12 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL 

 ECONOMICS. 



LORIAN P. JEFFERSON. 



The work of the department of agricultural economics has 

 been along two lines. During the early part of the year Mr. 

 S. H. DeVault, research assistant in the department, continued 

 his study of the supply and distribution of cigar-leaf tobacco 

 in the Connecticut valley. The preparation of his monograph 

 on the subject was nearing completion when he resigned, June 

 1, 1918, and went into the army. The monograph is being 

 completed by other members of the department, and it is 

 expected that it will soon be ready for publication. 



A study of food distribution in the city of Holyoke is now 

 under way, the field work being done by Mr. D. W. Sawtelle, 

 instructor in agricultural economics, and Mr. A. S. Thurston, 

 who has been temporarily secured as assistant in the depart- 

 ment. The study has included such questions as the area 

 which receives the bulk of its supplies through Holyoke; the 

 methods and facilities of transportation of foods into the city 

 and reshipments to other markets; the sources of supply of 

 foods consumed in the city; the community market as a 

 method of distribution; the place of hucksters in local market- 

 ing of foods; and, specifically, the milk supply of the city, 

 the feed business and local slaughtering of live stock. Some 

 interesting charts are being prepared for use in the monograph 

 which is to embody the findings of this study. 



