Farm Family Living, 1920-1935

Excerpt: In order to answer many of the questions which are referred to the Bureau of Home Economics, data are needed on the way farm families allocate their cash expenditures; on the money value of the food, fuel, and other items contributed by the farm to the family living; and on the total money value of the goods and services which combine to make the content of the family living. Prior to 1936 no nation-wide survey of farm family consumption habits had been attempted. However, some of the needed information is available in published reports of studies of farm family living, and in summaries of family-living account books which have been made in the different states. This report summarizes data which have been assembled from 80 of these scattered studies of farm family living made in 31 states during the years 1920-1935.