OFFICE OF FARM MA^TAGEMENT AND FARM ECONOMICS. 555 



In the project dealing with the distribution of farm enterprises, 

 the census data have been compiled and mapped ready for presen- 

 tation in the 1921 Yearbook, in which they will occupy about 125 

 pages. 



In the study of geography of farm practices, labor requirements, 

 and seasonal distribution of labor, investigators have copied all 

 crop data contained in the 1919 county result slips of the census; 

 made a percentage analysis of the crop area of each county ; mapped 

 the choice of hays, small grains, and row crops, and mapped the 

 cropping systems of the Cotton Belt (1910 and 1920). Corn Belt 

 (1920). together with the regions to the north and west of these 

 belts (1920). Much of this material will appear in the Yearbook 

 for 1921. 



Preparatory to the study of live-stock systems of farming in the 

 United States, two schedules have been prepared and sent out. through 

 the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates, one a pasture schedule, 

 that will provide the data necessary to divide the pasture acreage 

 (census 1919) into rotation pasture, other tame grass pasture, differ- 

 ent grades of wild-grass pasture, and browse pasture: the other, a 

 live-stock schedule that supplies valuable information as to how 

 crops and pasture are utilized by cattle, swine, sheep, horses, etc., on 

 typical farms in different sections of the United States. 



Those engaged in research in jreographic conditions in relation to 

 the utilization of land have also been devoting a great deal of 

 time to the compilation of census statistics. Joint arrangements 

 have been practically completed between this section and the Section 

 of Land Economics to cooperate with the Bureau of the Census in 

 tabulating the six questions relating to the use of land. These ques- 

 tions were not tabulated by the census, although the data are basic 

 to an understanding of the use of land and the economic geography 

 of American agriculture. 



During the past year the " Precipitation and humidity " section of 

 the Atlas of American Agriculture has been released for publication. 

 The " Native veiretation " and " Temperature, sunshine, and wind " 

 sections are ready to submit. 



Agn-cnlfyrnl Jihtonj. — During the year work has been continued in 

 the preparation of maps showing the shifts in crops, live stock, popu- 

 lation, and farms from 1840 to 1920. This work is nearly completed. 

 Some text has been prepared and text to be prepared for the 1921 

 Yearbook will contribute to the preparation of this work. 



A 'field man spent several months in the Northern Great Plains 

 collecting historical material relatincr to the development of the agri- 

 culture of that region, and valuable records relating to the cattle 

 industry were obtained. Progress has been made toward organizing 

 this material. 



Study has been begun of the diaries and account books of several 

 farmers covering a long period of years. Analysis of these diaries 

 promises valuable information about farm organizations, source of 

 income, cost of production, rate of accumidation. and conditions of 

 living on the farm. The particular value of these records lies in the 

 fact that they extend through long periods of time and enable the 

 investicrator to analyze the effect of changes in general economic 

 conditions on the farm business, and also the effect of the age of the 

 farm and of the farmer on the farm business. 



