The Bureau has cooperated with the Rural Electrification Administration, the Extension Service, and the Bureau of Agricultural Chemistry and Engineering in the preparation of a bulletin on lighting the farmstead. In this publication the farm homemaker is advised as to the location of outlets and lights, and the points to be considered in choice of fixtures.

Promoting the Use of Consumer Standards.

Through its work with the National Consumer-Retailer Council, the Bureau, together with other organizations interested in consumer education, has worked toward an intelligent and sympathetic understanding of the problems of business by consumers and, conversely, the problems of consumers by business. The program of this council includes work on the development of definitions for products, standards for consumer goods; suggestions for labels for some of the more common widely used consumer commodities; promotion of other means of providing sound factual material to consumer-buyers.

The Bureau has prepared a series of buying guides to assist purchasers in judging the qualities of household textiles and of clothing. These guides suggest important points to be considered when purchasing and include publications on ready-made dresses, women's cloth coats, children's clothing, women's hosiery, men's and boys' shirts, sheets, blankets, and bath towels. Whenever possible these buying guides give specifications for the fabrics used in the finished article.

The Bureau also cooperates with the Extension Service in formulating study programs for rural groups interested in consumer buying. It provides material for the Consumers' Guide, published by the Consumers' Counsel Division, Agricultural Adjustment Administration. It conducts its educational program through radio broadcasts, bulletins, press releases, and other means of communication.

The homemaker requires a type of buying information different from that required by business and Government agencies. Consumers need simple labels and nontechnical statements as to qualities and performance. If standards for consumer goods are to be of maximum value to homemakers, they must be used in connection with a program of consumer education, such as that carried on by this Bureau, the Extension Service, and other educational agencies.

BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY

The Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, has published descriptions of principal varieties of various fruits and vegetables. Because of a lack of a generally accepted, authentic, and adequate description of even the most important of vegetable varieties, there has been great disagreement and some confusion as to exactly what characteristics a certain variety should possess. Members of the seed trade who deal in vegetable seeds, as well as farmers, canning-factory operators, and most gardeners who buy vegetable seeds, have long desired and urgently requested that the United States Department of Agriculture undertake exhaustive studies and issue adequate descriptions of the most widely used varieties of vegetable seeds. This development of varietal descriptions relates only indirectly to standardization, for it is almost entirely in the field of horticultural development and investigation. However,

when varietal descriptions and designations have been specifically established, it is then possible to establish grades and standards of quality within each varietal group.

The Bureau of Plant Industry has cooperated in providing basic information of horticultural nature to other bureaus of the United States Department of Agriculture, directly interested in the promulgation of standards.

COMMODITY EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATION

The Commodity Exchange Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, does not establish standards of quality. It is only concerned with grades in connection with its supervision of commodity markets. Under section 5a (6) of the Commodity Exchange Act, the use of official United States grades in futures trading for commodities under the supervision of the Commodity Exchange Administration is mandatory when such grades have been promulgated. If no United States grades have been promulgated, then trading is regulated under the various grades adopted by the commodity exchanges, provided their inspection systems have been approved by the Secretary of Agriculture under the provisions of section 5 (a) of the act.

While the Administration does not establish standards of quality, it has cooperated with other bureaus in the Department in the formulation of grades for futures.

EXTENSION SERVICE

The Extension Service of the United States Department of Agriculture conducts an educational program for farmers, concerning grades and standards for fruits and vegetables, dairy products, poultry products, livestock, grain, tobacco, cotton, and other farm products. This work is closely related to the general educational program dealing with improvement of quality and the cultural practices which result in the production of the varieties, grades, and kinds of products that best satisfy consumer demand. Demonstrations are given by county agents and extension specialists on the proper methods of grading various products to meet United States or State standards. In addition, approved methods of harvesting, packaging, and loading are taught to farmers and farm groups. The majority of this work is conducted in the field or at shipping points, and frequently cooperative demonstrations are arranged at which representatives of the State and Federal departments of agriculture, whose work deals with grading and standardization, participate.

Considerable attention has been given in recent years to the development of grades and the use of marks or brands which can identify these grades to consumers. Extension Service representatives have assisted farmers in developing so-called quality-improvement programs. The objective of these programs is to develop a product of uniform quality and to identify it with a trade-mark or insignia which can thereby assure consumers of the designated quality of produce. Work of this nature has been done for various fresh fruits and vegetables, certain canned products, dressed poultry, dairy products, and other commodities.

In addition to the educational program for farmers on grades and standards, the Extension Service, through home demonstration work, conducts a program on consumer education for rural women. The consumer goods covered include food, clothing, furniture, house furnishings, electrical and other household equipment, and cosmetics. Homemakers learn, through their home demonstration work, to buy through examination of product, reading of labels, and questioning of retailers. Consumers are encouraged to ask for quality labels. Each State has an extension specialist in some of the fields in home economics. These specialists develop materials for the use of home demonstration agents in the counties. Information for these materials on consumer education is taken from various sources, including the Bureau of Home Economics, American Home Economics Association, American Standards Association, and State experiment stations, and from such publications as "Consumers' Guide" of the Consumers' Counsel Division, Agricultural Adjustment Administration.

The home demonstration agents also educate farm women in the use of marketing standards for some of the products which they sell. These standards are used in the markets which farm women have established, particularly in the Southern States. Most of the educational work performed by the Extension Service in the use of marketing standards is conducted by county agents and State Extension specialists. Demonstration meetings to show farmers how to grade their produce are arranged by the county agents who either speak themselves or bring in field members of the Agricultural Marketing Service, and specialists from the agricultural colleges. Information is given not only on the grading itself but also on ways to improve quality so that higher grades may be met. These demonstrations may range from choice of seed, through the various cultural operations, to harvesting and packing. In some cases county agents demonstrate methods of harvesting, grading, and packing in the fields; and in others demonstrations are arranged at packing sheds, shipping points, and farmers' wholesale markets.

FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Standards for Commodities Used in Farm Production.

The Farm Security Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, has recommended certain quality standards for the use of its clients in making purchases with proceeds of loans received through the Administration. These standards, which are more in the nature of buying guides, apply only to goods used in farm production: Seed, fertilizer, equipment, and livestock. These standards have been prepared with the cooperation of other bureaus of the United States Department of Agriculture.

The seed standards set up minimum requirements for seeds used in farm production and for vegetable seeds used in home gardens. The factors considered in these standards are germination, seed purity, disease resistance, proportion of weed seeds permitted in a mixture, weight per bushel, and the need for purchasing untreated or treated seed. In each case the minimum requirement is specified. The reports outlining the standards also include a discussion of the variety of seeds which may be purchased and the proper method

to be used in the planting of seed. The work on seed standards which is being done by the Farm Security Administration supplements that regularly being done by the United States Department of Agriculture on seed labeling. The Farm Security Administration found that descriptive labels which are attached on seed sacks are not being made available to consumers who purchase in small quantities. The Administration also found that there was no protection to consumers who buy seed produced locally. Because of the large waste of money resulting from the improper purchase of seed by its clients, the Farm Security Administration set up its own minimum standards for seeds and suggested that its clients purchase them cooperatively.

The suggested minimum standards for fertilizer likewise are buying guides. It is recommended that fertilizer mixtures should contain not less than 20 percent plant food. It is also suggested that farmers purchase grades recommended by the State experiment stations or the extension service, and use high analysis fertilizers. Regional directors are authorized to prepare a list of a limited number of acceptable grades of fertilizers for farmers.

The specifications for machinery and equipment are also mainly buying guides which include factors important in the purchase of farm machinery. They contain descriptions of the proper types of equipment to be purchased for certain uses, and information on the care and repair of farm machinery. These specifications indicate first that, in purchasing equipment, farmers should ascertain that (1) the equipment is of a current model regularly furnished to the trade, (2) the design is in accordance with good practice and the workmanship and quality is satisfactory, (3) the machinery is new and unused unless otherwise specified, (4) a satisfactory guaranty is given by the seller that any defects due to poor workmanship developing within 3 months of the date of purchase will be adjusted. (5) service and parts are readily available, (6) purchase is subject to suitable instruction and demonstration, and (7) machines are to be set up if they are shipped in knocked-down form. The specifications then classify the various types of agricultural implements and machinery on the basis of the purpose for which they are to be used. namely: (1) Seed bed preparation, (2) planting, (3) cultivating, (4) spraying and dusting, (5) harvesting, and (6) processing. They describe the various types of implements available for each of these purposes and indicate the major factors that should be considered in the purchase of each type of equipment. Thus, in the case of planting equipment, it is recommended that the machines selected should be ones that can be used on diversified crops, should be equipped with an ample assortment of seed plates for various sizes of seeds, and that the range in the rate of seeding should cover future as well as existing farm needs.

Specifications and recommendations for livestock have been prepared which indicate the factors that farmers should consider in making proper selection of certain types of livestock, and how animals should be cared for after purchase. These specifications are more detailed in the case of horses, mules, and dairy stock, than they are in the case of sheep, swine, and poultry. They are, in effect. buying guides although they are called standards by the Farm Se

curity Administration. The two principal factors that farmers are advised to consider in buying dairy stock are (1) freedom from disease (tuberculosis, bangs, mastitis, sound in udder), and (2) production. A schedule of prices is included which indicates the differentials that should be paid for dairy stock of different ages and with different butterfat production records.

Standards for Commodities for Farm Consumption.

The Bureau of Home Economics of the United States Department of Agriculture has been cooperating with the Farm Security Administration in providing information relating to selection of consumer commodities. The Bureau of Plant Industry and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Vocational Education Division of the Office of Education, United States Department of the Interior, have also cooperated with the Farm Security Administration in supplying information for guidance in consumer buying.

Account books, required by the Farm Security Administration, include a list of commodities bought by farm families each month. From these account books a list of commodities to be tested in order to determine their quality and performance has been compiled. The Bureau of Home Economics is conducting tests of many of these commodities, including boys' trousers, overalls, socks, foods, and cooking devices. As a result of these tests, specifications may be formulated to meet the particular needs of the clients of the Farm Security Administration, with major emphasis on performance. Efforts are also being made to correlate commodity standards with nutritive values. Adequate minimum needs provided by a liberal supply of vegetables, milk, eggs, poultry, and meats, are included in these "dietetic standards."

The number of consumers contacted by the Farm Security Administration is necessarily small since the Administration helps only those families who cannot be served through any other channels. The educational program is developed by field workers and through Cooperative endeavors. It is hoped that emphasis on home and family needs and costs, together with the detailed keeping of records by each family, will encourage buying of over-the-counter goods on the basis of quality and performance. The educational program for the development of buying on this basis will be more easily conducted in the rehabilitation projects of the Farm Security Administration where community cooperation is being created, than in cases where the Administration is merely assisting individuals. In the latter case, however, an attempt will be made to educate these individuals. regarding quality purchasing.

Standards for Low-Cost Housing.

While the Farm Security Administration is not primarily a housing agency it has constructed low-cost homes for the farm families on, or near, relief which it has helped to become self-supporting.

The houses constructed under this program were designed to meet a wide variety of climatic conditions, living habits, and economic needs. Some of the first houses were suburban, such as Greenbelt communities, rather than rural. Today, however, the Farm Security