EURAL ECONOMICS. 193 



culturnl systoms. the priviloRo of acquiring land, jnstioo in executing wage and 

 land tenure contracts, cultivation of food supplies in addition to cotton, and in- 

 tensive culture are urged as means of raising the million and a half of colored 

 farmers and farm laborers to a position of economic equality with their white 

 compel i tors. 



The packers, the private car lines, and the people, J. O. Aumotk (J'hiht- 

 (h'1i>hiit: Henri/ Mtriniis Co.. JD06, pp. X IT + 15-380).— The author treats of 

 the origin and development of the refrigerator-car service, and gives statistics 

 to show to what extent this means of transportation has been instrumental in 

 developing the cattle, fruit, vegetable, and other rural industries throughout the 

 United States. The advantages of this service in supplying fresh agricultural 

 products at all seasons of the year and at reasonable prices to distant urban 

 po|iulations are also indicated. 



Yearbook of world economics, R. Calwer {■/iihrhuch dcr Weltirirt><chaft. 

 Jciia: Giistav Fischer, Win], pp. ^ I -\-281). — In this i>ul>lication statistical data 

 relating to labor, agriculture, mining, iron and textile manufactures, finance, 

 etc., for the year 1.904, in comparison with preceding years, are reported. 



The chapter on agricultvu'e is mainly devoted to the world's production of 

 wheat, rye, barley, oats, and corn. The acreage devoted to the growth of these 

 crops in the main cereal-growing countries is Indicated, together with the prices 

 per ton in the principal markets of the woiid. Statistics are given which show 

 that there was a gradual increase in cereal yield from 1878 to 1004. 



Foreign live stock and dead meat imports into the United Kingdom 

 (Dept. A{/r. and Tech. I list r. Ireland -Jour.. 6 {1906), .Yo. .'/. pp. 100-108, d(jms. 

 1). — Comparative statistics of the impo ts of live stock and meats into Great 

 Britain from Ireland and foreign and colonial countries for the years 1885 to 

 1905, inclusive, are reported and discussed. 



The highest total value of live stock imported from foreign and colonial 

 countries was recorded in 1897. amounting to £11,380,492. Since then the live 

 stock import trade has slowly declined, particularly with pigs and sheep. The 

 import of live cattle from foreign countries, however, has not changed much 

 from year to year. In 1905 the returns show the number of cattle imported 

 from foreign countries to be 565,1?)9. valued at £9,665,806, as compared with 

 749,131 imported from Ireland. 



As regards the importation of fresh meat into the United Kingdom, there has 

 been a steady increase of value from £4,016,684 in 1885 to £17,430,443 in 1905. 

 Nine-tenths of the fresh beef imported comes from the United States and Argen- 

 tina, but the latter is slowly taking the lead in this branch of British trade as 

 shown by the following figures : 



Imports of fresh heef into the United Kingdom. 



"The prices realized, however, by Argentine beef remain considerably lower 

 than those obtained by the fresh beef from the United States." while home- 

 grown and Irish prime beef maintains a clear lead over all in market prices. 



The attention of the Irish farmer is called to the fact that the imports of 

 foreign and colonial meat have been increasing more rapidly than any other 

 agricultural im])ort which competes with home produce. This, it is clauued, 

 " points to the fact that Ireland must depend ou a diversified agriculture and 

 that she must produce fresh supplies of the best quality in every line." 



