32 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 441 



A and in neutralizing the pro-oxidant effect of copper. If the stability data 

 which have been obtained on butter oil by accelerated tests can be applied to 

 food products containing butter fat, then the food value, flavor, and keeping 

 properties of such products should be greatly improved by the use of the anti- 

 oxidant in question. 



DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS 

 Philip L. Gamble in Charge 



Effects of the War and Readjustments in Massachusetts Agriculture. (David 

 Rozman.) Further studies were made of wartime changes in the pattern of 

 agricultural production and their effect on the needed readjustment in the coming 

 years. Analysis of the AAA records together with other supplementary material, 

 provided a valuable basis for determining the changes in farming enterprises on 

 individual farms. In the light of the investigations made under this project the 

 1947 production program was worked out for Massachusetts agriculture. 



In connection with the problems of postwar adjustment in agricultural pro- 

 duction, an analysis has been made of the changes in major farming enterprises 

 in the period from 1942 to 1945 inclusive. On 2374 operating farms anal^/zed in 

 five counties, the following changes in livestock numbers and crop acreages oc- 

 curred: All cattle and calves increased 4.9 percent; hens and pullets for laying 

 increased 53.7 percent; corn acreage declined 8.2 percent; vegetable acreage de- 

 clined 0.5 percent; potato acreage increased 16.5 percent; tobacco acreage in- 

 creased 20.8 percent. This presents the situation on the farms remaining in 

 continuous operation through the war period. To the extent that a certain 

 number of other farms in the State might have discontinued their operation on 

 account of difficulties in production or for some other reason, indicated changes 

 in various lines would need some adjustment to reflect the situation on a state- 

 wide basis. 



Transfer of Ownership and its Effect on Agricultural Land Utilization. (David 

 Rozman.) Work on this project commenced at the beginning of 1947 and is yet 

 in preliminary stages. The main objective is to appraise the effect of changing 

 ownership on land utilization and the future trend of farming in the State. From 

 the preliminary evidence already obtained it appears that the rate of transfer of 

 agricultural land during the war and immediately following has been accelerated 

 by an increased demand from various sources. The character of new ownership 

 will have a direct bearing on the size and kind of farms and their variations from 

 the recognized standards of an efficient economic unit. Its ultimate effect will 

 be to determine the pattern of agricultural production as it will emerge in the 

 State in the coming years. 



To obtain a representative sample of localities for investigation, a number of 

 towns have been considered as to their suitability. In Hampshire County, 

 Amherst and Hatfield have been selected. From the Registry of Deeds and from 

 assessors' records complete information was obtained as to the transfer of land 

 ownership in agricultural areas of these towns from the beginning of 1940 to the 

 end ot 1940. In addition to land areas and names of the parties in the transac- 

 tions, the information obtained includes detailed classification and valuation of 

 property; prices paid, if given; mortgages; and the numbers and kinds of live- 

 stock maintained on the land. 



