American Economic Association 



[834 



The rate of increase of males and females in the va.r- 

 ious occupation classes has been very different. The 

 relative rates of increase, in the agricultural industry, 

 as reported for the several sections of the country, are 

 shown in the following table : 



POPULATION ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE' 



United States, males 



females 

 North Atlantic div., i 



females 

 South Atlantic div., males 



females 

 North Central div., males . 



females 

 South Central div., males . 



females 

 Western div., males 



females 



The foregoing table shows that women, much more 

 rapidly than men, are turning to agricultural pursuits. 

 The introduction and use of machine power, by decreas- 

 ing the requirements of physical strength has placed 

 men and women upon a more equal footing and women 

 promise now to invade the agricultural industry as they 

 have heretofore invaded that of manufactures. 



We may ascertain the extent of the movement to or 

 from any occupation class during any period by compar- 

 ing the distribution of the people among the various 

 occupation classes at the beginning of such period with 

 their distribution at its close. 



The following table shows, for the United States and 

 for the several geographical divisions, what per cent of 

 the total number of those engaged in gainful occupa- 

 tions in 1870 and in 1900 were in the several occupation 

 classes. 2 



1 See pp. 94-95- 



2 See p. 96. 



