ANNUAL REPORT, 1932 S 



of acliie\emeiit in fieltis to which their enertjies ha\e been directed in the past, 

 should qualify to give aid in the development of a solution for our present prob- 

 lems of depression. There are already evidences that a constructive program 

 based on research is desired. It is not unreasonable to assume that the general 

 public is ready to place the same confidence in results gained by experiment 

 stations in this field that the farmer has, in discox'eries in the field of Agriculture. 

 It is a project worthy of our foremost consideration. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 

 Alexander E. Cance in Charge 



Factors Affecting the Price of Eggs. (A. H. Lindsey.) Revised correla- 

 tion analysis shows that the price level is the most important factor affecting the 

 annual average price of eggs. For nearby eggs the annual average price decreases 

 5.68 cents for each 10-point decline in Snyder's index of price level. An increase 

 of 100,000 cases in Boston receipts lowers prices 1.5 cents. For western eggs 

 in the Boston market a 10-point decline in price level lowers the price 4.95 cents, 

 and an increase of 100,000 cases in receipts lowers the price for this grade 1.4 

 cents. 



Further refinement of the influence of various factors at different periods ol the 

 year is being carried on covering 12 years of data instead of the original shorter 

 period of 6 years. 



Forecasting devices worked out for estimating April average prices from Janu- 

 ary 1 and for estimating November average prices from June 1 have been found to 

 predict future prices quite accurately. 



Work similar to the study of egg prices has been started on factors affecting 

 prices of live anrl dressed poultry. 



Competitive Factors Influencing the Supply of Market Milk and Cream. 



(A. H. Lindsey.) A survey was completed of milk supplies in all important 

 secondary markets outside of the Boston Metropolitan area. Information was 

 obtained as to percentage of Massachusetts supply, consumption of grade A and 

 pasteurized milk, price conditions, and policies in closed and open markets. 



Some time was spent in gathering data from several milk distributors in or near 

 Worcester. For the five distributors visited, preliminary figures on daily milk 

 consumption for the month of April are as follows: 



1928 1930 1932 



5,010 6,847 7,132 9,637 7,793 10,613 



Average per 



family per day 1.37 1.35 L36 



Shipping Massachusetts Apples. (A. H. Lindsey and A. A. Brown.) This 

 investigation was initiated with the realization that the production of apples in 

 Massachusetts is increasing at such a rate that within a few years Massachusetts 



