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INTRODUCTION. The scope of Agricultural Economics. 
As in an attempt to summarize the meaning of the term "agriculture" 
one is inevitably led into a discussion not only of crop and 
animal production , "but also of all the interdependent features 
of the world's largest and most important industry, so, in trying 
to define "agricultural economics" one is dealing with a subject 
of world-wide scope with its many aspects which defies a satis­
factory and comprehensive single sentence definition. In the 
•broade.st terms "agricultural economics" is one of a number of 
different branches of the general science of Economics; in this 
particular branch the general principles of Economics are applied 
to the special conditions of the agricultural industry. 
Farming is primarily a business undertaking. 
In spite of what may be said by the sentimental town-dweller upon 
the amenities of the countryside and the outdoor life and in spite, 
also of those who look upon farming as a philanthropic undertaking 
for the benefit of the Nation, the farmer himself is essentially 
engaged in the business in order to obtain a profit from his 
investment of capital and labour. Engaged as he is, first and 
foremost, upon the production of crops and livestock, the indiv­
idual farmer ̂  rarely in a position to view the industry as a 
whole; he cannot devote time to the detailed study of marketing, 
the changing requirements of the consumer, systems of organisation 
and management on farms other than his own and in competing areas. 
Such study is of vital importance, not only to the individual 
farmer but to the whole industry for further development and 
increase in efficiency. It is the work of the Economist to study 
such fattors and many others involved in the production and 
marketing of farm commodities. The only ultimate justification 
of all such investigation lies in the increase of profit to the 
farmer and service to the consumer. 
The field of investigation open to the 
economist in agriculture is both broad and varied. Economic 
geography, the study of soil, climate and rainfall and their 
influence upon the types of agriculture which have evolved forms 
the preliminary "basis for the study of areas of production. The 
production of raw materials on the farm is investigated from the 
point of view of land tenure, supply of labour, the management 
of capital and labour and numerous other factors, all of them 
affecting, directly or indirectly, the cost of production. The 
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journey products between producer and consumer including as it 
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does processing, transport, storage, marketing and financing is 
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as important component of production as the growing of the raw 
materials on the farm. It is the work of the Hconomist to; study 
this track of goods from producer to consumer, to map it, and to 
suggest methods for the removal of dangerous twists and bends( 9 ). 
The Science and Practice of Agriculture does not, strictly speak-
-ing, come within the scope of the Economist who is mainly conc-
-erned not with "How" commodities are produced but "Why" (4 );  
at the same time, it is aften essential that he should possess 
a sound working knowledge of agricultural practice in order that 
his suggestions may be of a practical rather than a theoretical 
nature. 
Up to the present time agricultural research 
has been dominated mainly by the work or the biologists. Their 
chief aim is generally the. production of larger yields per acre, 
this being achieved by plant breeding and manurial and cultural 
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improvments. Little or no interest has been taken by them as 
to whether such improved yields will result in increased monetary 
return to the farmer as profit. Thus, overproduction has been 
introduced with consequent havoc in markets and prices. The 
economist is essentially engaged upon the business aspect of 
farming. He is interested not so much in increased yield per 
acre as in the control of the factors of production which directly 
affect net profit per acre to the farmer. The work of the 
biologist and the economist should therefore be complimentary, 
their final aim being assistance to the farmer.