018 REPORT OV OFFK'f: OF KXPERIMP^NT STATIONS. 



certain proWU'ins. Tlic cxt-ursioiis made by tlic student luc intended 

 for the ])ui|)()se of ^aiiiinj; closer and more accurate knowledge of 

 .such conditions as may ha\e a direct bearing on economics in general 

 and iiiral <'conomics in ])articulai'. it is of interest to note the kinds 

 of work undertaken by the seminar, and for this purpose a list of 

 titU's of dissei'tations is here given: The At)ility of the Small and 

 Medium Sized Land Property to Compete with the Larger Estate; 

 Tiie Bei'lin Ii-rigation Fields; Tin; Russian Farmers' Bank, with Spe- 

 cial Reference to its InHuenct; in l*oland; The Economic Importance of 

 Sil)eria; Theor}' of Agricultural Associations; The Economic Impor- 

 tance of ^lachinerv in Agriculture; Agricultural Labor Conditions; 

 Agricultural Work of Women (written by a woman member of the 

 seminar); The drerman Agricultural Society; The Extinction of Land 

 Indebtedness; Agriculture and Colonization in Argentine; Causes Lead- 

 ing to Extensive and Intensive Agriculture in Different Parts of Ger- 

 many; Economic Importance of Trust Funds, etc. 



Sometimes work is undertaken by the student under the direction 

 of the minister of agriculture. A plan to obtain information on the 

 agricultural conditions of the difl'erent districts of the country- has 

 been devised b}- the minister, and in this connection many of the 

 students study and report upon the agricultural conditions of a cer- 

 tain district. Expenses incurred in the pursuit of their work are 

 sometimes deferred b}^ the Government. The different districts are 

 studied by different parties, but the lines of inquiry are uniform in 

 order that the reports may be placed together and thus constitute a 

 complete review of agricultural conditions for the Empire. 



A large collection of reports from the administrative and judicial 

 officials of the entire country on the actual change in the po.ssession of 

 lands as caused by inheritance was turned over to the seminar by the 

 Government for arrangement, compilation, and publication. This 

 work when completed will consist of a number of volumes. 



The following outline represents the course in rural economy at the 

 University of Gottingen. It was given in this form as early as 1875: 



The estate. — Its size. External factors, such as political, social, and economic con- 

 ditions. Facilities of communication and transportation and their influence on the 

 management. Internal factors, such as condition and kind of soil, location of estate, 

 its adajitation to certain purposes, etc., and their influent*. 



Investment capital. — Investment in land. Use of land. Different methods of man- 

 agement and their results (increase or decrease of working capital, limits of the increa.se 

 and their extension, consolidation, and division). Investment in buildings and 

 improvements. What is needed in this line. Construction of buildings and improve- 

 ments. INIaintenance of same. 



Working capital. — Live stock required, and its maintenance. Utensils, implements, 

 and machinery required, and keeping them in good condition. Seed, fertilizers, 

 feeding stuffs, straw, household supplies, salable products, and cash on hand. 



Labor. — Managers and overseers. Regularly hired laljor. Day laborers. 



Obtaining possession of land. — Purchase, renting, administration. 



