886 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



without interest. Through the district or regional hanlis loans are made to mu- 

 tual credit banks and agricultural cooperative societies. 



An agricultural cooperative society, D. L. de Castro (Rer. Agron. [Fortu- 

 f/al], 4 (1006), Xo. 2, pp. 3.J7-36S). — This is a history of an agricultural coop- 

 erative societj' in Portugal since its origin in 1897. The author describes its 

 development, the extent of its operations, and its objects. The latter conform 

 largely to the aims of such organizations in Europe, namely, improvement of 

 cultural methods, guaranties of pure seed, purchase of implements and machin- 

 ery, formation of agricultural credit banks, nuitual insurance, etc. 



The development of agricultural cooperative societies in Germany, 

 C. Neumann (Filhling's Landw. Ztg., 55 (1906), Nu. 22, pp. 7Y)4-773).— Statistics 

 are presented and discussed relating to the growth of rural associations in 

 Germany. Data for 1905-6 regarding membership, value of property, amount of 

 investments, profits, rates of interest, deposits, etc., are compared with ])receding 

 years. The associations are steadily growing in numbers and in influence, and 

 are said to be an uplifting force in the economic life of the rural iiopulation. 



Costs of hauling crops from farms to shipping points, F. Andrews ( V. H. 

 Dept. Agr., Bur. Statls. Bui. 49, pp. 63). — The information contained in this 

 bulletin was secured from cori-espondents in 1,894 counties in dilTerent States. 

 The statistics deal particularly with 2.3 of the staple agricultural products 

 grown in the United States and embrace the number of counties reporting, aver- 

 age miles to shipping, weight per load, cost per ton per mile, etc. 



In a summary of these data the author says : " The average costs per 100 lbs. 

 for hauling products from farms to shipping points vary in a number of instances 

 roughly with the relative values of the articles hauled, the more valuable prod- 

 uct being hauled often at greater cost than the less valuable product. Corn, 

 wheat, oats, hay, and potatoes were hauled at costs ranging from 7 to 9 cts. per 

 100 lbs., cotton IG cts., and wool 44 cts. per 100 lbs. Tobacco and hogs, however, 

 cost only 10 cts. pev 100 lbs. to be hauled from farms. The difference in cost of 

 hauling between one product and another is largely due to the relative distance 

 traversed and the relative size of load taken." 



Statistics are also presented and discussed regarding the farmers' longest 

 hauls and methods of hauling, with the effect of these factors on local and gen- 

 eral prices. The quantity of farm produce hauled in 1905-6 is estimated at more 

 than 49,000,000 tons and the cost of hauling at about $84,684,000 for the most 

 important crops mentioned. The value of better roads, (piicker methods of 

 loading and unloading, and other factors are also discussed in their bearing on 

 the reduction in the cost of hauling. 



Notes from correspondents regarding the conditions of wagon transportations 

 in different parts of the United States are also appended. 



The grain trade, the basis upon which it is conducted, and the methods 

 used in the different countries of the world, A. Deutschlander and W. 

 KuNis (Der Handel mit Getreide, seine Einrichtungen tind Grundlagcii in 

 alien massgehenden Landern der Erde. Leipsic: M. 8chufer, 1906, pp. J/SO).— 

 This book contains detailed information on the extent of cereal culture and 

 yield, exnorts and imports, consumption, methods employed in different grain 

 markets, freight rates, etc. The numerous tables show the acreage and yields 

 of wheat, rye. barley, oats, and corn ; their consumption in the most important 

 countries ; the weekly average prices in the principal markets of the world in 

 1904 and 1905 ; the shipments, variation in quantity, and visible supplies of 

 cereals each week from 1895 to March, 1906; the monthly shipments fi'om 

 1895 to 1903; and other statistical data. The object is to present definite 

 information useful to the grain trade. 



