KURAL ECONOMICS. 893 



and with walls, floor, and roof of matched pine flooring. The roof is covered 

 with prepared roofing and the interior fixtures, such as dooi-s, windows, roosts, 

 nests, etc., are arranged to facilitate lighting, ventilating, and cleaning. 



A concrete root cellar, D. Folsom (Country Gent., 77 {1912), No. 39, p. 18, 

 figs. 2). — An outline is given as to the construction of a concrete root cellar, 

 stating that it is essential that the site be well drained and dry under normal 

 conditions to prevent dampness and decay inside. A 1:2:4 mixture is used 

 for the footings, walls, and roof, and a 1 : 2* : 5 mixture for the floor. The 

 roof is reinfoi'ced with heavy woven wire fencing, and 2 drain tiles covered 

 with galvanized iron hoods are used as ventilators. A side section of the build- 

 ing is given showing details. 



[Hot water in a greenhouse], H. L. Alt (Dom. Engin., 60 {1912), No. 12, 

 pp. 292-297, figs. 25). — The details of a hot water heating system satisfying 

 greenhouse requirements, and consisting of 2-in. wrought iron pipe coils in 

 sufficient quantity to maintain an average temperature of 60° F. in a total 

 heating space covering some 6.000 sq. ft., are presented. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



Work accidents and the farm hand, D. D. Lescohies {Survey, 27 {1911), 

 No. 1, pp. 9'i6-9-Jl, figs. .'/). — This article discusses and illustrates the economic 

 significance of farm accidents. It shows that much of the machinery used on 

 the farm is more dangerous than that used in most factories, since the public 

 has not known enough about the number, causes, and consequence of accidents 

 on farms to realize that farm workers need legal protection against unguarded 

 machinery as badly as do factory workers. 



A table itemizing the 135 agricultural accidents in Minnesota for a period 

 of 20 months is given. Of these accidents 16 were fatal, and 9 involved the 

 loss of an arm, 10 of a hand, 42 of one or more fingers, and 1 each of a foot, 

 a leg, or both eyes. There were also 16 breaks and fractures, 16 serious and 

 7 severe crushings. and 13 serious and 9 severe lacerations. 



Possibilities of American farms. — A comparison with Germany, E. Mer- 

 EiTT {Tribune Farmer [N. Y.], 11 {1912), No. 570, p. 2). — The author considers 

 it inexpedient to attempt to reach Germany's standard of production in this 

 coimtry at present, and discusses the differences in conditions. "As soon as 

 the increase in population creates a demand, our farmers will increase their 

 production to meet it." 



The high cost of farming, B. F. Yoakum {World's Work, 2ff {1912), No. 

 5, pp. 519-533, flgs. 18). — This is the first of a series of articles discussing the 

 causes of an alleged decrease in the purchasing power of the dollar in America 

 from 100 cts. to 70 cts. during the last 15 years as compared with a decrease 

 in England from 100 cts. to 78 cts., and a still smaller contraction in Germany. 

 The causes assigned are the excessive burden of interest charges on farm 

 loans because of inadequate money-lending facilities, the excessive cost of 

 selling and delivering farm products to the consumer, the excessive cost of 

 cartage from the farm to the railroad because of poor roads, and the need for 

 more and better railroads. 



The author discusses each item in detail, showing the cost of these deficien- 

 cies, the steps taken in other countries to eliminate them, and the steps needed 

 in America to that end. As an illustration of one difiiculty under which the 

 American farmer does business, it is stated that whereas the United States 

 Government can borrow money for $20 per annum per $1,000, and New York 

 call loans command $24.60, commercial paper in the United States $41.10, 

 French farms $43, German farms $44, the best public utilities or New York 



