388 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



Mercantile and agricultural economics, C. S. Duncan (Jour. Polit. Econ., 

 26 (1918), No. 8, pp. 769-806).— The author discusses in detail the relationship 

 of the home and the farm to show the difference between the farm as a busi- 

 ness and other kinds of business, also the differences between the principles 

 employed by agricultural economists in caring for raw materials and in analyz- 

 ing the farm income. He condemns certain conclusions which disparage the 

 farmer's labor income, failing to take into consideration both tangible and 

 Intangible total returns. 



Farm management investigations (Kansas Sta. Rpt. 1911, p. 20). — The in- 

 dications from records of farm business on 633 Kansas farms for 1915 and 

 from detailed records of farm operations and transactions obtained from three 

 farms in the same State are briefly summarized. Stock-share leasing was 

 found to be the most profitable and satisfactory system of tenancy. 



Summary of farm management survey (Iowa Sta. Rpt. 1917, pp. 28, 29). — 

 The results of a farm management survey made in the summer of 1916, in- 

 cluding 832 farms in Warren County, Iowa, are summarized. " Of the 832 

 farms studied, 41 per cent were operated by owners, 36 per cent by tenants, 

 23 per cent by those who owned part and rented some additional land. The 

 average size farm was 156 acres and the value per acre $117. . . . The higher 

 the price of land, the larger percentage of the farms are usually operated by 

 tenants. 



"After deducting operating expenses and 5 per cent interest on the capital in- 

 vested in the farm, the average owner received $212 as pay for his year's labor, 

 whereas the average tenant, after deducting operating expenses and rent paid 

 to the landlord, received $725 for his labor. . . . Until we reach a group of 

 farms 406 acres in size, where the labor income decreases, there is apparently 

 a limit to the size of farm which can be efficiently operated. The fact that 

 only 54 out of S32 farms fall In this group indicates that such farms arc not 

 profitable, on the average. . . . 



" In studying over the records, it has boon found that those who stocked 

 their pastures most heavily were making labor incomes more than twice as 

 large as those farmers who storked their pastures the lightest . . . The 

 highest priced land in Warren County seems to be the cheapest from the 

 standpoint of making money." 



Labor costs and seasonal distribution of labor on irrigated crops in Utah 

 Valley. L. G. Connor (It ah Sta. Bui. 165 (1918), pp. 3-24. fas. 5 K— This bul- 

 letin presents in tabular form the results of a detailed study made in 1915 in 

 cooperation with the Office of Farm Management of the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, principally in Utah Lake Valley, Utah, and is supplementary to 

 a study of farm management and farm profits in the Provo area previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 38, p. 493). Local farm practices in regard to small fruits 

 and tree fruits, general field crops, and canning crops, considered in the order 

 in which they are harvested, are described. 



"The growers estimate that from December 1 until April 1 weather condi- 

 tions permit about half of the total number of days to he used for outside 

 work, such as hauling, etc. . . . When field work starts, ahout March 1. not 

 over half the time is available. . . . Two-thirds of the time in May, three- 

 fourths in June, and four-fifths in July, August, and September arc available 

 for field work. In October three-fourths and in November rwo-thlrdi of the 

 time are also available. In the winter season (December 1 to March 1) about 

 46 days are available for outside work, such as hauling manure. . . . From 

 March 1 to May 1, the planting period for this area, there are 61 days, of which 

 about 35 are available for field work. From May 1 to July 1, the crop working 

 period, about 42 days are available, and 50 during July and August. . . . 



