RURAL ECONOMICS. 95 



gauized a mutual insurance society to meet this demand. The author explains 

 the working of these associations, the results obtained, and the changes that are 

 doomed necessary to establish the system ou a more equitable basis. 



The cooperative insurance of live stock in England and Wales, J. WrLSOX 

 {Jour. Roy. Htatis. ii(jc., 77 (li)14), No. 2, pp. 1^5-158). — The author, in investi- 

 gating live stock insurance, found that there were in 1911 832 unregistered pig 

 clubs composed of 30,520 members and insuring 53,981 pigs, and in 1912 31 

 registered pig insurance societies with 1,401 members and 3,066 pigs. From a 

 study of these organizations he concludes that the average death rate was less 

 than 5 per cent and would require an average net income from insurance 

 contributions of less than 2s. per pig per annum. 



The experience of 86 cow insurance societies, consisting of 3,579 members and 

 insuring 9,974 cows and calves, showed au average death rate of 2} per cent 

 and au average loss of less than 5s. per cow per annum. 



To guaranty success he advises that the societies maintain a substantial re- 

 serve and, if possible, reinsure in some large insurance organization. 



The agricultural outlook, C. M. Daugiiicrty, F. Andbevvs, W. J. T. Duvel, 

 and G. K. Holmes (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 581 (191.'t), pp. 50).— The 

 world's acreage and production of com, oats, barley, rye, potatoes, and flax are 

 shown by statistical tables for 1911-1913 inclusive, and for every country for 

 which data are available. Accompanying each table is a general discussion of 

 the data shown and the purpose to which the different products are put in the 

 various countries. The imports of corn from Argentina and oats from Canada 

 are thoroughly analyzed. 



It is also pointed out that within the last few months the imports of chilled 

 and frozen beef from Argentina have amounted to 9,000,000 lbs. monthly, but 

 this amount adds only a little over 1 per cent to the national supply of the 

 United States. Since a great deal of this meat is imported by Chicago packing 

 house companies having slaughterhouses in Argentina it can not be assumed 

 that they are using Argentina beef to beat down the prices of Chicago beef. 

 The number of cattle in Argentina during the last 5 years has remained about 

 the same. That country can not increase its beef supply permanently until the 

 slaughter actually lessens sufficiently to give its herds opportunity and time to 

 increase. 



The efforts of the various European countries to supplement the American 

 cotton crop resulted in the production of slightly over 100,000 bales in 1912. 

 There are many counties in Texas and other States that each produce fi-om J 

 to i of this amount. 



Following these discussions is a paper setting forth the crop reporting system 

 and the sources of crop information in foreign countries. 



[Stocks of potatoes on hand, January 1, 1914, and "world's wheat crop 

 and crop values for 1913], G. K. Holmes {U. S. Depti Agr., Fanners' Bui. 575 

 {1914), pp. 29-33, 40-43). — The estimated proportion of potatoes remaining in 

 growers' hands was larger on January 1, 1914, than has been the case in the four 

 years past, and the proportion in dealers' hands smaller than for any year of 

 the last four, except on January 1, 1912. 



For the first time on record the world's wheat crop is estimated as over 

 4,000.000,000 bu. 



The value of certain enumerated crops is shown for 1909-1913. These crops 

 comprised 79.4 per cent of the value of all crops taken in the census and in- 

 creased from $4,357,595,000 in 1909 to $4,905,881,000 in 1913, Statistical tables 

 are given showing by States the value of crops enumerated, rank of each State, 

 and their relative increase or decrease; stocks of potatoes in growers' and in 



