138 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



every available source as well as from their own group experience. 

 Other divisions of the bureau make frequent demands upon the staff 

 for data relating to individual farms or groups of farms, so that 

 no small part of its service rendered lies in its contributions to the 

 more general economic problems directly in the hands of other 

 divisions. Much of its work is done in cooperation with state re- 

 search organizations, as well as with other divisions of the bureau 

 and of the Department of Agriculture. The problems of farmers 

 are complex, because of changing conditions, so that studies cover- 

 ing extended periods of years are carried on and new ones are under- 

 taken as those in process are completed. 



The analysis and presentation of the data which have been col- 

 lected during the past three years on the cost-accounting routes con- 

 ducted by the Cost of Production Division was begun. The plan is to 

 make this material available in such form that it can be used by 

 the farmers who contribute the material, and by other farmers 

 similarly situated, in choosing the best enterprises to include in 

 their farm business, and in keeping these enterprises properly ad- 

 justed to changing conditions. This work is done in cooperation 

 with the Cost of Production Division. 



A comprehensive study of land utilization and farm organiza- 

 tion in the northern Great Plains region was inaugurated, with a 

 view to determining as nearly as possible from the experience of 

 those who are farming there just what types of farming are best 

 suited to the different parts of the region. The Division of Land 

 Economics cooperates in this study. 



DISTRIBUTION OF TYPES OF FARMING SHOWN. 



A series of maps showing the geographic location of different 

 types of farming throughout the country has been prepared. These 

 maps will afford a better basis than has heretofore been available 

 for determining the areas to which the results of its investigations 

 fire applicable. 



Incomes from farming in 1922, together with the relative im- 

 portance of different sources of receipts and expenditures in different 

 sections of the country were determined, and reports from over 

 6,000 farms summarized and published. Plans were made for con- 

 tinuing this project on a larger scale during the coming year. 



The problems of agricultural production in areas adjacent to cities 

 was the subject of study with a view of determining the extent to 

 which adjustments in production to meet the local demand can 

 profitably be made. The area adjacent to Altoona, Pa., was chosen 

 as the location for the first study, and plans were laid for making 

 similar studies near a number of other cities during the coming 

 year. In this work the division cooperates with other divisions and 

 institutions. 



A study of the management and organization of sugar-cane plan- 

 tations in Louisiana was arranged in cooperation with the Cost of 

 Production Division and the Louisiana State College. Complete 

 records of the activities of a number of plantations are being kept 

 for the year which when completed will be studied to determine 

 the most profitable methods of producing sugar cane. 



