March, 1922. 



SCIE^•TII•^C AGRICULTURE 



287 



would study the economic piiuciples of 

 marketing and apply them to their part- 

 icular conditions, they would realize tlie 

 importance of efficient handling and would 

 learn the cause of many of their former 

 lasses. 



This volume by Theodore Macklin. Pro- 

 fessor of Agricultural Economics in the 

 University of Wisconsin, is a remarkably 

 complete study of the wide problem of 

 marketing, as applied to agriculture. In 

 the introductory chapter an interesting 

 I'omparison is made between the simplicity 

 of the methods involved in pioneer produc- 

 tion and consumption, and the complica- 

 tions of modern commercial agriculture 

 with its Ihighly specialized productive meth- 

 ods and diversified consumption. The fol- 

 lowing chapters deal, in perfect sequence, 

 with the economic basis of marketing, 

 a-ssembling, grading, packing, processing, 

 transpoiting, storing and distribution of 

 farm products. There are also chapters 

 on co-operative marketing, essentials of 

 success, marketing methods, marketing 

 agencies, the market and price making, 

 weaknesses in present marketing system 

 and organization in marketing. 



An interesting feature of the book is the 

 selected li.st of readings given at the close 

 of each chapter, so that anyone may se- 

 cure further data upon particular phases 

 of the problem. At a time when there is 

 too little available material upon this com- 

 plex and highly interesting subject, this 

 volume will be welcomed by all who are 

 interested in agricultural economics. 



The book contains fifty-three illustra- 

 tions, thirty-nine tables,, nineteen chapters 

 and 418 pages. 



Rural Organization, by Walter Burr. 

 (Macmillan Publishing Companv, Toronto 

 $2.60-). 



The drawing power of urban centres 

 and its effect upon rural communities, has 

 been a matter for public discussion and 

 open debate for many years. The diffi- 

 culty of keeping the younger generation 

 upon the land was constantly facing the 

 older folks; try as they would to paint a 

 picture, for the boys, of future content- 

 ment and happiness on the farm, they 



found that the city painted a still finer 

 picture, and away went the boys. This 

 condition was a common one in many dis- 

 tricts a few years ago, but it is a condi- 

 tion that, in Canada at least, is slowly 

 but surely being removed. 



We do not find many neglected farms; 

 we find that the younger generation are 

 staying on the farm, and we find content- 

 ment on the farm. Why? Parth' because 

 of better means of transportation (the 

 automobile particularly) which brings 

 neighbours nearer together, partly because 

 of better roads, partly because of t^e 

 rural telephone and rural mail delivery, 

 partly becau.se of better sanitary condi- 

 tions, and partly because of a greater com- 

 munity spirit — that happy idea of bring- 

 ing people together for purpo.ses of enter- 

 tainment as well as for a consideration of 

 their own problems, and of organized ef- 

 fort for their solution. 



Much of this change has been the result 

 of rural organization and we can credit 

 rural organization as being the solution, in 

 a large measure, . of one of the most serious 

 difficulties facing our country-side a few 

 years ago. Rural organization should be a 

 subject of special interest to all students 

 of agriculture, whether they are interested 

 especially in .sociology or not. 



This volume by Walter Burr of the 

 Kansas State Agricultural College is part- 

 icularly timely, is written by a man who 

 ha.s had wide experience in the subject 

 and treats the question from many angles. 

 The author .says, in his preface — "In this 

 treatise the attempt is made to present the 

 work in tenns of action rather than of 

 theoretical plans; to classify such action 

 in terms of definite functions; to interpret 

 all in terms of the local community and 

 for the benefit of the local leader; and to 

 keep the entire matter in simple and prac- 

 tical form."' 



The volume is divided into three main 

 parts : General Principles, Organizations 

 and In.stitutions ; Community Economic 

 Functions; Community Social Functions. 

 Every chapter has its own argument to 

 present and each chapter closes with a li.st 

 of question.s for study and a list of re- 

 search problems for the local community. 

 13 chapters, 250 pages. 



