EURAL ECONOMICS. 193 



fertilization. In tliese ways, tlie autlior believes that tLe average vpheat pro- 

 duction in the United States can be raised from 14 to 28 bushels per acre. 

 This will enable our country to provide bread for a population of 200,000,000. 



Eailroads and agriculture, M. V. Richards {1909, pp. Jf). — This is an address 

 delivered before the Farmers' National Congress, held at Raleigh, N. 0., No- 

 vember 4-9, 1909. 



The article discusses the field in the United States for agricultural expan- 

 sion, the extent of agricultural freight traffic handled by railroads in 1908, the 

 forms of active assistance given by rnllroads to agriculture including the 

 special educational trains furnished the instructors in agricultural colleges and 

 experiment stations or to state officials for carrying instruction to farmers, and 

 the relation of the railroads to the settlement of farm lands. " They have 

 used nearly every method at their command to aid in the work of making farm- 

 ing profitable, of increasing the productiveness of the lands, and of advancing 

 agricultural conditions." 



Practical farm economics, L. Ogilvy {Breeder's Qnz., 56 {WOO), No. 15, p. 

 6SG). — The author advocates in meetings of farmers during the winter months 

 the discussion of questions relating to farm economics as a result of their own 

 experience. It is believed that much practical information regarding farm 

 management, the amount of capital to invest in machinery, the keeping of live 

 stock to the greatest advantage, and the farm labor problem could be derived 

 from such meetings and be used to good advantage in rural economy. 



The legal status of farm crops, H. L. Snyder {Ohio Farmer, 12Jf {1909), No. 

 18, p. 353). — The manner of regarding crops by the courts as real or personal 

 property in different States under land ownership and tenant lease is pointed 

 out in this article. 



Agricultural statistics. — Chattel mortg'ages, J. S. Duff {Ann. Rpt. Bur. 

 Indus. Ontario, 19US, pp. .'/7). — Statistics on the acreage, production, and market 

 value of the field crops and fruits ; the classes, number, and value of the live 

 stock ; farm labor and wages ; the value of farm properties and implements ; 

 farm values and rentals per acre ; and the value of chattel mortgages both 

 against all occupations and against farmers on record and undischarged in the 

 Province of Ontario, on December 31, 1908, are tabulated and discussed. 



Harvest wages ranged from $1 to $2 a day with board, while monthly rates 

 varied from $15 to $35 with board, according to experience. " The quality 

 of most of the labor offering was not up to the standard, but capable men were 

 yet much in demand. Many farmers are now depending upon improved ma- 

 chinery and an interchange of work with their neighbors to meet the labor 

 situation. The problem of getting adequate female help in the farm house- 

 hold is as yet unsolved, domestic servants being scarcer than ever." Wages 

 were a little lower in 1908 than in 190G except for domestic servants. 



The number of farm mortgages was 7,098 amounting to $2,768,786 as com- 

 pared with 6,4.38 amounting to $2,442,589 in 1907. 



[Agricultural laborers in the United Kingdom], G. R. Askwith {Bd. Trade 

 [Gt. Brit.l, Rpt. Changes in Rates of Wages and Hours of Labor, 16 {1908), 

 pp. 31-3Jf, 111-111,). — Statistical data of the changes in rates of wages, hours 

 of labor, and the number of agricultural laborers of all classes employed in 

 1908, as compared with similar data for the years 1899-1907, inclusive, are 

 tabulated and discussed. 



In England and Wales " the estimated number of agricultural laborers in 

 districts where wages were reported to have changed in 1908 was 53,914, while 

 the number in districts where wages were reported as unaltered was 320,289. 

 Wages were raised in districts containing 40,134 laborers, and reduced in dis- 

 tricts containing 13,780 laborers. The estimated net increase in 1908, in the 



