88 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



booklets deal with the construction of buildings, with special reference to those 

 on the farm. 



The first takes up building materials, the construction of common building 

 details such as steps, stairs, floors, doors, etc., and also ventilation. The second 

 is devoted to barns and stables, and describes in detail methods of construc- 

 tion which are considered to be best adapted to the purpose for which the 

 building is erected. 



The author, who is a government architect, states that the booklets were pre- 

 pared for the use of the farm owner to acquaint him with enough technical 

 information to enable him to build to the best advantage. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



The International Institute of Agriculture at Rome, H. J. Dannfelt (K. 

 Landihr. Akad. Haiidl. och Tidskr., ',S {190!)). Xo. 1, pp. 52-6-',).— A sketch of 

 the history, organization, field of operation, and administration of the institute. 



The origin and organization of the International Institute of Agriculture 

 at Rome, A. MacLean {Ztschr. Agrarpolitik, 7 {1909), No. 3, pp. 118-124). — 

 Similar in scope to the above. 



The small holding, F. E. Green (London and New York, 1908, pp. XII +122, 

 pis. 2.'f, figs. It-'i). — This book describes the operation of individual and coopera- 

 tive small holdings in England with particular reference to cooperation, 

 through which phase alone, according to the author, can the success of the 

 movement be attained. 



A list of societies helpful to small holders and a bibliography are included. 



Equipment and cultivation of small holdings, .J. H. Diggle (Irish Farming 

 World, 22 (1909), Nos. 1101, pp. 346, 347; 1102, pp. 376, 377).— This article 

 describes the actual cost of equipment of several blocks of land in England 

 formerly cultivated as single holdings, but now divided and operated as single 

 allotments, small holdings, and small farms. The various lines of work car- 

 ried on by the tenants are also described. 



"The holdings are successful, judging hy the state of the cultivation of the 

 land, the number of stock kept, the extremely rare changes of tenancy, and the 

 prompt payment of rent. Upon 4,000 acres of land, let to 70 resident small 

 holders and to upward of 300 nonresident small holders and allotment holders, 

 the only arrear of rent is 33s., the rent of an acre allotment. During the 

 past 12 years the lost rent has amounted to less than 2s. 6d. for each £100 

 payable." The lack of adequate capital is said to be the great drawback to 

 the cultivation of small holdings. 



Agricultural holdings (Scotland) bill (London, 1908, pp. 11+23). — The text 

 of the law of 1908 regulating the relations between farm tenants and landlords 

 in Scotland is reported. 



Mutual insurance for farmers, C. F. Mingeneack (Bicn. Rpt. Knns. Bd. 

 Agr., 16 (1907-S), pp. 67S-6S7). — A paper read before the thirty-seventh annual 

 meeting of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture setting forth the estimated 

 number of mutual insurance societies among farmers in the United States, the 

 advantages of the system, and the rates and amounts of insurance in effect. 

 Kansas in 1906 had 18 farmers' mutual societies insuring against fire, lightning, 

 and windstorm, while the total number in the United States was estimated at 

 2,250. 



The paper is followed by a discussion. 



Grange banks are successful, W. F. Hill (Orange Judd Farmer, .{6 (1909). 

 No. 18, p. 695). — Notes are given on the operation of fai*mers' banks in Penn- 

 sylvania, of which 20 and one trust company have' been organized in three years. 



