Chinese Agriculture Development
Listed as #56 of the ‘Illinois Studies in the Social Sciences’ series, THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE AGRICULTURE, 1950-1959 was written by Peter Schran and published in 1969 by the University of Illinois Press, Urbana.

According to the author’s Introduction, the book covers methods used by the Chinese communists to encourage industrial development by developing agriculture. Conscious of the costs of developing agriculture by modern means, they attempted to implement such technical improvements through social reorganization.

Although these social and technical changes could have yielded the desired results, he says, they evidently underestimated the ideological and the technical inertia of the peasants … and they failed in their attempts to develop production dualistically.

The 238-page hardbound book offers numerous charts and graphs to illustrate the study. It’s in Very Good condition with no apparent defects inside or out, although it is ex lib with the usual library markings. An interesting view! (5943)
Circa: 1969
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
ISBN: none  

1800s American Economic Development

Published in 1966 by McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, VIEWS OF AMERICAN ECONOMIC GROWTH: THE AGRICULTURAL ERA offers details on how editors Thomas C. Cochran and Thomas B. Brewer feel the pressures of world changes and exciting new theories have generated new methods for studying agricultural economic history.

Chapters cover aspects of colonial development; movements toward a national economy; government and economic growth; the Northern economy, 1800-1865; the Southern economy, 1800-1865; and the West, 1800-1865. These topics are developed by a number of writers, including Charles Wilson (trade balances), Percy Wells Bidwell (Pioneering), W.T. Baxter (Colonial Boston business), Richard B. Sheridan (British Credit Crisis of 1772), Anne Bezanson (Inflation and controls in Pennsylvania), Curtis Nettels (Economics of the Constitution), Louis Hacker (Secretary of the Treasury), Henry Adams (Physical and economical conditions), Henry Broude (Role of the State in American Economic Development), Carter Goodrich (National Planning, Internal Improvements), Milton Heath (Public Railroad Construction), Reginald McGrane (American State Debts), Bray Hammond (Banking in the West, Monopoly, Prohibition), Thomas Cochran (Industrial Discipline), & others.

The 355-page hardbound book offers a fascinating view of the U.S. economy in the 1800s! Condition of the book is Very Good, although it is ex lib with the usual library markings. We see no other defects, inside or out. (4002)
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Book
ISBN: none  

Soil Survey – Grundy County Iowa

Published in 1927 by the Agronomy Section of the Ag Experiment Station at Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Ames, this is Soil Survey Report No. 47, covering Grundy County, Iowa. Towns in the county include Conrad, Grundy Center, Holland and Wellsburg.

The 60-page softcover book features a two-page color soil map of the county, as well as numerous other small maps and black/white photos. Contents cover the county’s Geology, physiography and drainage; Soils; Fertility, with reports of greenhouse and field experiments; Needs of the soils as indicated by laboratory, field and greenhouse tests; Liming, manuring, use of commercial fertilizers; Drainage; Rotation of crops; Prevention of erosion; Individual soil types in the county; Drift soils; Loess soils; Terrace soils; Swamp and bottomland soils. The Appendix offers information on the soil survey of Iowa.

It’s highly detailed … and provides a fascinating view of how the agricultural experts were working to assist farmers in the early years of the 20th century! The book is in Very Good condition with some very light edge/corner wear to the covers. There are a few inked notations on various pages, but none interfere with the text. Inside pages have no other apparent defects – even 75+ years later! (3493)
Circa: 1927
Publisher: Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
ISBN: none  

Soil Survey – Clarke County Iowa

Published in 1928 by the Agronomy Section of the Ag Experiment Station at Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Ames, this is Soil Survey Report No. 51, covering Clarke County, Iowa. Towns, railroad lines, lakes, rivers and other features in the county are shown on the soil map.

The 56-page softcover book features a two-page color soil map of the county, as well as numerous other small maps and black/white photos. Contents cover the county’s Geology, physiography and drainage; Soils; Fertility, with reports of greenhouse and field experiments; Needs of the soils as indicated by laboratory, field and greenhouse tests; Liming, manuring, use of commercial fertilizers; Drainage; Rotation of crops; Prevention of erosion; Individual soil types in the county; Drift soils; Loess soils; Terrace soils; Swamp and bottomland soils. The Appendix offers information on the soil survey of Iowa.

It’s highly detailed … and provides a fascinating view of how the agricultural experts were working to assist farmers in the early years of the 20th century! The book is in Very Good condition with some very light edge/corner wear to the covers. There are a few inked notations on various pages, but none interfere with the text. Inside pages have no other apparent defects -- even almost 75 years later! (3491)
Circa: 1928
Publisher: Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
ISBN: none  

Soil Survey – Des Moines County Iowa

Published in 1927 by the Agronomy Section of the Ag Experiment Station at Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Ames, this is Soil Survey Report No. 45, covering Des Moines County, Iowa. Towns in the county include Mediapolis, Danville, Burlington and Pleasant Hills, with the Mississippi River to the east.

The 72-page softcover book features a two-page color soil map of the county, as well as numerous other small maps and black/white photos. Contents cover the county’s Geology, physiography and drainage; Soils; Fertility, with reports of greenhouse and field experiments; Needs of the soils as indicated by laboratory, field and greenhouse tests; Liming, manuring, use of commercial fertilizers; Drainage; Rotation of crops; Prevention of erosion; Individual soil types in the county; Drift soils; Loess soils; Terrace soils; Swamp and bottomland soils. The Appendix offers information on the soil survey of Iowa.

It’s highly detailed … and provides a fascinating view of how the agricultural experts were working to assist farmers in the early years of the 20th century!

The book is in Very Good condition with some very light edge/corner wear to the covers. There are a few inked notations on various pages, but none interfere with the text. Inside pages have no other apparent defects – even 75+ years later! (3490)
Circa: 1927
Publisher: Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
ISBN: none  

Soil Survey – Fayette County Iowa

Published in 1923 by the Agronomy Section of the Ag Experiment Station at Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Ames, this is Soil Survey Report No. 30, covering Fayette County, Iowa. Towns in the county include West Union, Hawkeye, Albany, Duton’s Cave and Devil’s Backbone.

The 70-page softcover book features a two-page color soil map of the county, as well as numerous other small maps and black/white photos. Contents cover the county’s Geology, physiography and drainage; Soils; Fertility, with reports of greenhouse and field experiments; Needs of the soils as indicated by laboratory, field and greenhouse tests; Liming, manuring, use of commercial fertilizers; Drainage; Rotation of crops; Prevention of erosion; Individual soil types in the county; Drift soils; Terrace soils; Swamp and bottomland soils; Residual soils. The Appendix offers information on the soil survey of Iowa.

It’s highly detailed … and provides a fascinating view of how the agricultural experts were working to assist farmers in the early years of the 20th century! The book is in Very Good condition with some very light edge/corner wear to the covers. There are a few inked notations on various pages, but none interfere with the text. Inside pages have no other apparent defects -- even 79 years later! (3489)
Circa: 1923
Publisher: Iowa Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
ISBN: none  

1931 Co-Op Livestock Sales
Written by Edwin G. Nourse and Joseph G. Knapp, CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING OF LIVESTOCK was published in 1931 by The Brookings Institution, Washington DC. This is apparently a FIRST PRINTING.

The 486-page hardbound book outlines (1) the growth of co-op livestock groups to organize their marketing; (2) objectives of the groups; (3) problems and issues arising from this organization; (4) economic implications of the movement; and (5) promising efforts for future progress.

The book is a scarce one in today's book market. This copy is in Very Good+ condition, although it is ex lib with the usual library markings. It has some very slight scuffing on the back cover and a small bump at top corners. Inside pages are without defects we can find. (2643)
Circa: 1931
Publisher: Brookings Institution
ISBN: none