1168 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



struction of a large draiuage canal in Italy kno\Yn as the Bonifica dell' Agro 

 Mantovano-Reggiano, which drains an area of 80,000 acres south of the Po 

 in the vicinity of Reggie. There are many points of interest in the project, 

 notably in the use of inverted siphons, where the main channel crosses the 

 Secchia River, in the provisions for regulating the drainage in order to retain 

 moisture in the soil when necessary, and in the use of pumps at the outlet for 

 discharging water into the I'o at periods of high water. 



Public roads: Mileage and expenditures in 1904 (V. S. Dcpt. Agr., Office 

 Pub. Roads Circs. 53, pp. -'/ ; .5'/, pp. 2; 55, pp. 2; 56, pp. 2: 51, pp. 3; 58, pp. 4,' 

 59, pp. 3; 60, pp. 4; 61, pp. J,; 62, pp. 2; 63, pp. h; ^h, PP- 2; 65, pp. 3; 66, 

 pp. .',: 67, pp. 3; 68, pp. 3; 69, pp. 3; 10, pp. h; 11, pp. 3; 12, pp. J,; 13, pp. 3; 

 14, PP- 4: ~5, pp. 4; 16, pp. 4; 11, pp. 4; 18, pp. 3; 19, pp. 3; 80, pp. 4; 81, pp. 2; 

 82, pp. 4: S3, pp. 2: 84, pp. 3; 85, pp. 6; 86, pp. 2; 81, pp. 2). — In this sei-ies of 

 circulars information is compiled on the mileage of different classes of roads, 

 the sources of revenue b.v which they are supported, and the road expenditures 

 in cash and labor by counties in each of the following States : Pennsylvania, 

 Montana. Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kentucky, Florida, South 

 Carolina, Nevada, Kansas. Idaho, Colorado, Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Cali- 

 fornia, Illinois, New Jerse.v, Missouri, Louisiana, New York. Ohio, Georgia, 

 Mississippi, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Delawai*e, Michigan, Rhode 

 Island, Massachusetts, Texas, Connecticut, and Vermont. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



On the proportion and importance of small farms in Swedeii, E. Siden- 



BLADii {K. LaiKlthr. AL-ad. Hdiidl. och Tidshr., 45 (1006). Vo. G, pp. 409-438).-— 

 This article treats of the importance of small farms in Swedish agriculture 

 and the various direct and indirect measures adopted I)y the government for 

 the advancement of small farmers, such as the offering of prizes for well- 

 conducted farms, the payment of traveling expenses for studies in foreign coun- 

 tries or in different parts of Sweden, and the securing of improvement through 

 dairy test associations, educational institiitions, etc. It is shown that 4G.9 per 

 cent of all farms in Sweden are of less than 5 hectares (12.3 acres) in extent, 

 'J2.8 per cent contain from 5 to 10 hectares, and 13 per cent are from 10 to 15 

 hectares. Only 2.3 per cent of the total number of farms contain more than 

 50 hectares. About one-fourth (25.9 per cent) of the total arable land is in 

 farms of less than 10 hectares and very nearly one-half in farms of less than 

 50 hectares. — p. w. woll. 



Beport of the agricultural committee, H. Chaplin et al. (London: Tariff 

 Commission, 1906, pp. 555, figs. 19). — This is the report of a special agricultural 

 committee appointed by the tariff commission of Great Britain " to examine the 

 proposals submitted by Mr. Chamberlain to the counti'y and their bearing upon 

 the agricultural interest." 



The committee held 33 meetings, examined 147 witnesses, and received 

 replies to letters of inquiry from 2,103 agriculturists and others concerned in 

 agriculture. The report of the conunittee is presented under the following 

 topics: Agricultural policy before 184G, agriculture in the nineteenth century, 

 international conditions, recent agricultural conditions in the I'Uited Kingdom, 

 imports of agricultural produce and their relation to the home production, 

 experiences of farmers, and conclusions and remedial measures. On the latter 

 point the committee says : 



" We ai*e of opinion that, for removing the disabilities under which British 

 agriculturists suffer, a change in the fiscal policy of the country is absolutely 

 necessary, but if this change is to be permanently effective it must be combined 



