22 OUTLINES OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



land be resorted to." Can you illustrate this proposition from actual 

 experience ? If it is true, would it seem to show that the condition 

 of the farmer and indeed of the whole human family may be made 

 economically better as time goes on? What one condition would 

 have to be observed if we are to benefit from the increasing efficiency 

 of capital-goods ? 



2. "The trouble with most farmers is that they have bought their 

 equipment in response to the solicitation of some fellow who had a 

 machine he wanted to sell, instead of buying only those things for which 

 they knew there was a real need, in fact the most important need for 

 their particular farm operations. Many a farmer finds himself 

 limited because he can't make a certain expenditure for a breeding 

 animal, some fertilizer, or a piece of machinery and has only himself 

 to thank for it, because he spent his money for some fool thing that 

 he didn't need and that won't work anyhow." Is such a condition 

 more true in some sections than in others? of some classes than of 

 others ? How can the farmer's capital be conserved and more profit- 

 ably directed ? 



3. "The use of the tractor is not wholly a question of cheaper or 

 more convenient operation, but also of having enough power to do 

 certain farm tasks. Only with a tractor can plows and discs be put 



down to proper depth for summer and fall plowing It requires 



a better workman to keep a tractor running efficiently than it does 

 to operate a team." Pick out several other cases which illustrate the 

 fact that the character of capital-goods determines the possibilities of 

 farm operation and the nature of the labor demand. Can you cite 

 any product we could not raise at all if it were not for mechanical 

 aids to production ? 



4. "Agriculture can be conducted with much or little capital as 

 conditions dictate. While a man with little capital will always work 

 at a disadvantage, it is possible for him to begin with greater chances 

 of success than in many other lines of effort." Is this true? Ex- 

 plain and criticize. 



ADDITIONAL REFERENCES 



Taussig, Principles of Economics, chap. v. 



Quaintance, The Influence of Farm Machinery on Production and Labor , 

 "Publications of the American Economic Association, " 3d Series, 

 Vol. V. 



McDowell, "Influence of Age on the Value of Dairy Cows and Farm Work 

 Horses," Bulletin 413, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 



Valgren, "Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance," Yearbook of the U.S. Depart- 

 ment of A griculture, 1 9 1 6 . 



Cyclopedia of American Agriculture, Vol. I, chaps, v and vi. 



