ECONOMICS COMES TO THE FORE 



W ITHIN the last decade has come the highly important develop- 

 ment of economic research, already involving 22 different projects in 

 dairying, horticulture, poultry, potatoes, vegetables and general 

 marketing. Significant results include: 



1. A picture of the economic balance between production and con- 

 sumption of local farm products. This has served as a base for de- 

 termining state policies. The state potato marketing campaign, 

 which has brought home grown stock into deficit areas, is an out- 

 growth. 



2. Fruit farm studies, which showed that the labor used in New 

 Hampshire orchards varied from .9 to 3,6 hours per mature tree. 

 The necessity of more efficient spray management was clearly shown, 

 and the results set in motion a campaign which is correcting the 

 situation. Inefficiency of filler trees on cheap land was also indicated. 



3. Potato production studies, which have greatly affected pre- 

 vailing ideas to the size of economic units. 



Areas as small as J.S acres proved large eyiougb to handle economically machinery J or 



potato production 



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