A Botanical and Economic Study. 197 



(a) Bananas; Un Oranges; (c) Apples: ( ,( i Peaches; («) Tears: / 



The articles on the numbered horizontal lines in the diagram 

 separately indicate the complimentary goods which can be 

 substituted the one for the other, because article a = b = c = 

 d=x marginal utility. The articles on line 5, which give, 

 suppositional^, the most pleasure, have the same marginal 

 utility, and have been produced in the national system of 

 agriculture at relatively the same cost. The articles a\ b\ c 

 etc., on line 4, also have the same marginal utility, as also 

 those on the lines 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Articles can be 

 equal in value only when the same degree of utility is im- 

 puted to them. When every individual shall recognize, for 

 instance, that cheese in definite proportions has the same 

 nutritive value as meat, i. c, supplies the same bodily wants, 

 when meat no longer satisfies the taste, cheese, beans, eggs 

 or lentils will be substituted for meat, and the usefulness of 

 the group remain the same. 



Agricultural production directly responds to this change 

 in consumption, and the national system is possible. The 

 general rotation is feasible, because the demand is for a large 

 variety of goods arranged in scientific proportions. The 

 farmer is directly benefited, because he derives a larger 

 surplus, which can be devoted to social and agricultural 

 improvement. 



