12. Is common, unskilled labor "scarce" (in any reasonable sense of the word) in China? in the United States?

[CHAPTER 25]
AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL POPULATION

References.

Carver, T. N., Selected readings in rural economics. 1916.

Carver, T. N., [The work of rural organization]. J. P. E., 22: 821-844. 1914.

Coulter, J. L., Agricultural development in the United States, 1900-1910. Q. J. E., 27: 1-26. 1912-1913.

Hibbard, B. H., Tenancy in the north central states. Q. J. E., 25: 710-729. 1910-1911.

Hibbard, B. H., Tenancy in the north Atlantic states. Q. J. E., 26: 105-117. 1911-1912.

Hibbard, B. H., Tenancy in the western states. Q. J. E., 26: 363-376. 1911-1912.

[Hibbard, B. H.], Tenancy in the southern states. Q. J. E., 27: 482-496. 1912-1913.

Hoagland, H. E., The movement of rural population in Illinois. J. P. E., 20: 913-927. 1912.

Nourse, E. G., Agricultural economics. 1916. (A large volume of readings, well selected and edited.)

Round table discussion. The decline of the rural population. A. E. Rev., 2 (no. 1, supp): 51, 52. 1912.

Round table discussion. Rural conditions in the south. Ibid., 48-50. 1912.

Taylor, H. C., Agricultural economics. 1905.

Vogt, P. L., The farmer's labor income. A. E. Rev., 6: 808-822. 1916.

Questions.

1. Cite any instances you have noted of local changes of population distribution as between country and city. What are the chief facts of interest in these cases? What forces can you assign as causes of the changes? Has agricultural activity been accelerated or retarded? Has it received a set-back?

2. A wealthy metropolitan banker purchases a large country estate in a section in which farming is practically on a subsistence basis and in which in recent years many farms have been abandoned. He applies labor and materials lavishly to the soil, sparing no expenditures for purposes which will assist in the production of crops of the best quality. Under what conditions can this be profitably done? What will be the probable effect on local agriculture, (a) if the entire product of the estate is consumed upon it? (b) if a substantial part of the product is marketed in competition with that of the local farmers? What changes are likely to occur with reference to the occupation of the local population? With reference to its migration?