390 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOKD. 



the average cost of insurance per $1,000 for 1 year $1.90. Still another com- 

 pany is carrying $4,139,950 of insurance and its annual expenses, including 

 salaries and all items, are less than $2,G0O. 



Data as to the work and success of a number of other insurance companies, 

 together with that of the grange banks, are given. 



The cost of production of farm crops, F. W. Gist (Proc. Middle Tenn. 

 Farmers'' Inst., 10 (J 911), pp. 81-90). — ^Au address delivered at the tenth an- 

 nual session of the middle Tennessee Farmers' Institute, Nashville, Tenn., 

 December 5-7, 1911, in which the author discusses and points out in detail, 

 as a result of his investigations, some conclusions as to what ought to be 

 included in the cost of production as it relates to the business of farming. 



A rural survey in Missouri (New York [1912], pp. Ji2, figs. 22). — This 

 pamphlet presents the results of a social and economic survey made by the 

 Department of Church and Country Life of the Board of Home Missions of 

 the Presbyterian Church. It includes Adair, Sullivan, and Knox counties, 

 Missouri, comprising a total area of 1,719 square miles with a population of 

 53,701. Detailed information is reported for each township as to its topog- 

 raphy, economic conditions, population, and educational, social, and religious 

 conditions and activities. 



Of the total population, 35,495 live in the country, 5,551 in 23 villages under 

 750 in population, and the remaining 12,655 in towns of more than 750 popu- 

 lation. The population in the rural districts shows a decrease, while that in 

 townships has increased, but the total population of the three counties is 

 1,788 less in 1910 than in 1900. The reasons assigned for this condition are 

 (1) smaller families, (2) the increased use of farm machinery, lessening the 

 need of farm hands, (3) the increased value of land, which has induced some 

 farmers (as a rule the owners of the small farm) to sell out and go to cheaper 

 lands in the West, and (4) the fact that the younger generation has been 

 seeking greater opportunities in towns and iu the cheaper lands elsewhere. 



About 85 per cent of the farmers own the farms they operate, the remainder 

 being tenants. Agricultural laborers receive from. $20 to $30 and " keep " 

 per month. The average family is shown to spend annually $771 on itself, 

 $13.72 on its school, $6 on its roads, and $3.18 on its church. It is stated 

 that only 29 per cent of the total population belong to a church, and that 44 

 per cent of the tenants, 78 per cent of the hired men, 65 per cent of farmers 

 who own 20 acres of land, 46 per cent of farmers with 40 acres, 36 per 

 cent with 60 acres, 27 per cent with 10f» acres, 20 per "cent with 200 acres, 

 and 18 per cent with 500 acres do not attend. The question is raised whether 

 the poor man does not want to go to chui'ch or whether the church makes no 

 effort to get him to do so. 



[Agricultural production in Victoria], A. M. Laughton (Victorian Year- 

 hook, 31 (1910-11), pp. 623-707). — Notes, statistics, and detailed accounts of 

 agricultural production of the State for 1910-11, with comparisons with former 

 years and with other States and countries, are here presented, together with a 

 brief summary of the work in progress at the agricultural schools, colleges, and 

 experiment stations.- 



It is noted that the number of persons engaged in agricultural pursuits in 

 ]901 was 78,539 males and 17,381 females, and that the persons employed in 

 farming, dairying, and pastoral holdings in 1910 numbered 99,948 males and 

 54.083 females, the total population being 651,093 males and 656,305 females. 

 The prevalent rates of wages paid (with rations) during 1910-11 were: Plow- 

 men 25s. per week, farm laborers 20s., milkers 20s., harvest hands 6s. per day. 

 and threshing machine hands 8d. per hour. The area under the 5 i)riucipal 



