AXXl'AI. Rl'.roR'l-, l'i4,i 55 



DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS 

 Alexander E. Cance in Charge 



Land-Use Problems in Massachusetts in Relation to a Balanced Pro- 

 gram of Land Utilization. (David Ro/.man.) The work on this project 

 continued with the analysis of land-use factors in the light of economic 

 and social conditions as they afifect individual communities in rural areas. 

 The program of land-use classification advanced to a point where detailed 

 information is now available for over 300 rural towns of the Common- 

 wealth. This includes the analysis of interrelationships between basic 

 factors, as movement of population, tax rate, types of soil, land use and 

 ciner, road conditions, and other facilities and improvements in rural 

 areas. 



During the past year especial emjdiasis has been placed on the analysis 

 of types of farming and the degree of diversification prevailing in various 

 sections of the State. The study of these facts has been brought into 

 prominence in connection with the accelerated defense program and the 

 l)ossibi!ity of changes in the farming organization. These are expected 

 to develop as a result of the shortage of farm labor and the changing 

 level of prices for both farm products and the protlucts inirchased by 

 the farm operators. 



In Bristol County, where a complete analysis of the farm enteri)rises 

 was carried out, a considerable amount of iliversilication is indicated. 

 Out of a total number of 1,259 commercial and semi-commercial farms 

 investigated, 647 or 51 percent had two or more farm enterprises; and 

 of these, 205 farms, or 16 percent of the tt>tal number, had three or more 

 different enterprises. The farms with only one enteri)r;se numbered 612 

 or 49 i)ercent of the total. The degree of diversification in commercial 

 and semi-commercial farms compares favorably w^ith that of farms oper- 

 ated on a self-suiificient or a part-time basis. The investigation and 

 analysis carried out for the latter in the same county indicate only o.i 

 percent of the total number of units ha\"ing two or more enterprises. 



It has been generally recognized that, whatever changes in farm organ- 

 ization are brought about as a result of the new influences, it is important 

 to maintain a certain amount of self-sufficiency and diversitication of en- 

 terprise to meet the conditions after the present acceleration of business 

 activit\' is terminatetl. 



