, RURAL ECONOMICS. 998 



The present importance of share farming in Tuscany, A. Gori (.1/// I'. 

 \rcii(L h'roii. Agr. Geonj. Firnizc. ■'>. .vc/-.. 3 {190(>), A'o. '/. pii. .li!)-.l'>Ji). — Tlio 

 .•mtlior (It'scribes various socialistic and coiiiniunistic jdniis that have hccn pvo- 

 poscd and jiracticed from time to time as a solution of the labor pi-ohlom, 

 prcstMits a \ lew of partnership farminj; in Tuscany, and shows how this method 

 has rcsnltcd in iniiiroving the condition of farm laborers. The intellectual, 

 moral, and physical well-beinj; of farmers nndcr this system is said to be 

 ,1,'i-eatly sni»erior to that of industrial workers. Farnnnf,' on shares is believed 

 to offer a solntion of the conflict between capital and labor in the rural districts 

 of Tuscany. 



Agriculture in Lombardy, 1'. Korx {Jour. A(/r. Prat., ii. ser., 13 {1907), 

 •Yo. 7, pp. 212-21.'i). — The author describes farming under the metayer or share 

 system in northern Lombardy. where intensive culture predominates and the 

 vine and silk raising are the chief industries, and farming under irrigation in 

 the s<mth. where diversified farming and dairying are practiced. The methods 

 i>f cnltivating tlie various crops and the relations of metayer to proprietor are 

 desci'lbed. 



Conditions of farm life in Lombardy {Af/r. Mod.. 13 {1!)(I7), No. 0. pp. 

 127-120, fi(/fi. 2). — The author describes a colonial farm and farmhouse as 

 typical of the econon)ic and social conditions of the peasantry of Lombardy. 

 The returns fm- labor are said to be small ; corn, rice, vegetables, and milk, 

 with very little meat and cheese, form the principal j)art of the diet; while the 

 dwelling rooms are small and overcrowded. The conditions surrounding the 

 life of the peasantry are said to be far from enviable throughout the province. 



Agricultural cooperation in Ireland, I'. Lavollee {Bid. Soc. Agr. France. 

 1907, Mar. 1.'). pp. 667-673). — This is a resume of a pamphlet by G. de Kozielsk 

 Kossilowski on agricultural cooperation in Ireland. 



The writer describes the organization and aims of cooperative creameries, 

 agricultural societies, rural banks, poultry and egg societies, and other organi- 

 zations, the data showing that there were in ISO-l a total of ."U societies with 

 l.<>.o() members, while in 1!)(I4 the fignres were 778 and 7<>,9(j8. respectively. The 

 land law of 1903 is said to work favorably for the tenants. By its provisions 

 the tenant mider certain conditions can become the owner of land, advances 

 beiiiLT made liy the government. At the close of 1904, 0,82G had taken advantage 

 of the law and acquired possession. 



The credit banks and the home industries societies are jiarticularly com- 

 mended. The banks luuuber 200, with 11,257 members, and through them the 

 deiiartmrnt of agriculture advances to members sums ranging from £25 to 

 noo, at :; per cent interest. The home industries societies, the writer thinks, 

 are worthy of introduction into France as a means of preventing foreign 

 emigration and rural depopulation, both of which tendencies have diminished 

 lately in li'eland on this account. 



Agriculture in New Zealand, Ii. McXab {WcJIiiii/ton : Gori.. 19116. jtp. 2(1. 

 pis. 2<n. — This i)amiihlet. by the nnnister for agriculture, gives information 

 regarding the soil. climat<', lural iadnstries. and agricnltural exports, with notes 

 on government aid to agricnltnre and the land system of New Zealand. 



The country is said to be peculiarly adapted to the raising of stock, while the 

 yields of grain are the highest (»f any in the world with the exception of those 

 of Great P.ritain. The colony's chief exports consist of wool, frozen meat, and 

 dairy i)rodnce. and the agricultural products eximrted in 1905 were valued at 

 £12.(»4(;.2(;S, or 77 per cent of the total exi)orts. The area in occupation in 

 ()<-tober. 19(15, was 37.1<i7,4()(l acres, of which 14,222,029 acres were under 

 cultivation. 



