AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS. 715 



from its valno or dignity, because it is clearly evident that in modern 

 ccononiic studv a larye share of the best work is })cint»" done b\- those 

 who are studvinii" existing conditions. 



Tliere is another consideration of some importance. The subject 

 ought to be presented by an economist rather than In' an agriculturist, 

 because the subject-matter is primaril}- economic and not agricultural. 

 l)Ut the economist who teaches this subject should be a man in 

 thorough sympathy' with practical agriculture and abl(> to approach 

 his subject from the sttmdpoint of the actual conditions and needs of 

 the agriculture of this country. Where it is not at present feasible to 

 employ a specialist for the work, the teacher of agricultural economics 

 should at least have had a thorough grounding in economics. I trust 

 that the little band of keen-sighted i)rofessors of agriculture wlio liave 

 been wise enough within very recent 3'ears to gi^e courses bearing on 

 this general subject will take no ofi'ense at this statement. I am 

 speaking ideally. Ultimateh', specialists in economics connected with 

 the land-grant colleges must do this work. The}' have at hand splen- 

 did o})portunity for labor in a field which is almost virgin soil. 



Ideallv, again, the studv of agricultural economics would not be an 

 isolated subject, but would be a feature of a lengthened study of social 

 science, extending over two or three years' time, Avith a fair prepara- 

 tion in the principles of economics and sociology and politics, followed 

 by some consideration of the more im])ortant protjlems of the day that 

 are economic, sociological, and political. With this general prepara- 

 tion the student could then well spend at least one year in the study of 

 agricultural economics and rural sociology. The inunediate task, 

 however, is that of endeavoring to outlini* what might be given in a 

 course of agiicultural ei-onomics to occup}' a period of perhaps three 

 hours per week for a term of fi-om twehi^ to twenty' weeks. 



It is hoi)ed that the appended outline may ])e suggestive of what can 

 easilv be uiven in the average agricultural course of the land-grant 

 colleges. It is not designed to be a tiiial analysis of the subject of 

 agricultural ctonomics. 



OUTLINE FOR A SHORT LECTURE COURSE IN AGRICULTURAL 



ECONOMICS. 



I. Characteristics of the agricuUural iii<histry. 



Dependence iijion natnre. 



Capital and lalxir a.« applied to agriciilturo. 



The lawH of rent and of <leerea.sinj^ n-turiis in agriculture. 



Relation of agriculture to other industries and to the welfare of mankind. 



II. History of the agricultural indu-stry. 



In aneieiit times. 



Status in Europe prior to the eighteenth century. 



The struggle to maintain its standing after the advent of ((niinitnc and 

 manufacture. 



