EDITOKIAL. 707 



plete data is one of the greatest handicaps in economic studies. It 

 has been one of the obstacles to conducting them through the experi- 

 ment station. 



The economist ought to have at his command sufficient data, gatli- 

 ered in an accurate and dependable manner. Some of these data are 

 difficult to obtain. Their collection requires much time and the ex- 

 penditure of large sums of money. Manifestly the ex]:)eriment 

 station can not be expected to furnish these data in any comprehensive 

 way, for its appropriations, if available for that purpose, would not 

 go far. Only in a limited way is it an experiment station function. 

 There would seem to be need of special proAision fen- gathering such 

 information. This might be done by the States through their depart- 

 ments of agriculture or other agencies, on the advice of competent 

 economists. The stations could often add to such statistics the re- 

 sults obtained by exact experimental inquiries, and in many cases 

 such experimental inquiries are very desirable. 



In the question, for example, of the cost of milk production, which 

 is a controverted one in several States, it is not sufficient to collect 

 data from farmers and from milk dealers and other interested parties, 

 based on inexact records and possiblv on practice which can not be 

 fully commended. There is need of exact and reliable information, 

 free from bias and distinguishing between what is and what should 

 be under efficient practice. An}' economic inquiry into this (juestion 

 of a fair farm price for milk will naturally take account of the large 

 body of reliable information concerning the cost of producing milk 

 which the stations have acquired; and if a station has made a careful 

 study of the subject in all its details, in which not only the stable side 

 but the various features connected with transportation and handling 

 have been taken into account, its results should be of marked eco- 

 nomic importance. 



The data which serve as the foundation for rural economics vary 

 in relative importance from year to year. Fluctuations in the labor 

 supply, in the extent of competition, in the prevalence of pests and 

 diseases, in the general demand for the product in question, and in 

 the area planted to a given crop, all modify the economic status of 

 crops and systems of farming. Loss of old markets, access to new 

 markets and the opening and settlement of new lands also have an 

 effect upon the market value of farm products. The establishment 

 of new railroad or steamship lines may render a new market accessible 

 to a given farming district, but may also open the same market to 

 more favored competitors, thereby making unprofitable the growing 

 of certain crops. Hence the process of gathering data must be con- 

 tinuous, and nnist be systematized so as to make the figures com- 

 parable. 



93681°— No. 8—15 2 



