RURAL ECONOMICS. 191 



5 per cent interest on the investment. He found those counties more pros- 

 perous which hiive a large investment in live stock. 



One-half of the rural section of the State shows a decrease in population. 

 The farms are somewhat smaller than 10 years ago and most of the staple 

 crops are decreasing in their total acreage and production. The planting of 

 young orchards is increasing rapidly. 



Some indications of the economic and agricultural progress of Argentina 

 (Intcrnat. Inst. Agr. [Rome'\, Mo. Bui. Econ. and Soc. Intel, 4 (1913), No. 10, 

 pp. 104-132). — After describing the natural and agricultural resources of the 

 country it is shown that the total cultivated area increased from 5SO.00S hec- 

 tares (1,432,620 acres) in 1872 to 2,459,120 hectares in 1886, and to 21,838,689. 

 hectares in 1911. The production of wheat increased from 1,263,000 tons in 

 1895-90 to 5.400,000 tons in 1912-13, flax from 232,000 tons to 1,130,000 tons, 

 and corn from 2,240,000 tons to 5.000.S00 tons. During practically the same 

 period the number of plows imported increased from 10.060 to 83,483, reapers 

 from 2,723 to 11,534, seeders from 719 to 21,962, and threshers from 299 to 1,127. 



It is also shown that there has been a marked increase in the number of live 

 stock, the number of native bred live stock decreasing and the number of half- 

 bred and thoroughbred increasing. Between 1896 and 1912 the value of the ex- 

 ports of agricultural produce and live stock increased from 113,666,625 pesos 

 ($109,688,293) to 466,402.528 pesos. 



Attention is called to the fact that, although there are many holdings of ex- 

 tremely large sizes, the number of small holdings is increasing rapidly. 



[Agricultural statistics of British India] {Agr. Statis. India, 28 (1901- 

 1912), I, pp. 111+420). — This is the annual statistical statement showing the 

 areas devoted to different agricultural purposes, irrigated, in fallow, and in 

 specified crops; the number of live stock, plows, and carts; and the number of 

 transfers of land and areas transferred. 



[Land tenure and settlement; agriculture and live stock in New Zealand], 

 M. Fraser {New Zeal. Off. Yearbook 1913, pp. 481-587, pis. 2, fig. i).— This 

 annual report contains information concerning the distribution of crown and 

 native lands, land transfer and deeds registration, occupation and ownership of 

 land, area and yields of farm crops, and number of live stock. 



[International statistics of agriculture] {Statis. AarboJc Konger. Norge, SS 

 {1913), pp. 249-252). — This statement contains data showing for a large 

 number of countries and for the latest year available the area and production 

 of wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, rice, potatoes, and sugar beets, and the num- 

 ber of horses, mules, asses, cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. 



Is scarcity to be preferred to plenty? L. R. Johnson {Breeder^s Gaz., 65 

 {1914), ^0. 9, pp. 461, 462, figs. 3). — The author concludes that large crops mean 

 prosperity to the many and small ones prosperity to the few, and that even 

 though the farmer may get less for the large crop its influence reaches into all 

 the channels of business and produces in the aggregate greater national 

 prosperity. 



History and description of a farm in the valley of the ITnstrut, M. 

 ScHONE {Landw. Jahrb., 45 {1913), No. 4, pp. 597-608) .—This article describes 

 the changes that have taken place since 1863 in a farm belonging to the same 

 family. After noting the climate and topography of the region the author 

 shows, for 5-year periods beginning with 1872-1876, the area devoted to the dif- 

 ferent crops, yield and value per morgen, fertilizers used, number of work ani- 

 mals and other kinds of live stock, price per pound and quantity of milk used 

 in making butter, agricultural machinery used, and number of laborers and 

 their wages. 



