pipe ashes in bare earth

12 Consumers' guide FOOD for PEACE

• "My chauffeur doesn't want to be paid in money. German marks don't mean a thing to him. But he likes his job because

I can manage to forage at least two fairly good meals a day for him," an American newspaper correspondent in Germany, not ordinarily accustomed to chauffeur service, reports. "If I paid him in marks, 300 marks a month is the maximum he could get. But rather than the 300 marks he would take, any day, a pound of coffee. He and his friends could drink some of it and he could sell the rest for 2 or 3 hundred marks." A returning American government work- er backs up the correspondent with, "My maid and nurse-maid don't care about money. They prefer food and bits of cast off clothing."

All observers agree that the daily Without these reserves of consumer and cold played havoc with the broken- existence of the people in the British and goods and raw materials from which to down transportation. One train of grain American occupied area, for young and create them there can be no adequate pro- loaded at Hamburg with the destination old, sick and well, is one through which duction of new goods. It's a vicious Berlin, was halted 17 times until 17 differ- they move, hopeless and preoccupied with downward spiral. The hungrier the ent engines, each one failing in turn, were their own innermost thoughts— thoughts people get, the less they are able to work, needed to get food to the capital. Such of food. the fewer consumer goods they have, the is the state of power and rolling stock of And in these stories of the indifferences less they are able to obtain shelter or heat railways in Germany. toward money as a medium of exchange, or coal. Twenty-five percent of the people These kind of railways cannot carry and the preferred reliance upon obtaining of the city of Berlin are housed in rubble coal to industrial plants that are stag- commodities that can be traded for other caves or what have you. gering to their feet. There are two rea- commodities, is a dramatization of the The normal population of the urban sons for this. One, the coal production economic chaos that has engulfed the areas has been increased by the flood of of the Ruhr, though increased during the British and American zones of Germany. dispossessed persons. The average space, last year, is only 50 percent of normal. This break-down of trade among indi- the Commission reports, among tens of There can be no revival of industry or viduals is but the specific pay-off of the millions of people is three and four people transportation without coal. This coal greater break-down of the whole structure to a 12 x 12 room. cannot be produced without food. The of production and distribution of com- Food supplies and distribution in other mines now lack skilled men and men modities. countries of western Europe has improved physically fit to dig out the coal. They It is against this background of dis- over last year to the point that they are can't be physically fit without food or integrated German areas that the Presi- much better off than Germany. Never- without some semblence of warmth at dent's Economic Mission to Germany and theless the slow recovery of these countries home. Austria headed by Herbert Hoover made can be speeded up by a swifter rehabilita- So does the vicious circle of people un- its observations and report of German tion of Germany. able to produce because of lack of food, agriculture and food requirements. An increase in Germany's coal produc- clothing, and shelter go on so that each In stern language and stark figures this tion would help rebuild, not only Germany day the lack of food, clothing, and shelter report sketches out the complete exhaus- but their neighbors. A step-up in the becomes more acute because the people tion of Germany's reserve stocks of all production of nitrogen in the British and cannot produce. kinds of consumer goods from food to American occupied areas of Germany and This downward spirial that is affecting clothing to housing materials. It tells of Austria would have a favorable effect the British and American zones of occu- the equal depletion of raw materials out of upon agriculture and commercial develop- pation so violently is also the chief cause which to make them. These reserves have ment of the regions of western Europe that of the hunger, the lack of agricultural and gone into the project of the war against us. look to Germany for this commodity. industrial production, normal transpor- They have been carried away as repara- Germany, along with other countries of tation and disruption of the economic sys- tions. They have been exhausted by final western Europe, was hit by the most tem of western Europe. grabs for of people a bare living. severe winter in many decades. The snow The coal, steel, and the skills, located in

May 1947 13 the German areas have been the basic raw pears to be enough to list them as in good this group are too poor to even buy the materials of production, trade, and dis- condition. 1,550 calorie ration which would be theirs tribution for a great part of Europe. But from these groups on, the trend goes if they had the money.

Food is the immediate key to unlocking sharply down. There are 4,495,000 chil- A large part of those, almost 18 million the door to production in western Europe. dren between the ages of 6 and 15 years people, show loss of weight, vitality and Imported food is the only food that can and 2,100,000 adolescents between 15 and curtailment in their ability to work. In supply that key. 20 years of age. Over half of these, espe- the British zone a study reveals that the Estimates of next year's harvest are not cially those with low incomes "are in a men are over 19 pounds under their normal available to western Europe. Twenty- deplorable condition." Some of them are weight and the women 5 pounds under five percent of the German's prewar food helped out in limited localities where some their regular weight. The American zone production came from Poland and areas school feeding is underway. "But outside is about the same where they were 5 to now occupied by the Russians. Due to these limits," the report states, "stunted 20 pounds under proper weight. The city lack of seeds, fertilizer, equipment and growth and delayed development is wide- of Hamburg alone reports 10,000 cases of skilled labor agricultural production was spread. In some areas famine edema (ac- actual starvation. While the death toll cut about 65 percent last year. Mr. tual starvation) is appearing in the chil- among the aged in both zones in people Hoover's report states that the 1946 crop dren." Studies made of people between over 70 showed an increase of 40 percent in the American occupied zone, "Yielded a the ages of 9 and 16 reveal them to be 5-5 in 3 months last autumn. supply beyond the needs of the farmers pounds under minimum standard weight. The moderately hard workers of whom (self-suppliers) equal to about 1,100 cal- The girls were 5-1 pounds below. Even there are 2,500,000; heavy workers, 1,910,- ories per day for the non-self suppliers. A worse signs of prolonged hunger were 000 of them; and 720,000 extra heavy similar supply in the British zone was brought out in still other groups studied. workers receive supplements to their about 900 calories per day average to the People from 20 years of age up were rations adequate to keep them going. non-self suppliers. These amounts con- classed in the census as normal consumers. But human nature enters into the distri- trast with 3,000 calories of the prewar There are 17,910,000 of them. This largest bution of these extras. These workers normal German consumption." segment of the population are in "deplor- are universally inclined to share this extra The committee computing the food needs able condition." These normal consumers food with their wives and children. on the basis of a census taken last autumn are made up of those who do light physical When the workers do this they cut their deals in cold figures with the needs of the work. The majority of them because of own energy below the point where they various segments of the 41,685,000 people the depleted manpower, are women, many can produce well. living in the British and American zones. of them aged. Although some of these are The dependence of the economic system Of these, 7,640,000 are self-suppliers. able to add to their 1,550 calorie ration upon food, and the dependence of normal These are the farmers and their families. by getting food from the black market and regular supply of food upon the

They are in good condition. Prospective and from free markets when fresh vege- economic system is dramatically set out in and nursing mothers and children under 6 tables are in season, and from packages Europe today. Help must come if the years of age are able to obtain special sent them from relief agencies or friends downward spiral is to be turned onto the priorities and supplementary food that ap- and relatives abroad. Another part of upgrade. .

Close up on the News . .

centration varying ftom 0.1 to 1.0 percent. Then the slices may be frozen, canned, or put directly into pie. The full effect of Transfers to U. S. Government agencies the calcium treatment does not show up totaled 777 million pounds, lined-up: until the pie is baked. The heat of baking Grain and cereal products, 701 million; aids the gelling action of calcium on the cotton, 35 million; fruit and vegetable pectin in the apple. Tests with nine products, 24 million; dairy products, over varieties of summer and early fall apples 10 million, canned meats, 6 million; and showed that the calcium-firmed slices gave hemp, 1 million. Deliveries of fats and pies of excellent texture in contrast to oils and canned fish totaled less than a untreated slices which broke up or "cook- million pounds. ed to sauce" in pie. Special Weeks Already, as a result of the past year's Home Demonstration Week research, several commercial processors are The second annual National Home trying out calcium-firmed slices for can- Demonstration Week will take place ning and freezing. One midwestern apple May 4 to May 11. Rural homes and com- processor has packed a thousand 30- munities throughout everv State, Alaska, pound cans of calcium-firmed Mcintosh Hawaii, and Puerto Rico will take part slices from fully ripe, full-flavored apples. in programs built around this year's An amendment to the Food and Drug theme, "Today's Home Builds Tomor- Administration regulations will be neces- Science Bakes Better Apple Pies row's World." sary before the calcium chloride treatment In observing this week, some million Apple pies "like mother used to make" can be used commercially. Some years 3K rural women will plan and direct the will soon be on the pie counter of the ago the regulations were amended to per- week's events in partnership with ex- store— to the benefit of both pie eaters and mit the use of calcium chloride in canned tension workers of the 51 land-grant col- apple growers Through research on firm- tomatoes. leges and the Department of Agriculture. ing apple slices done by two State experi- Substantial Food Deliveries to Foreign Nations Observance will feature special programs, ment stations and the U. S. Department Continue teas, exhibits, and tours. all of Agriculture's Eastern Regional Research In exhibits will be concrete evidences of the progress Laboratory at Philadelphia, more varieties A total of 2,277 million pounds of in the application of science to of the tastier apples can now be used in agricultural commodities and food prod- home making. pies by both the commercial bakers and ucts were delivered during February by homemakers. the U. S. Department of Agriculture to Farm Safety Week Millions of bushels of apples, fresh, foreign governments, UNRRA, and U. S. President Truman set the week of July canned, and frozen, are used by bakers Government agencies. 20, 1947 as National Farm Safety Week. every year. Through making use of the Foreign governments received 773 mil- In his proclamation he stated that more benefits of the research, many more apples lion pounds. Included in this were a fatal accidents occur in agriculture than will be demanded. In the past, many of variety of commodities with grain and any other occupation. He pointed out the breeds of apples that toted the heaviest cereal products topping the list with 709 that the increased modernization of farm load of flavor broke down in cooking, million pounds; dairy products came next, operations makes them more complex and while some of the more firm types lacked 29 million pounds of them; 15 million creates additional hazards. the flavor of those apples that turned soft. pounds of Irish potatoes; 15 million, The President said," Whereas caution and Many bakers chose firmness instead of canned fish; and 4 million, dried whole intelligent effort on the part of every farm flavor. Through the treatment worked eggs. Deliveries of meat and lard totaled family in the land will lessen the suffering out by the scientists most of the apples less than a million pounds. and economic loss caused by accidents, grown in New England, and famous for The 727 million pounds which were and the coordinated observance by all our their taste but not used because they could delivered to UNRRA fall into a somewhat people of a week dedicated to farm safety not stand up in cooking, will now be different order. Grain and cereal prod- will effect an immense saving to our available. ucts, 704 million; cotton, 12 million; country." He also urged that farm people The study which made this possible meats, 7 million; fats and oils, 4 million; everywhere set aside a specific time during showed that apple slices may be firmed by and dairy products, less than a million National Farm Safety Week for discussion dipping, impregnating, or cooking them in pounds. February deliveries, in addition, of the best means and methods of preven- a solution of calcium chloride, the con- included 5,379 horses and 805 mules. tion of accidents among them.

May 1947 15 —

No Canning Coupon

When you're rejoicing about this year's GUIDE POSTS larger sugar ration, you had better look ahead to canning time. Don't forget that there's no special canning coupon coming up. Sugar-stamp eleven which became valid Hey, Neighbor April 1 was good for 10 pounds of sugar Always good neighbors, farm women but that's all a body gets until July. So

aren't just neighbors across the fence line if you have ambitions for putting up some these days. They're neighbors around preserves, come strawberry time, you'd the world! best not go on a sudden cake-baking Take the 25 home demonstration club splurge. To avoid this temptation, many women from Franklin County, Vermont, housewives are putting five pounds of their who wanted to learn more about the work- 10-pound sugar ration buy aside for can- ings of the United Nations. They went ning. to watch that Big Grease Spot Getting Bigger in a body to New York Last year the sugar ration amounted to august body in its deliberations. Forty-four million dollars for skin 25 pounds per person, including 10 pounds Then there are the Texas home demon- cream in one year should lubricate a lot of of canning sugar. This year's ration level stration and 4-H clubs which last year faces, one would think. That's the is expected to be higher—35 pounds or shipped 32,000 articles of clothing, towels amount we spent on them—in creams—in more per person, barring unpredictable and sewing materials to the Philippines, 1938. But in 1945 we spent more than disasters. However, this season's sugar for the aid of war sufferers. Out west in all distributed with no "ear- twice as much—91 million dollars. This will be Wyoming, a number of rural groups com- does not mean that there was more than marking" for canning sugar. peted in trying to develop the most twice as much cold cream manufactured. effective project for international under- Prices have risen steeply since prewar days, standing, while Nebraska home eco- Self-Dusting Chair and the 20 percent excise tax on all cos- nomics extension clubs have started col- metics adds to the retail price. Sales, The chemical engineering department of lecting a $600 scholarship for a Chinese however, have continued to expand. Iowa State College has developed a plastic student to study home economics at the chair upon which, it is claimed, dust The four chief raw materials used in cold University of Nebraska. cannot settle. This housewife's dream creams are white refined beeswax, mineral These and other activities showing, the carries a light negative charge that repels oil, borax, and water. Vanishing cream growing interest of farm women in world dust. Prospective sitters need not worry, contains as principal ingredients stearic affairs will prominently featured during be however, over whether they are AC or acid, water, an alkali, and glycerin. the celebration of the Second Annual Na- " DC. The charge is the result of a surface Demonstration Week, May tional Home phenomenon" and not because an electrical 4 to 11. Air-Conditioned Shoes charge has been put on it. According to the scientists, dust and cobwebs collect on Do your "dogs" bark when the weather furniture because of the. positive charges changes? Do you wish it was the fashion in the furniture and the negative charges to carry along a change of footwear at all in the dust. times? Then you will be a customer for an individual air-conditioner for each shoe.

It consists of a washable, ventilating in- sole used by British and American Armies as an adjunct to the treatment of feet and skin irritations, and is now available par- ticularly for use in industrial footwear LISTEN TO CONSUMER TIME worn by workers with athlete's foot, blis- Every Saturday- Coast to Coast skin irritations. ters, or other over N. B. C. 12:15 p. m. EST The insole consists of a fine plastic 11:15 a. m. CST 10:15 a. m. MST meshlike material. Each step the wearer 9:15 a. m. PST takes pumps air into the shoes, circulates interviews, questions and answers it over the grid of the woven plastic, Dramatizations, on consumer problems. Tune in. the plastic sur- evaporates moisture from Brought to you by the face, and expels the moisture-laden air.

This air-conditioning process is said to U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE keep the feet warm and dry in winter, and cool and dry in summer.

16 Consumers' guide

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1947 736665 June 1947

Consumers' guide LIBRARY CURRENT SERIAL RECORD

1 MAY 281947

U. 8. DEPARTMENT Of A6RJ0ULTUR€ XIII VOLUME • NUMBER 6 • JUNE 1947 which has necessitated great exports of grain and some other commodities. In this issue: "As consumers earned more money and as dairymen stepped up milk production, Our growing appetite 2 New angle on canning for school people began drinking much more milk Let's take to the woods 3 lunch 12 than ever before from a fourth Clothing review 6 Rats teach nutrition lesson 14 — to a third Record of relief 8 Close up on the News 15 more. They also showed they wanted Meeting the mildew menace 11 Guide posts 16 more and more meat. In 1944 we ate about 23 pounds more meat per capita than ILLUSTRATIONS: Cover, Forest Service; pp. 3, 4, 5, Forest Service; pp. 6, 7, Extension Service; pp 8 9 10 K. Burdette; BHNHE; PMA; in prewar years, and this year J. p. 11, pp. 12, 13, p. 14, BHNHE; p. 16, drawings, K. J. Burdette. we may make the difference 25 to 30 pounds—at least a fifth more than prewar. As for eggs, many people assumed that wartime pro- Our Growing Appetite duction was far beyond any conceivable peacetime demand. When we compared our per capita consumption of 392 eggs in 1945 with the prewar average of 298, much How's your appetite? You should cer- of comparatively good incomes consume of the difference was ascribed to the meat tainly say "fine" if you are one of the 130 in the way of food. Back in 1941, under shortage. But last year, we ate about 380 million or more consumers in this country. prices of that time, the families who had eggs per capita, even though we had 15 Last year our food consumption level was $2,000 a year income—that's less than $40 percent more meat than before the war. 16 percent above prewar. And the im- a week per family—could afford a gener- And although estimates at the beginning portant point is that our collective appetite ally adequate diet. Those families con- of this year indicated a drop to 360, we is even greater than indicated by this bulge stituted approximately the top 40 percent ate eggs at a record rate in the first quarter in the consumption of farm products. of the population. If we assume that of the year. We ate more than 100 eggs

Secretary Anderson recently pointed this their buying habits represent what all the apiece, on the average, during that quarter. out as a significant factor in the establish- people of the United States want and apply ' 'When people who haven't had the food ment of a long-range farm program. A their buying habits to the whole popula- they wanted get better incomes, they buy balanced farm program must consider, first, tion, the Secretary stated that: more food and they also buy the more how much food and fiber we need or can "People want about 40 pounds more expensive foods." reasonably expect to consume, and second, meat per capita than they were getting These wants of our people can be ful- what those needs mean in farm acreage and between 1937-41; they want 200 pounds filled by our farms. If they were fulfilled types of farming, and third, what programs apiece more milk, about 9 pounds more it would mean that we would need more may be needed to help maintain the balance chicken, 23 or 24 pounds more fresh than the 420 million acreage of farm crops, between consumer requirements for com- vegetables, around 17 pounds more proc- orchards, rotation pastures and fallow modities and production. essed vegetables, an additional 50 pounds land. He said that no matter how he looked at of citrus fruit, and over 80 pounds more "That is about our production goal for the question of how much food we need of other fruits. this year and it's around 10 million acres that each time he came to the conclusion "Judging what the whole population higher than the figure for last year or for that we need more than we have ever had. wants by the actual food buying habits of 1937-41 average," Secretary Anderson re- From a nutritional standpoint it's clear persons in the upper 40 percent of our pre- ported. "It's the continuing acreage we that many more people need more food in war income groups, our people would like would need if people of reasonable income order to have an adequate diet. The fact to be able to buy a third more food than could buy what they have shown they they that many needed more food than they had on the average in the 5 prewar want." years 1935-39. Last year our food When we continue to keep income, were getting before the war was pointed con- sumption level was already 16 percent need for food, and consumption of food up by the increase in food consumption above prewar. So, as a result of increased in line we work toward better living for which accompanied the higher buying consumer income and increased farm both farmer and consumer. power of the public during the war. production we have gone about halfway The measurable wants of the people in toward supplying people's wants that were this country is what they really want to not being satisfied in the prewar years. We buy. This is brought out by what people are doing it during a world food emergency

CONSUMERS' GUIDE w awm, consumers' guide is printed with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget as required by Rule 42 of the Joint Committee on Printing. Official free distribution A Publication of the U. S. Department Agriculture, of is limited. Additional copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Docu- Washington, D. C. ments, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C, 5 cents a copy, or by subscription, 50 cents a year, domestic; 70 cents a year, foreign. Postage stamps Editor, Ben James; associate editors, Anne Carter, Elizabeth Spence; art, K. J. will not be accepted in payment. Burdette.

2 Consumers' guide —

for a real outdoor vacation at low cost amid trie beauties of our own forests.

• For your vacation this summer why not trick summer cottages for rent in the forest. woods-scented air to breathe, and the un- take to the woods? Not just any woods No golf courses or tennis courts. ending surge of wind in the treetops to but some of your own woods. You are But there's hiking and mountain climb- hear. Best of all, in many camps there's part owner, you know, of about 179 ing, motoring and even bicycling, over the sight of blue and gray and purple million acres of woods. They are called 329,000 miles of roads and trails; swim- mountains rising fold on fold to lean National Forests and the Forest Service ming and boating in 10,000 miles of against the pale horizon. of the U. S. Department of Agriculture is streams and in thousands of ponds and You won't find these items listed in the taking care of them for you. lakes; fishing in tumbling mountain camp information circulars so let's take a These National Forests are scattered over streams and clear, still lakes; and "camera more formal inventory of the accommoda- 42 States, Puerto Rico and Alaska. You hunting" everywhere. tions and diversions the forests offer. can get to one of them from practically The forests are a photographer's para- Recreation Areas any locality in the Nation in a few hours, dise. Everything is photogenic, from or at most a day's driving. cumulus clouds and mountain peaks to You mustn't get the impression that the So if vacation means woods to you, look rare wild flowers and tiny animals. And whole 179 million acres mentioned in around you now and pick yourself a forest always there's the pale green twilight of paragraph one are there for you to tramp for summer use. You can have almost any the woods to walk through, with the over, burn up and get lost in without any kind of vacation you want in it—except slickness of pine needles under the soles of civilizing modifications. For your own a luxurious one. No fancy hotels and your comfortable old shoes. There's sake, as well as the forest's, "recreation

June 1947 3 areas" have been built in nearly every The hardy camper must drag a branch The fee for the use of the land is nominal National Forest. In all about 100,000 home and chop it up. in the case of nonprofit groups. acres are given over to these recreation Incidentally the Forest Service has pro- Summer Homes in National Forest areas. You don't have to use them, but vided 20,000 individual family-size camp the Forest Service hopes you will. sites of this type in some 3,600 public camp Many of the forests have zoned areas They vary from simple picnic grounds to grounds in the various national forests. for private homes. Lots are available at hundreds of acres in which tent camp sites, For trailer parking there is a big open from $15 to $25 a year. House plans must organization camps and summer homes are field with water spigots and a few fire- be approved by the Forest supervisor. almost concealed from each other on the places. At Sherando as at all forest camps There are more than 13,000 summer homes wooded mountain slopes. All of the areas there is no charge for any of this. It's a in the national forests at present—most provide as a minimum : safe drinking water, matter of first come first served, but the of them in the western forests. Summer fireplaces and fire wood, tables and benches Ranger said calmly, they never seemed to homes are only permitted on areas not and sanitary facilities. If that sounds too have any trouble. The picnic area at needed or not suitable for public uses. much like the picnic grounds in any city Sherando is extensive. The beautiful 22- But let's get back to your vacation this park to be inviting, remember you don't acre mountain lake has a real sand beach. summer. You can't build a summer home have to use it. There are bathhouses, 2 picnic shelters and or lease an organization camp this season,

If you pine for the rugged life and feel parking space for 300 cars, as well as the so it must be a tent for you, unless you can that you must play Daniel Boone or it usual tables and fireplaces. find a place to live on the edge of the for- won't be a vacation, you are free to go to est. Frequently there are tourist homes, some remote spot and pitch your tent. cabin camps, ranches, or hotels accessible Organization Camps There you'll be on your own, and take your to the forest. with the drinking water, poison Sometimes, too, the Forest Service per- chance The Sherando Recreation Area has one ivy, insects and wild animals far away mits private capital to construct, under of the 54 organizations camps built by the from the Ranger's watchful eye. It's their direction, hotels or cabin camps Forest Service and rented to groups at a your forest you know. However, for the where they are needed for service to the nominal charge. It is at some distance sake of the other owners the Forest Service public. The Forest Service regulates the from the other activities of the area, has forbids making fires in certain places dur- type of development, the character of its own water supply and playing fields. ing certain seasons, and begs you to be a services furnished, and the charges. At There is a big mess hall and administration good camper. That means care with your many resorts in the national forests simple building, an ice house, a wash shed, and fire and rubbish, and no destruction of but clean and adequate accommodations 3 bunk houses, all beautifully spaced on a growing things. are available at about what you'd pay at hillside. In all the national forest organi- Before you decide on the unmodified an average small town hotel. Higher zation camps priority is given to vacations wilds you must hear about the camp sites type accommodations and those giving for underprivileged children. in recreation areas. special services, such as saddle horses, Sherando is probably typical of the use naturally cost more. made of these camps. Of the 3 months it Most forest visitors are definitely inter- Sherando Lake is open one month is taken by underprivi- ested in low-cost vacations. In leged children from nearby Waynesboro, 1937, The 500-acre Sherando Lake Forest 25,000 visitors, heads of families or indi- one month by a church group, and one by in the George Washington viduals, filled out questionnaires which Campground a garden club. Your regional forester can National Forest, Va., for instance, has showed that only 3 percent had over tell you about availability of organization sites for 24 tents. Tucked away in the yearly income, while 67 percent camps in your area. $5,000 on high ground, they are entirely had less than $2,000 a year. woods There are 320 privately constructed picnic area, but not too away from the organization camps on Forest Service land. Work Done by CCC Boys far from the lake to run down for a swim. The sites are so spaced that the occupant Many things in the forests are monu- can set his tent up in privacy from both ments to the Civilian Conservation Corps the little forest road where his car is and the Works Progress Administration. parked in a spur near the tent, and from They built thousands of miles of forest his tenting neighbors. roads and trails. These are happily used A fireplace and table are all ready for by the vacationists, but their real function housekeeping—or should I say tent-keep- is to enable the foresters to get at fires, and ing—in the cleared space back of the tent. to carry on the various other activities A water spigot and firewood are not far connected with forest products. Techni- away. Incidentally, campers must not cally they are "access roads." CCC and forget to bring a small axe or hatchet. WPA boys built the check dams in streams

The wood is not cut in short lengths. for better fishing, and the larger dams for Nothing so civilized. The full-sized artificial lakes and swimming pools. They branches, just as they were trimmed from built the thousands of fireplaces and the trees are stacked in tepee shapes at benches and shelters in recreation areas all various spots convenient to the group. over the country. And they set out

4 Consumers' guide you'll get an millions of seedling trees on barren slopes. for lumber and pulp, local needs for fence cloud-flecked treetops, For you must remember that your forests posts, fuel wood, telephone poles, etc. inkling of how great your forests are, and have more business than supplying a place The Forest Service fire lookouts watch how skilled and devoted are the people care for for you. for vacations, important as that is. Their for smoke over the national forests and who them primary objective has always been to pro- over millions of privately owned acres that For information about national forests near tect watersheds and to prevent erosion. adjoin the forests or are enclosed by it. you write to the nearest Forest Supervisor. If They harbor one-third of all our big game. Perhaps on your vacation you'll have a you do not know who that is, write to Con- Billions of feet of timber are cut in the chance to climb up to one of those lookout sumers' Guide or to Forest Service, U. S. forests every year under timber sales con- towers. And in that tiny crow's nest Department of Agriculture, Washington 25, tracts. This helps to fill national needs above an endless rolling green ocean of D. C.

At Sherando Lake, George Washington National Forest, Va., Boy Health-giving fun in the Forests for all types and ages. Here is Scouts demonstrate some of the recreation uses of the forests. a Kiwanis picnic at a campground in Cache National Forest, Utah.

"Canoe tourists" stop at one of the camps provided for them on Here a group of children enjoy the woods at Powell's Fort organ- an island in Lac La Croix, Superior National Forest, Minn. ization camp in George Washington National Forest, Va.

June 1947 5 .

Cloth mg review . .

Extension clothing specialists take inventory of latest cloth- ins developments on behalf of rural women they serve.

• Some 3 million rural women recently went to school by proxy to study up-to- date ways to get the most out of their family clothing budget. They didn't go in person but were represented by 52 State extension clothing specialists from 42 States and Puerto Rico. Here's how: So much new has happened in the cloth- ing world during the war and since, that bewildered housewives often feel the need to go back to school again and polish up on the latest clothing facts and findings. Since the great majority of rural home- makers have neither the time nor money to hie themselves off to clothing school, wouldn't the next best thing be for some of their neighbors to take an up-to-the- minute clothing course for them—and then bring back the latest word. That's the reasoning behind the national clothing refresher course which the Exten- sion Service held February 17 through

March 1. Fifty-two State extension cloth- ing specialists gathered in Washington for Rural women want their money's worth from the family clothing budget. These home the sessions. Armed with pencils, note- demonstration club leaders are studying changing trends in clothing styles and prices. paper and indefatigable curiosity, this small group was on deck to be eyes and mills and a meeting with National Con- He also forecast more shoes with toes ears for the rural families they serve. sumer Retailer Council Representatives. and heels. Thinking of the 3 million rural women When the meeting was over, the State On the authority of the Quartermaster reached by the Extension clothing program clothing specialists went back home to Corps, housewives can reasonably look for last year, the class felt obligated to cram carry the news to rural homemakers in shrink-resistant wool socks appearing on all the learning they could into a brief their States. Following are some of the the market this year—and that by 1948 session. So they listened hard while things which the refresher-course group a great variety of woolen items which can authorities from the various government heard during the 2-week session—facts safely be dumped into the family washing departments and from industry told of which will help rural families find the machine will be available to the consumers. recent findings in textile research. They right answers to their clothing problems. Shrinkage was a big Army headache visited the clothing laboratories of the Belief that clothing prices will come during the war. In many instances, GI Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home down before the end of the year was wool sweaters and socks or even shirts had Economics at Beltsville, Md., picking up expressed by a prognosticator from the to be discarded after a single severe wash- much useful information about functional trade, for example. He based his forecast ing under field conditions. work dresses, new Synthetic fabrics, the on the belief that in view of limited Investigation of methods to make wool- effectiveness of various detergents, mildew- clothing budgets of many families, too ens shrink-resistant was stepped up to meet preventive treatments, and such. They large a proportion of the clothing has the problem. As a result, a number of viewed the testing equipment at the been in the high-price field. promising new treatments have been National Bureau of Standards and saw the An expert from the tanning industry developed. Laboratory tests of a chlorin- workings of the National Institute of prophesied that the demand for cheaper ation process treatment developed by the Cleaning and Dyeing. They ended the shoes would begin to show results as the Army, for example, show that this finish course with a tour of several large textile supply of shoes begins to outstrip demand. will reduce the felting shrinkage of Army

6 Consumers' guide shirting material to less than one per- This new bandage was developed at the fibers are flexible. Feel the coat. It cent in the length or breadth of the fabric, Southern Regional Research Laboratory by should feel smooth, silky and fairly dense. without changing the shade or damaging a modified mercerization process which Examine the fibers to see if they are straight the fibers in any way. shrinks ordinary cotton gauze into a semi- for at least half their length. Check to Investigations also revealed that several elastic fabric. Medical men in civilian see that there are no cracks in the skins commercially developed resin processes and military hospitals, where 35,000 of and whether the fibers lie smoothly for preventing shrinkage could be used the bandages have been tried out, consider throughout the coat. Skins which have successfully for Army shirtings. One such them superior to regular gauze. areas where fibers extend in different finish reduced the shrinkage of an Army Widespread interest of manufacturers in directions are not desirable. Check the shirt to 3.2 percent for the back length a new rot-resistant finish for cotton textiles back and front of the coat carefully for after 25 washings, as compared to a 15-9 developed at the Southern Regional Re- quality, as the best pelts usually go into percent shrinkage for an untreated shirt. search Laboratory was also reported. The the sleeves. Finally, look at the lining Another military clothing problem new process, which partially acetylizes the fabric and the workmanship. which is of real concern to homemakers is cotton, increases the heat resistance of the All this plus notebooks full of other that of " flameproofing" fabrics. All treated yarn or fabric besides improving its up-to-date facts on clothing were carried materials, except those of the asbestos rot-resistant qualities. back to the crossroads by the 52 clothing type, will burn when held continuously If the rural homemaker or her daughter specialists who attended the clothing re- in a flame. This is true even of textiles wants to buy a serviceable mouton coat at fresher course. And the zeal with which which have been "flameproofed." the summer fur sales, then she will profit- the specialists attending the course asked But with the object of holding skin ably give heed to the directions for select- questions and took notes on behalf of the burns to a minimum, the Army set up ing a good mouton, as outlined by a U. S. rural women in their home States was rigid requirements for fire-resistant finishes. Department of Agriculture expert: eloquent testimony of the determination

If a "flameproof" fabric were induced to Blow into the coat and notice whether of rural families to get their money's blaze by a flame from an outside source, it opens up readily, indicating that the worth from their clothing budget. the induced flame must go out within 2 seconds after the outside flame was re- moved. Also, the area attacked by the flame must be as small as possible. Finally, the tendency to glow must be held to a minimum, since the temperature of glow- ing cotton is about 500° C. and a tempera- ture of less than 200° will sear the skin. A "flameproof" finish suitable for the Army would also need to stand up under rough treatment without seriously impair- ing the wearing quality of the garment or rendering the clothing uncomfortable. To find the answer to the many problems involved in flameproofing, the Quarter- master Corps established a research project at Columbia University under the direction of the National Research Council. The findings from this project indicated that considerable progress has been made over prewar flame-resistant finishes. A style show demonstrating functional work dresses and aprons developed at the BHNHE textile laboratories was viewed by the refresher-course group. Among the features of the new models are conveniently placed hand-height pockets, the sides of which are stitched in place along with the skirt gores to make them more resistant to rips and tears. Patterns for these dresses are being released by a commercial pattern company.

News of a cotton gauze bandage that is partly self-fitting was reported by the Getting a good fit is the number-one requirement for wise shoe purchase. To help Agricultural Research Administration. them make a better shoe choice, these 4-H girls compare th e shape of foot and shoe.

June 1947 7 Record of relief

have to be built out of ruin and chaos. Great areas were then overrun by the enemy. Tens of thousands of square miles were being fought over. Wherever the war was striking there were ruined farms, blasted factories and railways, and millions of homeless men, women and children wandering the country side and crowding already overcrowded cities. On farms crops were not put in, work stock was driven off or killed for food. Farm ma- chinery wrecked or carried away. There were no seeds or fertilizers. The people of whole nations were starving. These were the conditions in late 1943 and they were becoming progressively worse as the war continued.

The first task in the building of peace had to be the practical one of immediate relief for the people who were unable to obtain food, clothing and shelter, and to begin as soon as possible getting them into a position where they could produce their

own necessities of life. In November 1943, the representatives The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration of 44 governments signed the agreement

closes up the bulk of its operations this month. Here's an account establishing the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. Four more of the money that was spent and a record of some of the uses to governments were admitted in 1946, bring- which the money was put. ing the total to 48 cooperating countries. The set-up of the organization was to

begin its work at once in any area liberated • This month will witness the wind-up of Americans contributed in clothes, food from enemy control. Relief, which came

the bulk of the activities of the most gi- packages, and cash to relief organizations first was defined as being on-the-spot gantic relief and rehabilitation program that were aided by UNRRA in distribut- supplying food to keep the peoples alive, ever undertaken in the history of man. ing their gifts. Consumers tightened their enough clothing and shelter to ward off For this month the United Nations Relief belts in order that relief food might go disease and death, and medical supplies to

and Rehabilitation Administration closes where it was so drastically needed. make them well. The second part of the

up shop in all its far-flung outposts scat- In addition to being the most vast program of rehabilitation involved getting tered over the war desolated areas of the relief project ever embarked upon, UNRRA to the helpless nations, implements, seeds,

world. All of them, that is, except China represented the first attempt at inter- railway repairs and equipment and other where, because of a late start the work national cooperation in a practical peace items necessary for them to rebuild their will not be completed until the end of time job. In this organization the coun- shattered economies to the point where 1947. tries of the United Nations pooled their they could help themselves. Farmers and consumers all had a stake resources and together procured and dis- In order to carry this out, a huge staff in this program. From the farms of this tributed essential commodities of relief. of specialists was brought together from country millions of tons of food were It was in November 1943 that UNRRA almost all of the 48 countries represented. shipped to feed the starving millions of the came into being. No one at the time knew At the top in 1946 these employees totaled war-wrecked world. Two billion, seven what time the war would end. All 12,895- Each was trained in the field in hundred million was paid by the tax nations realized that when the hour of which he was to operate. There were payers of this country for all of UNRRA's victory came the work of building the transportation specialists, medical doctors services. Hundreds of thousands of peace had to begin. They knew it would experienced in public health procedures,

8 Consumers' guide welfare workers to handle and rehabilitate starvation. Millions who received this the displaced millions. There were work- bread had literally no other source of ers trained to organize the revival of supply. Without this food there would agriculture and to make the best use of have been famine and death for millions. seeds and fertilizer, farm stock and Saving these millions from acute starva- implements that were shipped in. tion not only spared their lives but gave All of these employees were pledged to them more hope for living in a democratic do their duty by the international organ- world. And too it played a basic part in ization and carry out their work on a basis the prevention of the wholesale spread of of need without discrimination toward any epidemic diseases. Nutritional diseases nationality, creed or political belief. such as pellagra, scurvy and famine edema The organization was financed by the 48 which have ravaged countries of central governments. Their contributions made Europe in the previous times of acute food possible UNRRA's vast program of opera- shortages, were not given an opportunity tions totaling $2,938,213,000. The expen- to fully strike their blows. ditures were broken down into adminis- The feeding problems took many forms. trative funds and operating funds. All 48 In the European countries receiving nations contributed to the administrative UNRRA aid, close to 10 million children fund. The operating fund, which was were given supplementary food through much larger, financed supplies and services. school lunch and other child feeding pro- These costs were borne by those member grams. UNRRA supplied the grain, egg countries whose home territories were not powder, dried milk, and fruit juices, which invaded. Thirty-two of the member gov- were extensively used to augment food ernments fell into this category. It was supplies made available to these programs recommended that funds be contributed by by the cooperating governments. each nation equal to one percent of its net Clothing and raw materials for clothing national income for the year ending June were rushed for immediate relief. Enough 30, 1943. raw cotton from the United States to make A second contribution of equal amounts V/2 billion yards of cotton goods in the was made later and it was further agreed textile mills in Europe was shipped. This that at least one-tenth of the contribution material is being used to produce house should be made in freelv exchangeable dresses, work clothes, desperately needed currency and that the remaining nine-tenths hospital sheets, diapers and other gar- be contributed in supplies and services. ments for people who emerged from the Let's consider UNRRA's record as it war with nothing but the rags on their closes its books on most of its operations. backs. Some of the cotton is woven into

The figures tell an amazing story. cloth and a large portion is used for quilted and padded garments, which are a basic Food $1,241,466,000 Oriental article of clothing. Clothing, textiles, and In addition to the textiles and raw mate- footwear 424,982,000 rial purchased by UNRRA, volunteer con- Medical and sanitation tributions of clothing and footwear col- supplies 125,406,000 lected in the United States from 3 drives Agricultural rehabilitation 342,446,000 added to the basic supplies. Over Industrial rehabilitation . . 683,781,000 1,750,000 pairs of men's shoes were given, Unclassified nonmilitary 3,400,000 pairs of women's shoes, and material obtained from 3,500,000 pairs of infants and children's the military 117,104,000 shoes. Garments, too were contributed, Other material 3,028,000 5,000,000 garments for men, 8,500,000 for

The bread grain alone shipped to Europe women, and 5}i million for children were by UNRRA would make almost 12 billion added to the purchased relief supplies. loaves of bread of 1 pound each. This is Blankets and towels for a million families more than 1 loaf of bread daily for every were also donated and distributed by family in the United States for 1 year. UNRRA. What this meant to the people who Although the approximate 125 million received the grain can't be measured in dollars which was expended by UNRRA cold figures. The aieas into which this on health does not loom very large in the food went are still largely underfed, budget of billions, its work was signifi- millions of them to the point of near cant. The health service was concerned

June 1947 mainly with preventive medicine, the about 40,000 Yugoslavians and Greeks. They supplied equipment for milk kitch- arresting and control of epidemics usually The work continued until the end of ens, day nurseries and children's hos- bred by the devastation of war. At its February. UNRRA had aided in the pitals. Much of this work will now peak of operation as many as 800 doctors repatriation of 7,049,763 persons to more continue under the auspices of the United and nurses were working in Europe. than a dozen countries—practically all Nations. These did not include doctors and nurses who can be repatriated. The work of rehabilitation which belonging to voluntary societies that co- At the time of closing their affairs UNRRA is now closing down operated on operated with UNRRA. there are more than 700,000 dispossessed a broad scale in working toward its aim The largest portion of the money was persons in camps, most of whom cannot of getting necessary implements and sup- spent for medical and sanitation supplies. return home because of political or national plies to be used for production. By June 30, 1946, 105,000 tons of serum differences. New homes in new countries For agricultural rehabilitation, com- and vaccine, chemicals and drugs, hospital must be found for them by the United munities were furnished seed, fertilizer, equipment and laboratory supplies had Nations. Although these camps were insecticides, livestock and basic farm tools been dispatched with an equal amount to and machinery. They also were given the go forward. benefit of the advice of agricultural spe- Medical supplies included 20,000 differ- cialists on how to make the best use of the ent items—complete X-ray equipment, supplies. UNRRA supplied 300,000 tons dental laboratory paraphernalia, drugs, of seeds. A significant portion of these beds, blankets—in short everything from were vegetables, packaged in family-size aspirin to zinc plate. In one lot to Poland packets and widely distributed to farm we sent complete equipment for twenty- families. The packets contained simple four 1,000-bed hospital units. Thebill-of- directions in the languages of the recipi- lading for each hospital unit is about Iji ent countries for planting. All directions inches thick. Where refrigeration was were suitable for the local growing con- essential, medical supplies went by air. ditions. The money was spent in a race against The organization sent enough livestock anticipated epidemics. Typhus fever, the and farm machinery to cultivate 10 million camp follower of wars, constituted one acres of land that would otherwise be idle. of the major threats. A million and a half tons of fertilizer have The results can be measured only in been shipped to UNRRA receiving coun- comparative terms. In 1919 following the tries—enough fertilizer to produce 5 mil- last world war in the month of May there lion additional tons of food. were 33,929 cases of typhus reported in In order to put small farmers back on Poland. For 1945 with a comparable peak their feet and enable them to supply their being reached also in May there were only hungry communities with milk, many 2,987 cases or less than one-eleventh as cows were delivered. The general rule many as followed the last war. In the was that the cow be with calf when it early part of 1946 the corresponding arrived at its destination. maximum figures, both of them in January, Draft animals supplied by UNRRA were 34,530 for 1920 and 1,235 for 1946. played an important part in rebuilding the Another function of UNRRA carried on farms of the ravaged areas. The animals outside of procurement of supplies was came from many countries. Among those the assistance it gave to the millions delivered by UNRRA during the last year of displaced persons. These millions were 10,108 horses, a gift from the Danish of homeless included those who were supplied by the army they have been Government. These horses had been bred driven from their native land by the administered by UNRRA; their health in Denmark by the Germans for their own armies, others were shipped out to do needs; recreation activities; schooling, use. In addition to the gift, UNRRA pur- slave labor. These people all require help both adults and children; the teaching of chased an additional 30,000 Danish horses to get back over the boundaries to their trades, have been part of UNRRA's duties. for shipment to Poland and Czechoslo- home countries. And there are still other They also did extensive work in finding vakia where men and women were pulling hundreds of thousands who, for one lost children and returning them to their plows, 50,000 horses were from American reason or another, found themselves far parents. farms and ranches, 15,000 from Canada, away from their homes although still in Other special welfare services which and 500 from North Ireland. their own countries. These people too UNRRA supplied was helping the sick The farm stock added thousands of tons must be cared for and returned to their and disabled, widows and children, preg- of food supply of the communities into towns and villages. nant women, nursing mothers, and aged which it was sent. The grateful reception This work began in May 1944 when the persons. UNRRA workers aided in dis- by the impoverished farmers also went a organization took over the responsibility tribution of food and milk, set up emer- long way toward building permanent good of housing in the Middle East. It housed gency housing projects and child nurseries. will toward the democratic nations.

10 Consumers' guide — One simple home method for making a cotton shower curtain mildew-resistant Meeting the mildew menace developed in the BHNHE laboratory uses soap and cadmium chloride. First dip the cloth in hot soap suds made of soft reliable and speedy • Mildew, stay 'way from my door. Development of water and good neutral soap. Soak for a mildew-preventive treatments This humid weather hoodoo annually tests for few minutes to make sure that the goods matter of paramount importance puts the jinx on thousands of dollars' was a are wet through. Then remove the cloth during the war, when millions of dollars' worth of textiles, leather goods, paint, and, without rinsing, put it immediately of vital military equipment had to wood and such in American homes. worth into a hot solution of cadmium chloride the moisture and heat of the That's the reason behind the research be exposed to using 1% ounces of cadmium chloride to with other government project now going forward at the textile tropics. Along a gallon of water. Stir and turn the fabric the Bureau of Human laboratories of the Bureau of Human and private agencies, for about 15 minutes in this bath. Then worked on Nutrition and Home Economics in Belts- Nutrition and Home Economics wring out the fabric and hang to dry. Be this testing problem. As a result of these ville, Md., to develop simple, effective sure to use a twine clothes line, as a wire exposes sample fab- treatments to protect fabrics from mildew. studies, BHNHE now line will stain treated fabrics. Also be rics to the many organisms present in the Mildew is caused by molds, the labora- sure to have plenty of soap in the cloth soil in order to test resistance to mildew. tory workers will tell you. These molds for it is the combination of the soap with grow on anything from which they can This is done by inoculating the fabric the cadmium chloride that keeps the mil- soil suspension bath for half get enough food. They eat cellulose samples in a dew-killing mineral from quickly sifting an hour. products such as cotton, linen, wood and out of the fabric and leaving it unpro- Investigations to date have uncovered a paper. Protein is their meat too—silk, tected. effective mildew-preventive leather and wool also being on their bill- number of Copper sulphate can also be used in treatments. Several finishes have already of-fare. similar proportions with soap to make practical for use on Mildew-causing molds are always present been tested and found cloth mildew-resistant. This has the ad- shower curtains, draperies, awnings and in the air—and to a greater degree in the vantage of being more generally available furniture coverings exposed to moisture. soil. But they need moisture and certain for purchase by homemakers and is some- preventives can temperature conditions in order to grow. Some of these mildew what cheaper. However, copper sulphate applied the housewife in her To date the Bureau has treated samples be easily by makes the fabric blue, which may be a own home. And one treatment devel- of cotton material with over 250 chemical disadvantage if blue doesn't fit into your laboratories is being compounds in the search for a simple, oped in the BHNHE color scheme. big chemical company. effective finish for preventing mildew. marketed by a Both treatments withstand two or three of the treatments is recommended for In order to test the effectiveness of the None washings. various treatments, treated and untreated use on clothing, however, since tests have determine whether the Since both cadmium chloride and copper samples of fabric are subjected to condi- not been made to irritating the sulphate are poisonous, be careful in using tions favorable to a speedy growth of treated fabrics would be to them. mildew. The breaking strength of the skin if worn for a long time. fabric samples in each case is measured after they have undergone the tough test ex- posure to mildew.

If a sample of treated fabric is still strong it passes the test with flying colors and the particular treatment is considered effective. An untreated sample of the same fabric rots away. The various treated and untreated fabric samples are all inoculated, in the same way, with the mildew-causing organisms and then placed in bottles in an incubation room where the temperature is kept constant.

When the experiments were first started, the test fabric samples were inoculated with one mildew-causing organism only Chattomium globosum. However, experience revealed that this test wasn't tough enough, since some treated samples that passed it were unable to resist more avid attacks by different varieties of mildew- To test mildew-preventive treatments, a After inoculation with mildew-causing causing organisms. lab assistant first treats fabric samples. mold, samples are incubated in bottles.

June 1947 11 — New Angle on Canning for School Lunch

How Ohio county institutions and Parent-Teachers groups cooperate to can

food for the local schools. Why not try it in your county this summer?

A brand new idea on canning for school lunch comes from the Ohio Health De- partment Nutritionist, Miss Dorothy Throssel. Like so many good ideas it's so simple and obvious that once it's been stated you can't see why someone didn't think of it long ago. Briefly, the idea is to do canning for school lunches in county institutions on a cooperative basis. The institution provides the equipment, the cans and the food from its farm. The Parent-Teacher groups do the canning. They divide the food on a fifty-fifty basis —half for the institution and half for school lunches.

The first place to use this new idea was the Summit County Home where canning equipment left over from WPA days was standing idle. Practical value of the plan was so well demonstrated here that when the nearby county of Ashtabula wanted to do the same thing, but found that the County Home had no equipment, the county commissioners at once appro- priated the $1,250 needed for it.

This is working out to everyone's satis- faction. The County does not have to let any of its farm produce go to waste Planning Committee includes county representatives of Board of Commissioners, Health for lack of canning facilities and labor, Office, Schools,- State representatives of Department of Health, and of Production and Marketing Administration, Parent-Teacher groups and Supt. of County and the schools get their produce free USDA; Home. or almost free. They pay the professional supervisor in charge of the work 10 or 15 cents per number 10 can, depending on the product processed. Out of this the super- visor pays for the telephone and incidental expenses. She also works out arrange- ments with the school groups to send canning workers. All 29 schools in the county are represented on a county com- mittee and are given equal opportunity to take part in the program. Foods canned are boxed and labeled for each school. The county home has ade- quate temporary storage for them. Counties which do not have the advan- tage of institutional space and equipment, still might work out cooperative plans for community canning. Improved school diet and cash saving will be the reward. Photographs on these pages give you a Residents of County Home gather tomatoes County farm-produced corn and tomatoes quick look at Ashtabula County's canning. to be canned for schools and for selves. are unloaded from trucks at the cannery.

12 Consumers' guide comes Peeled tomatoes are then packed by PTA begin their part of this Scalding preparatory to peeling Here PTA women table. Workers are supervised by an expert. workers ,n No. 10 cans at f,ll,ng fifty-fifty program. Washing is first. next.

Sealed cans are processed in the retort used as a wash bath, After tomatoes are preheated in exhaust box, cans are inspected PTA worker records time for processing on the retort lid. for proper head space to assure a full pack before sealing.

the "end product" of all the work depicted on these Matron of County Home inventories canned food preparatory Here we see lunch. it. pages: Healthy school children being served a wholesome to dividing it with the schools which did the work of canning 13 June I947 — .

Rats teach nutrition lesson . .

• Food makes the difference, boys and toll in a rat that had no riboflavin in i s The rat that did not have enough cal- girls. first 28 weeks. He became sick, lost hair, cium had a short, stubby body, due to And how it especially about makes a difference is graph- the head, and weighed poorly formed bones. The rat that had ically told by a score or only 63 grams. Six more of white weeks later, after plenty of calcium reached full size and its rats, being fed some well fed—some poorly fed as on a diet rich in riboflavin, the bones were well-formed. Calcium builds people are. These rats tell same rat had their story in recovered its fine fur and bones, and teeth and is needed by all body an up-to-date series of 10 nutrition teach- weighed 169 grams. tissues. ing charts recently issued by the Bureau Because rats are not sensitive to vitamin Rats fed on varied diets of protein, the of Human Nutrition and Home Economics. C, guinea pigs were used to illustrate the builder of blood, muscle and growth, are Rats are used extensively for nutrition fact that ascorbic acid (vitamin C) helps also shown in the charts. studies because they will eat the same to build healthy gums, teeth, and bones. Schools, nutrition committees, adult foods as, humans and, by their growing The guinea pig that had no ascorbic acid nutrition and cooking classes, other 30 times as fast as humans, they more developed scurvy; the one that had plenty groups, and libraries find these charts of quickly show the effects of good and bad was healthy and alert, its fur sleek and fine. instructive value. diets. Bad effects that result from a The rat that had no vitamin D, needed The 10 charts, sold in sets only for shortage of any of the 8 better known food for well-formed bones and teeth and to $0.75, are printed in yellow and black on prevent nutrients needed for growth—protein, rickets, had a poorly shaped body heavy white paper, 19 by 24 inches. They iron, calcium and vitamins A, C, D, and bowlegs. The one that had plenty of may be purchased from the Superintendent vitamin riboflavin, and thiamine—are strikingly D grew to normal size and its of Documents, Government Printing Office, bones revealed by pictures of laboratory rats. were strong and straight. Washir.gion 25, D. C. The charts also picture a number of foods that are good sources of each particular FOOD makes the difference nutrient—foods widely available in this country and commonly used. The first chart points out the fact that in these twin rats growth is a measure of good nutrition. It shows well-fed rats that weigh 22 grams This rat ate only meat, at 2 weeks, 47 grams at 4 weeks, and 193 potato, bread, and butter. grams when adult at 12 weeks. He has poor fur and Importance of the right food is told in weighs only 89 grams. other charts. One chart pictures a jit- tery-looking rat that lost the ability to coordinate its muscles after subsisting on a diet that contained practically no thia- Bones show diet was poor mine. A second picture shows the same lacking calcium and vita- rat a day later after it had dined heartily mins. on food rich in thiamine. He was calm and controlled after getting the thiamine

(vitamin Bj) that is needed by body cells to use carbohydrates.

On another chart a rat that did not This rat ate plenty of milk have enough iron had pale ears and tail. and vegetables, besides the The rat that had plenty of iron had sleek meat, potato, bread, and fur and was more red-blooded and a bigger butter. He weighs 194 animal than the small, iron-deficient rat. grams.

The rat with no vitamin A in its diet had an infected eye, rough fur and a sick Skeleton shows diet was appearance, for vitamin A is needed for good. Bones are strong growth, healthy eyes, skin, and other and well-formed. tissues. The rat that had plenty of vitamin A had bright eyes, sleek fur, and appeared alert and vigorous. Lack of riboflavin that promotes health by helping body cells use oxygen took its BUREAU OF HUMAN NUTRITION AND H<

14 Consumers' guide — .

CIose up on theNews

School Kids Get Orange Juice Sugar More Plentiful But . . .

The fact that sugar has appeared to be Many kids who seldom before got closer welfare of America, the article points out relatively abundant in stores in many sec- to an orange than a long wistful look at a that many family farms are too small for tions of the United States does not mean huckster's cart had their daily glass of economic operation. It says that we arc that this commodity is now plentiful. orange juice at school this year. This was entering into the postwar period with Here's the story behind the apparent thanks to extensive purchases of concen- about 2 million low-income producing "abundance." trated orange juice by the Production and farms, a large number of which do not During the months of April and May the Marketing Administration for direct dis- have sufficient margin of profit for success- Cuban raw sugar mills are producing at tribution through the school lunch pro- fully operating under unfavorable condi- close to maximum capacity. (They usually gram. " juice tions. finish their yearly outrun" about June 1.) PMA bought concentrated canned operating months mean that instead of fresh oranges because the con- These two big Spud Research Recommended well, and raw sugar is being produced in very large centrate costs less to ship, keeps fuller use of the giant quantities. Fortunately, the Cuban crop is easy for school lunch workers to serve. Ways to make potato crops that seem to be a regular thing this year is good—and the quantities are Altogether, PMA purchased about 755,- were considered at a recent meet- even larger than average. 300 gallons of canned concentrated orange these days Committee This April-May peak in raw sugar man- juice. When reconstituted with water to ing of the Potato Advisory appointed the Secretary of ufacture leaves the U. S. Government the strength of natural fruit juice, this which was by with provisions (which has the Cuban 1947 crop under con- made 5 million gallons of refreshing fruit Agriculture in accordance and Research Act of 1946. tract) with three alternatives. The Gov- drink—enough to permit the kids to quaff of the Marketing of interest to con- ernment must, (1) move raw sugar from 113 million glasses of orange juice. A recommendation called for intensive research in the Cuba in very large quantities, for refining One of the requirements of the National sumers field of marketing aimed at quality im- in the United States, (2) refuse to move School Lunch Act is that school lunches sugar and thus cause the closing of mills must meet prescribed nutritional standards, provement, including handling methods, reconditioning. and the loss of production, or (3) store raw based on nutritional research. The object cleaning, grading, and recommendations, the Ad- sugar in Cuba in sacks in the open—unpro- is to give every child who is fed under the Among other study of tected from the rain. school lunch program a nutritionally com- visory Committee suggested a Of the three alternatives—the only logi- plete meal—or at least essential foods that demand and consumer preferences. They like to what's the tie-up, if cal one is to bring the large quantities would otherwise be lacking in his diet. would know of sugar into the country during April and Oranges are a good source of Vitamin C, any, between income, type of family, residence to potato May. But—much of this sugar brought in which is one of the nuclients needed for season, and place of during these 2 months must be for con- the proper development of children's consumption. sumption in later months of the year muscles, bones and teeth. Foods that Intensive research on developing and because no more sugar will be made from contain Vitamin C should be eaten daily, expanding uses for potatoes other than as also Cuban cane after, approximately June 1 as this vitamin cannot be stored effectively human food in fresh form was recom- to develop new and to 5- in the body. mended. Work The sugar brought from Cuba has been cheaper dehydrating processes was one sug- What Chance for the Family-Sized Farm? moving through the refineries and the gestion. Other research suggestions in- of preserving wholesalers—to the stores where it can Development of small farm machinery cluded: additional ways potatoes; use of now be readily bought. Some people is one of the brighter spots in the outlook whole, ground or sliced denaturing think it is rather convenient to be able to for family-sized farms, as seen by Samuel potatoes for feed grade glucose, cash ration stamps, once again, any time Liss in the spring issue of the Land Policy of diversion potatoes for use as feed or as they wish to. Review. a component of ensilage or for technologi- For the year 1947 as a whole—there is Technological advances in farm equip- cal operations. no more sugar " in sight" for United States ment, sized and priced for smaller farms, Research on the production of potato usage than there was when the Interna- hold promise of improving the chances of flour and cooperative projects with potato tional Emergency Food Council recom- the family farm to compete more success- chippers pertaining to storage, oil ran- mended an allocation of 6,800,000 tons for fully with larger commercially operated cidity, and so on was further recommended. United States usage during the year. This farms, in the opinion of the writer. Also recommended for study were mar- recommended allocation was accepted by While emphasizing the importance of keting problems, such as marketing costs, the Department of Agriculture, acting on prosperous family-sized farms to a sound government programs and foreign trade, behalf of the United States. agricultural economy and to the general in addition to production research.

June 1947 15 Under the new method, the dates pass . beneath a spray of clean warm water and GUIDE POSTS are bombarded with a blast of warm air. The new method of cleaning dates is less costly, more effective and more sanitary was a time when a serving of kraut went than the traditional method, say the along automatically with an order of hot experts. dogs just like the mustard, say the old- Exposure of the cleaned dates to the rays

timers. Why not now? Particularly why from an infrared lamp for a short time is] not now, when there's an abundant supply also recommended as the final step in the of kraut on hand—and prices are very new process of dressing up the dates for favorable for buyers, especially for buyers market. That's because this light treat- who shop around to get the bargains. ment temporarily softens the natural waxy Housewives are therefore being re- coating on the surface of the dates and minded that kraut is cheap, tasty and easy gives them a glossy appearance that appeals to serve as a vegetable with whatever meat to consumers. accompaniment—or as part of a vegetable platter. Or it can be served chilled as Frail Help Bring in the Groceries as Paper? a salad. Chilled kraut juice, which is also Hey there, city folks and townspeople. plentiful and cheap, makes a good breakfast Frail as paper isn't the apt phrase it was Your country cousins will be needing a beverage or an appetizer. Both once upon a time. helping hand again this year with their and kraut juice are good sources of You see, the idea that all paper and emergency farm chores. Vitamin C. paperboard will tear easily, will go to It's this way. Farm labor is more pieces when wet and burn "like paper" Spuds in Your Bread plentiful than it was in the extreme short- is out-of-date, behind the times, wrong. Something new in this world bread age period of 1945. The labor supply is — In fact, paper products are playing a new made with a touch of potato flour? now at about the 1943 level. But even stout fellah role around the house these On the contrary, a recently initiated then, if you'll remember, farm families days, thanks to treatments to make them program to encourage bakers to use potato were having a hard time getting their big water resistant, fire resistant, flexible, and flour in their bread harks back to those job done. what not. crusty brown loaves that grandmother This year's farm job is big too—so big Paper bathmats are among the rather used to make. that farmers in many parts of the country new things on this earth, for instance. Grandma often used potato water or a will have a hard time doing it all without Then, of course, there are paper draperies. little mashed potato in her bread baking. some emergency help. For American But did you know there were paper mail- She did this in order that the loaves would farmers have again been asked to produce boxes? And rugs woven from paper? have an extra special flavor and stay fresh food at record levels. Not only is total For the baby, there are paper bibs. longer. American food consumption up consider- For the house guest, a soap leaflet may So, now that there's an abundant supply ably above prewar but also the world food take the place of an individual bar of soap. of potatoes on hand and the spud growers shortage has faced America with the And for the cook, a paper sink strainer are looking for new outlets, the growers responsibility of supplying as much food may help make life in the kitchen easier. getting bakers as possible to help combat hunger. are together with the to These and many other new paper goods revive the use of potatoes in bread. So if you're husky and hankering to do and gadgets for the house are listed in an Bakers are using potato flour rather than a good deed that will also be good for you article in the March issue of Domestic and help bring in the groceries, why not mashed potatoes or potato water because Commerce. register with the Extension Service in the flour is easier to handle and does not your community to do emergency farm spoil. work this summer? Dressed Up Dates

Lots of Kraut All scrubbed up like a date—and I mean LISTEN TO CONSUMER TIME Sauerkraut will be stepping out in the the kind of date that grows on a tree! Every Saturday— Coast to Coast limelight this summer as never before, if Yes, dates have to undergo a cleaning over N. B. C. 12:15 p. m. EST

plans of the cabbage growers and the process before they are ready to be mar- 11:15 a. m. CST sauerkraut trade come to pass. keted. And something new and better in 10:15 a. m. MST

9:15 a. m. PST The big idea is that sauerkraut has too the date cleaning line has been discovered much personality in its own right to be by scientists of the Bureau of Agricultural Dramatizations, interviews, questions and answers always teamed up with spare ribs. Okay and Industrial Chemistry working in co- on consumer problems. Tune in. Brought to you by the for la kraut to go steady with spareribs operation with California date growers. but not to be wedded to that set-up. The old-fashioned way of cleaning dates U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Why shouldn't sauerkraut travel around was to roll the unwashed dates down an a bit with weiners, too? After all there incline covered with Turkish toweling.

16 Consumers' guide

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1947 July 1947

Consumers' guide

LIBRARY CURRENT SERIAL RECORD

AUG 21 1b47

U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE VOLUME XIII NUMBER 7 JULY 1947 A chapter on "Hybrid Forest Trees"! discloses work done with trees that may In th is issue: grow to harvesting size in one-half or Yearbook 2 Freezing fundamentals 10 one-third of the time it takes a nonhybrid

Insects, . . beware! 3 "Shall Not Perish From the Earth" . 13 tree to reach the same proportions. Be your own safety squad 6 Close up on the News 15 The section on food and clothing in- On the way to market 8 Guide posts 16 cludes nine articles on American diets,

ILLUSTRATIONS: Cover, USDA; p. 4, E&PQj p. 5, USDA; p. S, Extension Service; p. 9, USDA, lower left, protein, the nutrients in milk, canning, PMA; pp. 10, 11, USDA; p. 12, BHNHE; p. 14, Extension Service; drawings, pp. 3, 6, ?, 1}, 16, K. J. Eurdette. drying, freezing foods, and mildew in fabrics.

The new knowledge about better live- stock is set out in 23 articles dealing with the breeding of dairy and beef cattle, Yearbook animal diseases, artificial breeding, feeding of cattle and calves, cross-breeding, hogs, "Science in Farming" is the title of a years to the greater abundance and im- sheep, goats, horses, and mules. only last off the presses quality new book month proved of the bulk of consumer There are 6 articles on plant genetics; the Printing Office. It's It tells of past perform- of Government goods. not only 24 other articles discuss new varieties of that tell a big book—960 pages the story ance of science but of work underway, and plants including strawberries, blueberries, of the dramatic partnership of and hints, too, of future achievements that men peaches, citrus fruit, tomatoes, onions, of science with and of will bring more, better, less expensive women men women and potatoes, beans, sugarbeets, and a number the soil, working together toward a better items of food, clothing and shelter to the of others. living for all. And there are 136 more American consumer. In fact, here is a vast complex panarama pages of illustrations graphically revealing Its 135 articles prepared by 158 special- of American agriculture brought into focus facts about this cooperation, which played ists in the Department of Agriculture and through the lens of science. Its effects such a large part in increasing our farm other scientific institutions throughout upon the reader is one of wonder for the production by 70 percent in the past 25 the United States give lucid accounts of aggregate accomplishment that thousands years. work on consumer products ranging from of unsung men and women, working at "Science in Farming" is the Yearbook DDT to prefabricated houses. small meticulous jobs in laboratory, field of the Department of Agriculture. It is Pest control not only on farms and and forest, have achieved in the way of the first publication of the volume since gardens but in homes is discussed. There better way of life for all of us. 1942 when the war interrupted the pro- is a chapter "Clothing That Works," duction of the book that had come out which considers information on house annually, in one form or another, for. al- dresses for women and work clothes for Because of limitation of funds and most 100 consecutive years. men with an eye to making them longer the necessity for reducing Department This Yearbook, the editor declares, wearing, more efficient to work in, easier of Agriculture information activities, "was prepared primarily for farmers, but to care for, and pleasing to look at. the Consumers' Guide ceases publi- we have always had in mind other persons It tells of the research on penicillin in cation with this issue. However, whose interest and work have to do with the Department of Agriculture's regional the Consumers' Guide mailing list gardening, chemistry, beekeeping, stock laboratories to increase the yields of the will be retained, and it is hoped that raising, conservation, horticulture, and cultures that produce the life-saving drug. special information materials may be such." He also points out that the book There is an account of the experiments supplied, from time to time, of inter- should be particularly useful to returning with rutin which began as an investiga- est to those concerned with food and servicemen who want to farm and to tion of what could be done with stalks agriculture and related consumer business related to farming. and other unusable parts of a tobacco problems. However, its interest is not limited to plant, and ended in a finding of a new these groups. To the consumer it gives remedy for diseased conditions associated the vital behind-the-scene account of re- with hemorrhages and weak capillaries, search, scientific imagination, and experi- in buckwheat, tobacco, and yellow pan- mentation that has contributed in recent sies.

CONSUMERS' GUIDE Monthly consumers' guide is printed with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget as W required by Rule 42 of the Joint Committee on Printing. Official free distribution A Publication of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is limited. Additional copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington Washington, D. C. 25, D. C, 5 cents a copy, or by subscription, 50 cents a year, domestic; 70 cents a year, foreign. Postage stamps Editor, Ben James; associate editors, Anne Carter, Elizabeth Spence; art, K. J. will not be accepted in payment. Burdette.

2 Consumers' guide Insects^ Beware!

Powerful new weapons are converging on you. Insecticides, many stronger than DDT, are being moved to the front by the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

French chemists first discovered the mally used for controlling these pests.

insecticidal properties of benzene hexa- Hexaethyl tetraphosphate is a synthetic chloride in 1941. British scientists inde- contact insecticide, glycerin-like in con- pendently found and began applying in- sistency, orange-brown to clear in color. formation on the insecticide value of this It remains stable at ordinary temperatures material in 1942. Research in the United in the absence of water, but breaks down

• Bad news for bugs is good news for States has been going on for about 2 years quickly in the presence of moisture and farmers, gardeners, housewives, and just now. Chief draw-back to this promising soon loses its power. This rapid decom- plain people who would like picnics chemical compound is its persistent musty position has both its good and bad points. without flies, mosquitoes, ticks, or chig- odor, which producers are attempting to It lacks the long-lasting effects of DDT, gers. The news is really bad for insects. reduce. Its greatest promise seems to be but residues left on sprayed or dusted crops They may not feel the full force of it as a boon to cotton growers. are less likely to be harmful to man and until current experiments are completed, In preliminary tests benzene hexachlo- animals. This is important, because hexa- but it definitely looks as if many harmful ride killed more boll weevils more quickly ethyl tetraphosphate is highly toxic. insects are "heading for the last round- than the old stand-by, calcium arsenate, Used in concentrated form it may cause up." and it also killed more cotton leafworms, plant burning, but when properly diluted With the appearance of DDT, destruc- plant bugs, cotton fleahoppers, and cotton it apparently does not injure plants. tion reached a new high in the insect aphids than the standard insecticides. It Investigations to date have shown that world. Even so, there are some important is the first insecticide ever found that gives this newcomer in the insecticide field is pests against which it is not effective. promise of destroying the boll weevil, cot- particularly promising for control of a

The boll weevil is one of these. Scourge ton aphid, and other sucking insects on number of insect pests and mites: White- and terror of cotton growers for decades, cotton at the same time. No ill-effects to flies, mealybugs, red spiders, mites, aphids, the boll weevil takes an annual toll from the cotton plants have been noticed when and leafhoppers. Experiments with aero- them of $120,000,000. the new insecticide has been used in low sols containing the compound have been Equally impervious to the so-called dosages, but much experimental work re- made in greenhouses with promising re-

"miracle drug" is the chigger. It would mains to be done on its effect on plants and sults. The great majority of the plants be difficult to appraise in monetary tetms soils. evidently are not injured by the material the summer days and nights this almost Benzene hexachloride as a cotton in- when properly handled. Scientists at the invisible pest has ruined, the billions of secticide apparently has one weakness, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quaran- man-, woman-, and child-hours that have as far as entomologists have discovered. tine have determined that a satisfactory been lost to useful work or healthful It is not as effective as calcium arsenate or formula is one gram of the concentrated play by trying to dislodge him from the DDT for the control of bollworms. material (or 10 grams of a 10-percent abode of his choice. However, this may Hexaethyl tetraphosphate, another of aerosol solution) to every 1,000 cubic feet some day be only a horror tale told by DDT's rivals for fame, was developed as of greenhouse space. Of 133 plants tested, elders to a generation who never clawed an insecticide by the Germans during the only tomatoes and a few varieties of chry- a chigger bite until it bled. war under the name of Bladan. It has re- santhemums were injured following aero- Benzene hexachloride has been found ceived special attention from entomolo- sol application. very effective against chiggcrs and boll gists in the United States this past year Because hexaethyl tetraphosphate is so weevils and numerous other pests which primarily because it was said to be highly highly toxic to man and animals, extreme have brought incalculable loss to growers, effective against aphids and there is a care must be exercised in all handling proc- and discomfort to humanity for centuries. scarcity of nicotine— the insecticide nor- esses. When using the aerosol in green-

July 1947 3 —

houses, scientists recommend that the terials yet found for the control of chig- operator wear a gas mask. For treating gers. No one seems to have gotten around plants in small greenhouses scientists hope to giving it a pronounceable name, but to devise dispensers which can be operated chigger-killer would make it instantly from outside the greenhouse. popular with some groups. The verdict The Interdepartmental Committee on of the scientists is: "It gave excellent con- Pest Control has issued these warnings to trol of chiggers when applied to the soil persons using this insecticide: at rates of 2 to 8 pounds per acre." 1. Avoid contact with the skin. If In 10 percent dust it also prevents corn skin is accidentally contaminated, earworms from penetrating ears of corn. carefully wash with soap and Sabadilla is a long-known insecticide water immediately. made from the seeds of the wild Sabadilla 2. Avoid inhaling mist, dust, or plant. It has taken on new life in recent aerosol. years as a result of the need for better in- 3. Remove clothing promptly after secticides. Main source of supply is Vene- using material and bathe with zuela where seeds are gathered by hand. water and soap. warm In 1945 we used about 500,000 pounds of 4. Keep material off of food. sabadilla dust mainly against harlequin 5. Any one developing symptoms of This ten-times-enlarged grasshopper head cabbage bugs, squash bugs, chinch bugs, headache or tightness of the chest gives you an idea how its owner can be so lygus and other plant bugs, and against when using this material should be destructive. New insecticides may soon lice on livestock. removed immediately curb his expensive forays on plants. from ex- Ryania is a little known insecticide pre- posure to it. pared from the plant Ryania speciosa. It is toxic to the pea aphid, Chlordane a chlorinated hydrocarbon green peach aphid, effectively protects corn against the Euro- also referred to as "1068", "Velsicol and wireworms. pean corn borer, but is not as effective in 1068" Field tests and "Octa-Klor." The numerals showed that chlorinated general as seveial other materials. and 8 stand respectively for the camphene was approximately as effective 10, 6, num- DDT can still be referred to as a " new as a mixture ber of parts of carbon, hydrogen, and of DDT and benzene hexa- insecticide" although we have heard about chlorine in the formula. Chlordane has chloride against the bollworm and other it constantly, it seems, for the last 5 years. selected as the insects. It was effective against all been common name for this of the First as a rumor about a "top secret" It is a contact insecticide cotton insects against it compound. and which was tested weapon used by our men in the tropics, poison, too. cotton fleahopper, cotton a stomach — aphid, boll later in the wonderful true stories about effective than against weevil, bollworm, and cotton leafworm. More DDT the mosquito and fly and louse control. Re- German roach, it appears also to It shows considerable promise as be more a spray search is constantly going on to discover toxic to houseflies or dust for use against grasshoppers. than DDT. An emul- new uses in the peacetime world and to sion of chlordane atomized Hydroxypentamethylflavan. on corn ears This determine the effect of DDT on plants, superword showed promise against the corn ear- deserves all its letters for it is animals, and soils. the name of one worm. The Bureau of Entomology and of the most effective ma- Last year DDT was used extensively by Plant Quarantine has recently reported growers to combat a variety of pests. We that of several new materials tested against now know that when used in formulations grasshoppers, chlordane showed the most and dosages recommended for a specific DDT has been recommended for promise. purpose it will kill the insects use in the control of certain insect without In general, little is yet known about the pests. Work with the other ma- harming most plants. toxic effect of chlordane on man and ani- terials mentioned in this article is Last year a 90-percent was mals. still in the Experiments so far indicate that experimental stage and made in the per acre cost to the public in definite recommendations for their it may be somewhat more toxic to animals controlling the gypsy moth. This insect use, except in a very few instances, than DDT. has seriously injured great tracts of the have not as yet been made by the Another of the new insecticides is a Bureau of Entomology and Plant Nation's forests in the Northeast. DDT chlorinated camphene sometimes referred Quarantine. and the airplane provided this great econ- to as "Hercules 3956" and "Toxaphene." Each new material to be used as omy. Only 4 years ago gypsy moth con- In action this material resembles an insecticide must first be care- DDT trol cost from $15 to $20 an acre. Now it fully evaluated with regard to slow knock down and kill, and persistent costs slightly less than per acre. * many factors, including: the pos- $1.50 residue. Against body lice it is both more sible harmful effects that may One airplane can treat 1,000 acres a day. toxic and more persistent than DDT. result from residues likely to The best that the ground equipment could Laboratory tests show that it is effective accumulate in soils of different do was 200 acres of forest per machine types, and hazards to man and against about the same group of vegetable during the entire season. animals of residues remaining insects as with these on DDT, exceptions: There's no denying that DDT is a scourge crops to be used as food or forage. More toxic than DDT to the tobacco to many insect pests and a boon to human- hornworm and Mexican bean bettle; less ity, but there are gaps in its killing power.

4 Consumers' guide Besides the boll weevil and the chigger, species. Others are as powerful, or more it ever was during the war years. The mentioned in our first paragraphs, aphids, so against some common insects. group of insecticides which the trade calls mites, Mexican bean beetle, and other im- When you check insect pests against "arsenicals" is in particularly short supply. portant pests are not controlled by it. known insecticides it really looks as if Lead arsenate and calcium arsenate are

While it controls the codling moth on science is beginning to get the upper hand both scarce. apple trees, injurious populations of mites over these age-old scourges of humanity. Rotenone and pyrcthrum supplies appear often follow its use, due to its failure to adequate. Familiar Insecticides Scarce control these pests and its destructive ac- Benzene hexachloride, chlordane, and News of the development of hitherto tion against their natural enemies. chlorinated camphene are in sufficiently unfamiliar insecticides is particularly wel- facts the results production to help substantially in These make of research come to growers and gardeners this year good on new insecticides of utmost interest. when many of the standard, old-reliables our war on the insects. DDT formulations Several of them, as we have shown you, are scarce, and the insecticide situation in are in tight supply. Sabadilla is reported are effective against the DDT-immune general for the 1947 season is tighter than to be in adequate supply at this time.

Thousands of organic compounds are given preliminary tests Insecticides designed for control of the corn borer are tested on under laboratory conditions in search of effective insecticides. growing corn after preliminary laboratory tests showed prom se.

Testing an insecticide for control of fruit pests, particularly the A new insecticide is tested by the "apple plug" method in the codling moth. Material must kill insects, not injure plant. laboratory of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine.

July 1947 5 Be your own safety squad

accident hazards on their farms. Such from the farm buildings and farmyard. expert safety advice shows the way but Think. Are water tanks, cisterns, wells, it's up to the farm families themselves to or pools protected so the children can't put over their own safety program—on fall in? Is the farmyard clear of garden Farm Safety Week, beginning July 20, and tools, forks, rubbish, and waste? Are lad- all the of the year. ders sturdy and in • Is your farm or home unsafe? 52 weeks good repair? Accident statistics reveal that far too Family Safety Council Handle Animals with Care many farms and homes are just that. Why not hold a family safety meeting. Next to machinery and equipment, farm Even a Paul-Bunyanish force of police- Why not unanimously resolve to blot out animals are the most frequent cause of men could not possibly cover all the farm accident hazards before they have a farm accidents. So use horse sense when Nation's 6 million farms on their beat. chance to blot out any of the family. handling livestock. For instance, don't Nor would a cop on every corner be Appoint everybody—from grandpa to surprise animals by walking up to them enough to give all the homes of the junior—to be safety inspectors and acci- suddenly from behind. And don't trust a country frequent and thorough-going dent prevention guards on duty all the "gentle" bull. safety inspections. time. Remember, unless the farm accident This means that farm families are per- Don't Turn Handtools Into Dangerous Weapons rate improves, farm accidents will kill force left largely to work out their own Handtools are handy—but if improperly 19,000 men, women, and children—and safety programs. used they become dangerous weapons. will injure 1,800,000 others. Much the same situation prevails as Make sure hammer and ax heads are secure regards homes. Be it ever so humble, a Make Your Home Safe and the handles in good condition. When man's home is his palace. But the 64- Home is where most folks—whether whetting tools, stroke from behind to 7 dollar question is, How safe is it. Truth is farmers or town dwellers—spend most of avoid cutting yourself. Have a place for that over a million people were hurt in their time. Also it's where a large num- every tool and keep it in its place. Keep farm-and-town home accidents in 1945- ber of disabling accidents happen—more dangerous tools away from play places. Life on the farm is likely to be more than on the highway, for instance; and Stop Those Fires perilous than in any other major industry, more than in the fields or barn. Why not Fires annually cost farm families 90 mil- judging from the accident statistics. Rec- make your home a safer place to live? lion dollars, result in death and injury to ords for the past few years show that: Swing into action to take these and many. Are you taking proper precautions Disabling accidents may strike on one other necessary safeguards: Have at least to prevent them? Have you cleaned up out of every four farms in America this one strong handrail on the stairs; have fire hazards around your buildings got rid year, unless extra precautions are taken. steps in good repair; mop up spilled water — of weeds, brush, and old lumber? Do you One out of every 10 farmers will be ac- and grease immediately; use a safe step- avoid building fires in dry, windy weather? cidentally disabled some time during 1947, ladder instead of a chair for climbing; Do you have an emergency water supply if the farm accident rate doesn't improve. keep small rugs away from stairways; available? Cost of farm accidents comes high—not keep matches away from children; label

only to farm families who suffer the pain poisonous medicines properly and keep Dbey Common Sense Health Rules and financial loss that results from mis- them out of reach. Be sure your toilet facilities are sanitary, haps but also to buyers of farm products. Farm Machinery—Blessing or Menace? your drinking water safe. Avoid sun- What to do to reduce the toll of farm It's up to you, whether your farm ma- stroke by wearing proper clothes, drinking and home accidents? Pass a law? Unfor- chinery is a good servant or a treacherous plenty of water and taking plenty of salt. tunately the solution isn't that simple. ally. Machinery is safe for folks who ob- Don't start or run gasoline motors in Farm safety boils down pretty much to a serve safety rules. Otherwise it's danger- closed buildings. Keep a first-aid kit family affair. That's in the nature of ous. Here are some good rules for farm handy. things, since the typical farm is small and families to remember: the typical farmer is his own boss. No Don't Trifle with Electricity Children have no more business playing guards are around to enforce safety rules. An invaluable servant when properly around a tractor than around a locomotive. Outside agencies can and do help with used, electricity can be a ruthless killer. Keep them away. Don't remove guards the farm safety program. For example, the Don't endanger the lives of your family from power shaft, belts, and chains. Stop U. S. Department of Agriculture is cooper- with makeshift electrical equipment. and block machinery before adjusting or ating with the National Safety Council Cut off current when working on an elec- unclogging it. Avoid wearing loose flap- and leading farm organizations to under- trical conductor. Don't replace burned- ping clothing around moving machinery. line the need to make the farm a safer place out fuses with coins, wire, or other metals. to live. These agencies are making prac- Clear the Farm of Booby Traps Be sure your electric fence is safeguarded tical information available to aid farm It's everybody's job to be on the look- with an approved controller, properly families in discovering and eliminating out to spot and clear away the booby traps connected.

6 Consumers' guide **ery

I

Call a family safety meeting. Home is safe as you make it Machines—blessing or men- Fight farm and home hazards. — and you live there too. ace? It's up to the user.

tools can be dan- Handle animals cautiously. Clear the farm of booby- Hand traps before they get you. gerous; Use with care. Don't trust "gentle" bulls.

Don't trifle with electricity. Prevent fires. They cost farm Be smart. Live longer. Obey health and sanitation rules. Use good sense; play safe. families $90,000,000 a year.

7 —

On the way to market

£/ To market, to market be cut down; this means saving to the dropped steadily as a proportion of each buyer and a greater share of the purchaser's dollar spent by the consumer retail. Today To buy a fat pig dollar for the farmer. And there is room they stand at 44 cents, the lowest on rec- Home again, home again for plenty of improvement in marketing ord. Jiggity jig \ig." facilities and many other spots where This recent low percentage figure doesn't costs can be cut. mean that marketing facilities have sud-

•Those were the good old days, as recorded These marketing costs take a large denly become extremely efficient. All it by Mother Goose, when a farmer who had percentage of the consumer's dollar spent means is that in late years food has cost an extra pig for sale brought it, squealing for farm food. Here is the breakdown of more at retail level while marketing costs ahead of him, to the village market, and where the dollars spent for food at the remaining fairly constant, absorb a lesser the farmer who did not have a pig bought retail store goes. proportion of the dollar. it, drove it home and butchered it. The farmer for producing the goods gets It is with an eye on reducing marketing

It was a simple and direct path between 38.4 cents of it. Transportation facilities costs that the Research and Marketing Act producer and consumer, and certainly is a collect 6.4 cents, those who assemble it of 1946 was passed. The act gives author- far cry from the broad devious road marked get 3-6 cents, while 21 cents goes to proc- ity to the Department of Agriculture to by the many complex operations which essors. For the wholesaler there is 6.8 cooperate with State marketing officials carries our food today from the farms to cents and for the retailer 23-8 cents. in exploring wastes and inefficiencies and our tables. And another interesting break-down of find sound ways to eliminate them. The

Todays marketing procedures begin at the same dollar is by cost items. Again work will begin with the farmer and end the time the farmer plants the seed, for 38.4 cents for farm production and 6.4 for with the retailer. There is much work to then he already has his market in mind. transportation. Wholesale cut takes 24.8 do. Then a series of other operations begin cents, packages and containers require 4 An extensive survey of the wholesale all part of the marketing process. There cents, other expenses 21 cents, and profits marketing facilities of 20 cities made by train, truck, is transportation; by and by 5.4 cents. the U. S. Department of Agriculture re- products there is plane. For many pro- These figures for 1939 are the latest vealed that 15 of them needed extensive cessing, ranging from canning and freezing available for this type of analysis of what improvements in their handling of whole- to washing and grading. There are com- becomes of the consumers' food dollar. sale fruits and vegetables if the costs of mission brokers and wholesalers and re- However, another way to look at costs of marketing were to be reduced. Too many tailers through which the food must pass marketing is with an eye to their varia- of our wholesale markets are antiquated before it reaches the consumer. tions over the years. During the 1920-29 and unable to efficiently handle the volume All of these many operations add period 58 cents went out of each consumer of produce. charges to the cost of the commodity to dollar to pay the marketing bill. The 1930 the consumer. When, at many places to 1939 period, when times were harder, There is a job to be done modifying many along the way, costs can be reduced, costs costs were up to 62 cents. But beginning trade barriers set up by States which add in time, labor, or the product itself can with 1940 food marketing charges have to the cost of transportation and handling

8 Consumers' guide There are many steps which food must pass from farm to market. Waste and the higher prices caused from it often result from the Among them are the washing, grading, packing of perishables. improper loading of trucks which does damage to produce.

of foods which go into interstate com- in the heat of summer. Low temperatures sales compared with bulk commodities of

merce. There is a need too for more are obtained with a new application of an the same sort. They are offered at the efficient and economical transportation to old refrigeration principle—split-absorp- same price. The consumer preference for meet the enlarged demand of consumers tion system using liquid anhydrous the packaged product is being tested to for new types of processed foods. ammonia. determine if the volume of business can be Frozen foods require lower temperatures The consumer demand for improved increased to the point where this new for transportation than do fresh perish- packaging of perishable fruits and vege- service could be given without increasing ables. The ordinary refrigerator cars now tables adds to the marketing costs but the cost of the packaged goods over that of in use, cooled by ice and salt, can't main- work is being done to bring these costs the bulk, and at the same time net the 18° tain a temperature much below F. down. In point is the recent development chain store the same profit. above zero. But in order to keep frozen in the merchandizing of perishables, Other improvements in marketing that foods at their prime quality they must trimmed, weighed, priced, and displayed can increase the sale of the farmer's prod- be stored and transported at nearly zero in open-faced containers ready for self- ucts and give the consumer the advantage temperatures. service customers. of more convenient and economical food A newly developed refrigerator car Experiments and studies in this type of are: Developments in frozen meats to make shows possibilities of meeting the require- packaging ate being conducted in New them more easily available to the con- ments of frozen foods. This experimental Jersey and Pennsylvania by a chain store in year car is equipped with a refrigeration system cooperation with the Department of Agri- sumer the around; the freezing of that has no moving parts to get out of culture. Vegetables and fruits selected, fresh orange juice and processing of con- order, needs no power requirements and washed, graded, and put up in open-faced centrated citrus fruits; reduction of costs can maintain temperatures as low as 0° F. packages are displayed in stores and their of air transport and many more.

Refrigeration of perishables on the way to market is being studied Supermarkets bring together great varieties of foods and make to bring it up to date for new products and to lower costs. possible improved methods of storage, display, and merchandising.

July 1947 9 Freezing Fundamentals

New discoveries are continually being made in the field of quick- freezing. For best home-freezing resu Its, foil ow up-to-date scien- tific directions—and use top quality fresh fruits and vegetables.

* Oh Mr. Weatherman, what about saving reason, research and practical experience That's in the commercial field. Much of a bit of the extra July heat and summer are continually bringing new facts and the research being carried forward by the plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that problems to the fore. Department of Agriculture is focused on can easily be spared now for use later on, Of interest to the food industry is a new the problems which individual families when the winter winds do blow? food-preservation process developed by will encounter in preparing and caring for So far little but talk has been done about the Western Regional Research Laboratory household supplies of home-frozen foods. the weather. But to enjoy fresh fruits and which combines most of the advantages of New findings are continually cropping vegetables when the snow flies, ingenious dehydration and freezing. The new pro- up. For this reason, families who freeze American scientists and enterprising Amer- cess, which is called debydrofree%ing, puts their own foods should not become set ican housewives and businessmen are do- the perishable food through the first cycle in their ways—but on the contrary should ing more than a little. They're doing a lot. of dehydration. This reduces its bulk and be continually on the alert to take ad- Much of this activity centers around weight without significantly altering its vantage of the latest scientific findings in quick freezing. flavor or food value. The partially de- the field. Not only has the commercial frozen food hydrated food is then frozen. Here is a brief summary of important industry grown by leaps and bounds, but Among the advantages offered by the freezing pointers outlined by the Bureau the volume of food being preserved in dehydrofreezing process over ordinary of Human Nutrition and Home Economics: home freezers and neighborhood locker freezing of foods is the saving that it effects Choose varieties that are adapted to plants has increased enormously during in packaging and transportation costs be- freezing. You can write to the State col- recent years. The number of community cause of the decreased weight and bulk. lege of agriculture or State experiment locker plants rose from around 1,300 in Also dehydrofrozen foods are easier to re- station for a list of the recommended 1938 to more than 8,000 in 1946. And constitute than dehydrated foods. varieties available in your community. while no official estimates for the number of home freezers are available, the eager- ness with which many families are buying freezer units is no secret. Growing popularity of freezing as a means of food preservation probably rests in the fact that good quality frozen fruits and vegetables have many of the character- istics of the fresh article. The case for high quality frozen fruits and vegetables is stated very succinctly in a Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home

Economic publication on Home Freezing of Fruits and Vegetables. "With a home freezer or neighborhood locker plant, you can bring garden fresh- ness to your family table all year long. Freezing gives you bright color, fresh flavor, and most of the vitamin values of ." fresh fruits and vegetables. . . Then, by way of caution, the booklet adds: "Food that comes out of the freezer won't be any better than the food you put in."

freezing is a relatively new de- Quick Yum, yum, frozen corn! Corn that's just ripe enough for table use is best for freezing. Cut

velopment in food preservation. For this corn is easier to freeze successfully and takes less storage space than corn on the cob.

10 Consumers' guide Pick the fruits or vegetables when they are at their prime for eating fresh. Then freeze them pronto. If you must hold them a day, keep them as cool as possible. Remember, size of the pieces is impor- tant and follow directions for preparing the vegetables carefully. Pieces should be uniform and not too large. Scald the vegetables for exactly the length of time specified in the directions. Pack in moisture-vapor resistant con- tainers especially made for freezing food. Seal containers tightly. Rush the pack- aged food to the freezer. If the frozen food must be carried to a community lock- er, have an insulated container ready for the purpose. Store at 0° F. or lower. The best methods for preparing and freezing vary for different fruits and vegetables. Hence it's important to follow directions closely for freezing a particular food—instead of arbitrarily following the identical procedure willy-nilly for all kinds, merely because the method worked successfully for one. Some foods present particular problems. For example, no way has yet been dis- covered for successfully freezing whole Golden Bantam and Black Mexican. The frozen foods are improperly packaged for tomatoes, lettuce, celery, cucumbers, and Black Mexican is ready for freezing while storing. Answer to this is to seal the foods onions. The smart owner of a freezer its kernels are white and just before they tightly in special containers which are then will not waste time, locker space, start to take on a pink color. moisture-vapor resistant. or valuable produce trying to freeze these How to keep certain light-colored fruits At the Western Regional Research Lab- particular vegetables. from discoloring during storage is another oratory experiments with using a process Corn on the cob presents another problem facing families who embark on a of "dip-coating" instead of wrapping touchy problem in freezing—a problem home-freezing project. frozen food for storage have shown which the average housewife is advised Packing peaches in a sugar syrup to promising results. This new process con- to stay away from and to settle instead which ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been sists of dipping the food in a "molten, for frozen cut corn which is delicious and added is the most effective method for thermoplastic material." Translated into occupies much less freezer space. preventing darkening and promoting nu- plain English that means a liquid which Many will cling to that dream of corn on tritive value of the frozen fruit. In mak- becomes solid on contact with cold frozen the cob for Christmas, advice of the frozen ing the syrup, use 3 cups sugar to 4 of food and leaves a continuous film over it. food experts to the contrary. For such, water, and add }i teaspoon of ascorbic Tests showed that the film coating reduced the New York State Agricultural Experi- acid to each cup or cup and a half of oxidation, loss of moisture, and freezer ment Station offers some pointers: syrup. To be most effective, the sirup burn. When the frozen food had thawed To avoid doughiness which so often should completely cover the fruit. slightly, the film came off readily. makes frozen corn on the cob unpalatable, 'Recent investigations by the BHNHE Dip coating may prove especially useful corn must be harvested and frozen at exact- have also shown that peeling the peaches for packing frozen meat and poultry in the ly the right state of maturity. Corn that without scalding gives better results than opinion of the Western Laboratory investi- is too young tends to be watery, but even peeling them after they are scalded in gators. That's because the coating auto- this is better than over-mature ears which boiling water. Scalding makes the skin matically adapts itself to the irregular will be doughy after they are thawed and come off more easily but it also results in a shape of the poultry or meat cuts, so leaves cooked. To find out exactly the right translucent, cooked layer on the outer little air confined in the package. stage for freezing requires experimenting edge of the peach which sloughs and dis- And speaking of meat and poultry, these each year. This combined with the large colors during storage. old stand-bys still remain the most popular amount of locker space required for storing Another hazard that the successful user items for storing in freezer lockers. A sur- frozen corn on the cob puts the item defi- of a home freezer or freezer locker will vey of cooperative frozen food locker nitely in the luxury class. avoid is "freezer burn." That's the name plants made by the Farm Credit Adminis- Two varieties suggested for freezing are for excessive drying which occurs when tration shows that during 1946 the average

July 1947 11 family locker contained 353 pounds of No doubt your memory is super, dear, What to do in case the power goes off or

food. Of this 163 pounds was beef; 135 but advice from seasoned users of home the freezing machinery breaks down is pounds was pork; 15 pounds was poultry; freezers and freezer lockers still is to label another question which owners of home 4 pounds was lamb; 12 pounds was game; every single item clearly—and with a freezers must sometimes face. Rule one 13 pounds was fruit, and 11 pounds was moisture-proof label, telling the kind of is to leave the cabinet closed. The food vegetables. That's the average for the food and the date processed. stays frozen longer that way—usually for country at large. Keeping a record of the freezing date is 2 days even in summer, if the cabinet is

Right now is the big season for freezing important, since many frozen foods de- fully loaded. When the cabinet is less fruits and vegetables. That's because you crease in quality as they are held. If prop- than half filled, the food may not stay either harvest and freeze them when they erly prepared and stored, they will main- frozen for more than a day.

their prime or it's too late. their quality are in — tain for as long as 8 to 12 If repairs cannot be made within a day Quick freezing enables farm families to months. it's smart to freeze only Hence or two, get dry ice and place it in each slaughter their livestock whenever it's as much of the different foods as your fam- compartment as soon as possible. Fifty convenient—in warm weather as well as ily will use in the year. pounds of dry ice should hold the tempera- after first frost. the However, much of the Keeping an up-to-date inventory of the ture for 2 or 3 days in a cabinet that's less slaughtering is still done in the fall, after frozen food you have in storage is helpful than half full and in a loaded cabinet 3 to gets cool. in this connection. item added the weather Every new 4 days. If no dry ice is available and the are matter. or subtracted the store Frying chickens another from should be duly repairs take too long, move the food to a If you leave them too long, they aren't marked on or off the list. Some house- locker plant in insulated boxes as quickly fryers any more. For that reason, many wives keep a map of their locker posted as you can. farm families make a practice of killing nearby, so they will always know where Even when it comes time to eat frozen and freezing some of their young fryers in to reach for an item. Others separate the fruits and vegetables, there are certain the summer in order to enjoy fried chicken different kinds of food in mesh bags or by fine points to be observed. in midwinter. plywood or pasteboard partitions. Frozen berries, for example, taste better Cutting the chicken in pieces before If you don't have an index and can't if they are served before they are com- freezing saves locker space. Also it ena- remember what's in your freezer, a good pletely thawed while there are still a bles the lucky owners of this A-one eating time to check is when you defrost it, — ice crystals remaining. asset to store the legs and breasts away which should be done at least once a year. few Peaches on separately to dazzle dinner guests while Choose a time when stocks of home-frozen the other hand have a better flavor when making up separate containers of backs fruits and vegetables begin to run low. they are more thoroughly thawed, al- and wings for fricasse that's good enough Defrosting should be done quickly so the though their texture is better if they are plus for family meals. food will not thaw. Do not turn off the still a little icy.

it time to dig into the freezer during defrosting, as this will cause When comes Although most frozen vegetables can be locker for a party delicacy or a serviceable it to heat up too much. Scrape off the cooked without thawing, corn on the cob serving of a daily stand-by, how are you frost with a wide putty knife or a stiff- must be completely thawed. Also greens, going to recognize what each mysterious bladed spatula and brush onto a smooth broccoli, and asparagus cook more evenly package contains? piece of cardboard. if they are thawed enough to separate the leaves or stalks. As frozen vegetables are partly cooked before freezing, they take

less time to cook than fresh vegetables.

If a package of frozen vegetables is too big for your family to eat at a meal,

cut it in two and keep the uncooked part wrapped and frozen, so avoiding

that warmed-over taste and vitamin loss. Never refreeze frozen vegetables.

You can get the following material on the

preparation of frozen foods free by writing the

Office of Information, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, 25, D. C.

Home Freezing of Fruits and Vegetables, USDA, AlS-48.

Instructions on Processing for Community Frozen Food Locker Plants, USDA Miscel-

laneous Publication 588. (This is designed So you want frozen freshness? Then work This gadget helps in sealing moisture-vapor locker plants.^) fast to get the food from garden into freezer. resistant liner preparatory to freezing. for supervisory personnel of home

12 Consumers' guide "Shall Not Perish From the Earth"

From every State in the union youthful 4-H Club leaders met in their Nation's capitol to learn more about the duties of citizenship that must be performed to maintain a free land governed by its own people.

for the Government. As an example, the Department of Agriculture was shown in

operation with its scientists, administra- tors, laboratories, and experimental farms, and other resources devoted to providing

6}> million farm families with the benefits of research which will aid them in making better farms and homes. It pointed out too that the problems of agriculture are the problems of the whole country and

that its function is to fit into a scheme that provides for the general welfare. "Individual Responsibility for Citizen- ship"; "Leadership Responsibility in a ; Government' " In God We Representative ' spiritual • Last month on the Virginia bank of the to maintain a government, "of the people, Trust" (in Sunday services the "Safeguarding Potomac, overlooking the historic river, by the people, for the people," the citizen side of life was stressed); Action"; "Pro- the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Mon- must take responsibilities if he is to Liberty Through Group and "Hold ument, and the Capitol dome in the dis- continue to enjoy privileges of freedom. moting the General Welfare"; Torch"; were other topics which tance—two boys and two girls —from each Here they studied their Government in High the took up. of almost all the States came together to operation and in their own meetings dis- the groups the dele- study and discuss the rights and duties of cussed and outlined practical ways on how For these discussion meetings sections, each taking up citizenship in a free country. They met at young people cannot only prepare them- gates met in subject. Arlington Farms, a housing development selves for the duties of citizenship, but practical phases of the broad terms the used for wartime employees. take on immediate responsibilities of Here they translated into action other young They came to attend the seventeenth citizenship in their own communities. ways in which they and their citizenship National 4-H Club Camp which is held To prepare them for their discussions people could perform annually under the supervision of the and their final recommendations they heard duties. an example, under the head of, U. S. Department of Agriculture and the addresses by leaders of government, and For land-grant colleges. The Extension Serv- nationally known editors and educators. "Safeguarding Liberty Through Group discussed in which ice of each State chose 4 young people, be- They visited the House and Senate and Action," they ways leadership and tween the ages of 16 and 21, with a back- attended committee hearings of both young people, by taking affairs, can make ground of at least 3 years 4-H Club work. Houses. They visited national memorials active part in community They were selected because of outstanding to the men and women who represented for a better and stronger country. They leadership and their accomplishments in in deed and spirit the fundamental con- talked about how a 4-H Club recreation community service. cepts upon which our Government is program can be undertaken by establishinn When they came to Washington they based. And they saw the operation of a recreation center in each community ig lodge hall left behind their projects in farming and their Government's departments in action. the school building, church, or homemaking to learn more about their Under the general theme of their meet- or any other available place. Here a Government. They came with the reali- ing, ' Serving as Citizens in Our Repre- year-round program including games, dra- zation that no matter how fine the live- sentative Government," they built their matics, reading, music, crafts, and nature stock they bred nor how abundant the programs around the following subjects: studies could be built. They discussed corn crop they raised, all would be worth- "Fundamentals of Democracy." Here how best to encourage attendance and co- projects less if free government by free people is the idea was emphasized that the Govern- operation with churches through imperiled. They came knowing too that ment exists for the people not the people that will beautify the church grounds and

July 1947 13 —

do other special work which would im- But as an example of these recommenda- things valuable for health maintenance. prove the church of their choice. tions and the use to which they are put, We, therefore, recommend that our 4-H They talked too of how members could the work done by one of the groups at the organization put into effect such a health help each other in finding good jobs in 1946 meeting on "Building Health For a program, with necessary improvements rural both areas and cities. The develop- Strong America" is in point. Here are the and adjustments. ment of programs in which both boys and conclusions of one of the panels as made As a result of these 1946 recommenda- girls could get an income through work by one of the young people: tions, this year a national 4-H Club on the farm and at home were outlined. Club goals should be: (1) To conduct a program is being put into effect in the Cooperation with superintendents and survey of community health problems and local 4-H Clubs of the country. school boards and with farm and civic submit a report to health authorities. (2) So, too, the recommendations of last organizations were pointed out as ways To discuss at club meetings health educa- month's young conferees on citizenship that young people can have the benefits in tion with special emphasis on communi- programs will be submitted to the 75,146 taking part in community projects and to cable diseases. (3) To have a health officer 4-H Clubs of the country. They will be contribute to them. in each club to oversee the health and used by these clubs not as programs auto- Out of these discussions on using com- safety program of the members. (4) To cratically imposed upon them from above. munity groups to develop better citizens, put special emphasis on tuberculosis tests, They will come to each club—which indi- the panel of 4-H-ers under the chairman- care of teeth, malnutrition, and general vidually works out its own local projects ship of one of their own members drew up community health problems. (5) To co- not as an order but as a recommendation recommendations which may be translated operate in health campaigns, such as the of their fellow members who represented into a national program. Recommenda- sale of Christmas seals, March of Dimes, them in Washington. tions were also drawn up under each of and cancer-control drives. (6) To con- In this way the spirit of our Govern- the general topics discussed. As this is duct first-aid classes and practice basic ment, felt by the delegates to the camp, written the recommendations of this year's measures of safety. (7) To originate will be turned into action programs of committees are not available. funds for iron lungs, respirators, and other good citizenship across the counirv.

4-H-ers take in part a group project for improvement of their com- Better livestock and crops are practical goals of 4-H members, munity by landscaping their churchyard. Here they plant trees. Many raise chickens for good meat and high egg production.

To be better citizens delegates to the 4-H Club encampment see After a day studing their Government 4-H-ers returned to their their Government in action. They attent a congressional hearing. quarters in buildings erected for housing Washington war workers.

14 Consumers' guide .

CIose up on theNews . .

Milk Drinking Drops If it's a wool skirt that's being let down, In money value, poultry products now stand third or fourth in the list of agricul- The average American is drinking less and the fabric is shiny on the underside tural products, taking into account cash milk this year than last, the Bureau of of the hem, rip the hem and steam-press it value of Agricultural Economics of the U. S. De- on the wrong side of the fabric—that is, receipts from sales and the money in farm partment of Agriculture reports. if the wool is lightweight or has a raised the eggs and poultry consumed Sale of fluid milk as well as cream and pattern in the weave. If it's a thick wool, homes. Poultry production was stepped up ice cream have already fallen below last steam-pressing on the right side may be the Cash receipts year, according to the records. BAE ex- more effective. To steam-press, cover the greatly during war. eggs increased from pects milk sales to continue at a lower fabric with a dry wool press cloth, then from poultry and in to level for the remainder of the year than with a cotton cloth dampened in warm $1,370,669,000 1941 $3,049,084,000 part of this rise was during 1946. water. Use a warm iron, set down, then in 1945. Although prices and sales to the armed The drop in sales of milk, cream, and lift it—don't slide it back and forth. If due to higher forces to lend-lease, a big part of the ice cream has been particularly noticeable the shine still shows after all this, here's and is the increased consumption by in urban communities. another trick. Take a clean brush or a boom American Decrease in milk consumption means rubber sponge, the kind used for suede American families. The average that the national diet will be poorer in two shoes, and try raising the nap of the wool ate 80 more eggs in 1946 than he consumed period. He important nutrients—calcium and ribo- with it. annually during the 1935-39 ate 7-4 more pounds of chicken in 1946 flavin—than it has been in recent years. The steam-pressing may also work with annually during the Without milk, it is difficult for the average acetate rayon which is shiny on the under- than he averaged person to obtain enough calcium and ribo- side of the hem. If the shine can't be preceding period. of this flavin for best health. The big increase in removed, however, the lengthening may In order to maintain as much milk consumption during the war was one have to be accomplished in some other larger market as possible, the Committee of the principal factors contributing to an way. feels that major emphasis should be placed improvement in the national diet which If a hem-line crease is conspicuous and on more efficient production and marketing was hailed by nutritionist and health stubborn, here's a method that will often and increased consumption. to remedy the situation: Try wetting workers. help Continuing World Food Shortage reason for the recent decrease in the crease line on the wrong side; then One Present prospects are that the world food milk consumption is that American fam- turn the goods over on the right side and supply for the 1947-48 consumption year ilies are spending more for other consumer roll the crease back and forth in the may be little if any better than in 1946-47, goods which they have been unable to fingers to work it out. Press on the wrong despite world-wide efforts to increase pro- buy until lately because of war shortages. side afterwards. duction. Price is another factor in determining Poultry Problems Considered This gloomy forecast was recently an- how families will spend their money. Research aimed toward quality improve- nounced by the U. S. Department of Agri- Supplies of milk and most dairy prod- ment and conservation of poultry products culture on the basis of a survey of early ucts will be plentiful this summer but should be given high priority, according crop conditions in important producing prices will continue high. to recommendations of the industry Poul- areas throughout the world. Hems Down try Advisory Committee which was ap- Owing to the severe winter, extensive Now that the trend in skirt lengths pointed by the Secretary of Agriculture floods, and labor shortages, the acreage in seems to be a bit downward, letting down under the provisions of the Research and winter food grains in the countries of hems is becoming a scarcely popular but Marketing Act. At present heavy losses Western Europe has been reduced below widespread indoor sport with many in product and quality are sustained on the last year. Only a small part of this loss women. farm and at every step in marketing and in grain production can be made up by This brings up the question of how to processing, the committee finds. spring plantings but there will probably lengthen a skirt without giving it that Following a recent meeting, the Com- be larger acreages of sugarbeets, potatoes telltale letdown look? mittee issued a report which stresses the and feed grains. Because of the import- For the aid and comfort of gals who re- importance of the poultry industry. The ance of bread-grains in the domestic food fuse to be stampeded into discarding last report points out that production of poul- production in European countries, it is season's dresses which are "perfectly good try and eggs is more widespread than that likely that the total food output for 1947- except for the length," the Department of of any other major agricultural product. 48 in this area will be somewhat below Agriculture has come forth with some use- Eggs and poultry are produced on over 85 last year, notwithstanding the larger ful hemline hints. percent of the farms of the country. spring planting.

July 1947 15 :

other words some patterns nowadays are scaled to the proportions of the shorter GUIDE POSTS woman who is under 5 feet 5 inches. The new patterns are designed to make sewing simpler for the short woman. choose from among 5 to 15 different kinds Three advantages claimed by the pattern of bananas, both ripe and green, to suit the manufacturer are: better fit; easier dress- particular purpose they have in mind. For making because of the fewer alterations example there is the Claret banana which involved; and economy in fabric purchases. is popular at Christmas time. Then there's the Apple which has a flavor reminiscent Lessons in Eating

of a mellow apple. One of the most deli- If Americans today don't know more cate and perishable varieties is the Lady For Amateur Ironers about nutrition than they did before the Finger, plantain is while the a cooking war, it isn't because they haven't been Problem for an amateur ironer: How banana. exposed to nutrition in a big way. come those pale brown spots that some- Headless Sheets Here are just some of the activities used times appear on freshly washed and ironed by nutrition committees in the different clothes? The iron definitely wasn't too Will headless sheets be next? One communities throughout the country to hot, so it can't be scorch. Anyhow the expert in the field thinks they would make promote the National Wartime Nutrition stain is likely to look more like a spot than life simpler for the housewife. You see, Program: A nutrition streetcar; food a scorch. What is it? housewives sometimes have a hard time demonstrations; refresher courses in nu- Look at your ironing-board cover for the remembering to keep reversing the bed trition; discussion groups; nutrition refer- answer, mystified madam. Could be that sheets to distribute the wear.

ence shelves in libraries : traveling libraries, said cover is scorched and the pale brown Putting the wide hem at the top of the one of them in a horse-drawn "little red stain on your clean blouse or dress was bed one time and at the bottom of the bed wagon" that was routed to outlying picked up when you ironed them. Such the next is logical and reasonable—because neighborhoods; chain telephone calls; will happen if the ironing board cover is this moves the spot that gets the most bulletin boards in war plants, school and scorched and the clothing damp enough to wear under the sleeper's shoulders. Still offices; better breakfast campaigns; and a absorb the brown color when it's pressed and all it is hard to remember whether the lunch-box derby. over the stain. wide hem or the short hem of each sheet These are only a few of wartime nutri- In the same way, other soluble stains on was at the top last time. tion education activities listed in an the ironing board may be transferred to Why not end all this perplexity by article by Rowena Carpenter in the spring clothes during ironing. When clothes making sheet hems the same width top issue of the Land Policy Review. aren't colorfast, for example, part of the and bottom? And then let the law of But how much did people learn from all dye sometimes irons off on the ironing averages take care of the problem. this education? board cover, making it a menace to light- F. X. Ritger, director of purchases for In answer to that one, the article says colored clothing. the State of Wisconsin, asks this question that tallying the results is not easy because So be sure your ironing board cover is in a letter to Consumers' Guide. He says much of the value is intangible and does clean, before you start ironing, advise the "We see no good reason why sheets ". not lend itself to measurement. . . The home economists of the U. S. Department should not be regularly furnished with a few surveys that have been made to check of Agriculture. 2-inch hem, top and bottom. This auto- on diet changes indicate that many people matically would change the position of More Kinds of Bananas are eating more wisely ..." the sheet on the bed and not require any Yes, we'll have more kinds of bananas particular thought in occasionally re- tomorrow, may be. versing the sheet as is now required in Most United States consumers know order to spread the wear and thereby LISTEN TO CONSUMER TIME only the large yellow Gros Michel banana increasing the length of life." because the other varieties rarely make the Every Saturday Coast to Coast Helping the Little Gals long trip from the tropics to the corner over N. B.C. 12:15 EDT fruit stand. Who said all gals are tall? Check your news- But now air transportation may change All of a sudden, the pattern industry has papers for your all this—and introduce to North Ameri- discovered that some lasses are on the local time. cans some of the more exotic and perish- short side—5 feet, 5 inches, say, instead of Dramatizations, interviews, questions and answers able varieties of bananas from Latin 5 feet, 7 inches in their stocking feet. on consumer problems. Tune in. America, according to an article pub- For years patterns have been made in Brousht to you by the lished in the April-May issue of Agriculture one length, proportioned to fit the tall who is about 5 feet 7 inches. But in the Americas. woman U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Down south of the border and south of now for the first time "sized-to-height" the equator, the Latin Americans can patterns are making their appearance. In

16 Consumers' guide

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1947

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