190 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOBD. [Vol. 35 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



How the Department of Agriculture promotes organization in rural life, 

 C. W. Thompson {U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1915, pp. 272ar-212p) .—This article 

 gives a brief description of the activities of this Department in improving 

 rural life through organizations, treating of the work in connection with the 

 farm management investigations, boys' and girls' clubs, county organizations 

 for extension activities, organizations for the introduction of special crops or 

 for obtaining better seed, control of animal diseases, cow-testing associations, 

 organizations for road improvement, work for improving market facilities, 

 agricultural credit, and for the encouragement of social activities. 



The author points out that " it may be noted that in every case the organiza- 

 tion is undertaken for some specific purpose, and that that purpose is one which 

 can better be accomplished through concerted effort than through individual 

 action alone. This represents the general policy of the Department with 

 regard to organization among farmers." 



How Hawaii helps her farmers to market their produce, E. V. Wilcox 

 {U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1915, pp. 131-11,6, pis. 2).— In this article is given 

 a description of the market conditions in Hawaii and the efforts of the Hawaii 

 Federal Experiment Station, through its marketing division, to find a marked 

 for the native produce. When the division first took up its work the town and 

 city traders were purchasing very little native produce on account of the 

 irregularity of receipts and lack of uniformity of packing. The marketing 

 division sought out favorable producing centers for certain crops, taught the 

 natives how to handle their produce, and established a market information 

 service. 



Results of this work are summarized as follows : " Starting with unorganized 

 and isolated farming communities of different races, it has brought these men 

 together to the mutual benefit of all concerned. Beginning with a farming 

 population, which had been originally laborers and totally without information 

 as to market requirements for farm products, it has brought about a striking 

 improvement in the grading and packing of tropical fruits and products to the 

 benefit of the farmer and of the consumer in Honolulu and on the mainland. 

 Initiating a practical market system among a set of farmers who were thor- 

 oughly discouraged as to the prospects of carrying on general agriculture in 

 Hawaii, it has shown that reasonable profits can be derived from diversified 

 agi'iculture in Hawaii." 



The cooperative purchase of farm supplies, C. E. Bassett ( U. S. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook 1915, pp. 73-82, pi. 1).—The author enumerates as the objects of 

 cooperative purchase associations the elimination of waste in conducting their 

 business, the securing of high-grade goods, and the standardization of supplies 

 by using the same kind of implements, packages, etc. 



The type of organization recommended is a board of five or seven directors 

 and a secretary who is to act as business manager. It is advised that each 

 purchaser pay in addition to a small membership fee a slight excess of the 

 cost of the goods to cover the expenses of conducting the business. In trans- 

 acting the business the association may also be used as a clearing house for 

 onlers so as to obtain carload lots. However, the author considers that it is 

 better to give the local dealer an opportunity to bid on the purchases. 



Another method advocated is to deposit in a local bank the necessary cash 

 or arrange for the proper credit. The certificate of deposit is forwarded with 

 the order. If warehousing or manufacturing is undertaken by the association 

 a skillful manager is required. 



