INTRODUCTION 



Note. Unless the individual instructor suggests a different line 

 of procedure, the student should pursue a systematic plan of study- 

 like the following: First, read the introduction of the chapter to be 

 studied. Many points in the discussion will probably not be clear 

 in this preliminary reading, but the student will get a certain per- 

 spective for the whole chapter, which it is desirable to have before 

 undertaking the study of separate selections. In some cases it will 

 doubtless be helpful to interrupt the reading of the chapter introduc- 

 tion long enough to turn over into the body of the chapter and read 

 some selection or portion of a selection to which specific reference is 

 being made. v 



The second step should consist in reading the chapter section by 

 section, studying each in the light of the questions presented in the 

 corresponding section of this question-book and of the suggestions 

 contained in the chapter introduction. 



Finally, these separate lines of thought should be drawn together 

 into a somewhat integrated discussion of the whole situation or prob- 

 lem of which they are the component parts. For this purpose there 

 is appended to each chapter in the class-book a section labeled 

 " Problems." Many of these consist of quoted opinions which are 

 submitted for the student's criticism. They are intended to show the 

 practical guise in which he will later meet the problems of agricultural 

 economics and to test his understanding of the principles which 

 should aid him in solving them. At this stage of his study a re-reading 

 of the chapter introduction is advised. 



QUESTIONS 



i. Look up several definitions of economics as contained in stand- 

 ard college texts in general economics. Can you, by the change of 

 a few words, make one of them over into a satisfactory definition of 

 agricultural economics ? 



2. Would it be sufficient to say that agricultural economics is a 

 study of the price relationships of the farmer ? What would be the 

 object of such a study of price relationships ? 



3. Does the study of agricultural chemistry, physics, or biology 

 give the scientifically trained farmer power to control natural forces 

 and direct them to his own advantage ? 



4. Does the commercial experience of the last few decades seem 

 to indicate that it is possible to identify and understand economic 



