RURAL ECONOMICS. 189 



An agricultural monograph of Great Britain, K. Dommkn \. Monofivnpliic 

 Affricolc (Ic la (iraiulc-BrrtiUjnv. I'aris, 190S, pp. 66). — This volume briefly dis- 

 cusses physiograpliic features, land ownershii), agricultural production, farm 

 equipment and management, live-stock raising, the dairy industry and technol- 

 ogy, methods of selling agricultural products, agricultural instruction, the min- 

 istry of agriculture, and agricultural credit. 



[The condition of peasant proprietors in France], J. Ruau {Bui. Mens. Off. 

 Re'iscifi. Agr. [Paris], S (1909), Nf). 3, pp. 3J6-3Ji6; Bui. Soc. Nat. Agr. France, 

 69 (1909), Xo. 3, pp. 275-3.'i0). — This is an address by the minister of agricul- 

 ture, delivered March 14, 1909, before the National Federation of Mutual 

 Associations. 



The author deals with the present state of agriculture in France, with par- 

 ticular reference to the number of small holdings and the economic and social 

 condition of peasant proprietors. Statistics of small, medium, and large-size 

 holdings are presented and discussed. The number of small holdings is shown 

 vastly to exceed all others, and the cause of this is traced to the inherent desire 

 of French peasants to own the land they exploit. From this study, which is 

 characterized as the most complete yet made, the conclusion is reached that 

 the condition of peasant proprietors is prosperous and flourishing and not in a 

 deplorable condition as claimed by labor agitators. 



A bibliography of the agrarian problem in France is included. 



General expenses in agriculture and their influence on profits, Brandin 

 (Bui. Soc. Nut. Agr. France, 69 {1909), No. 3, pp. 172-185; Bui. Soc. Agr. France, 

 n. scr.. .'il {1909), May 1, Sup., pp. 3'i3-351). — The author discusses the various 

 items of general expense which differ on farms in France according to physical 

 contour, condition of land, location as to markets, number of laborers and 

 facilities for their accommodation, control of insects and fungus diseases and 

 animal pests, premiums of insurance, and many other items which seldom enter 

 into the farmer's bookkeeping, but which annually amount to large sums and 

 greatly reduce the jirofits of the industry. 



Investigations on the profitableness of ag-riculture in Switzerland during 

 1907, E. Laur {Ann. Agr. Suisse, 10 {1909), No. 2, pp. 9-120; Landw. Jahrb. 

 Schweiz, 23 {1909), No. 2, pp. 66-163).— In addition to data on the yields, value, 

 exports, etc., of farm products raised in 1907. this report contains a detailed 

 account of the profitableness of the industry as determined from 250 small, 

 medium, and large holdings. 



The condition of agriculture in Portugal {Bol. R. Assoc. Cent. Agr. Portu- 

 guesa, 11 {1909), No. J/, pp. 15.'/-196). — This is a series of propositions prepared 

 l-y a committee and discussed at the meeting of the Eoyal A.ssociation of Agri- 

 culture held on March 29, 1909. The economic, scientific, and educational defi- 

 ciencies of the agricultural system in Portugal are presented and remedies to 

 improve present conditions are suggested. Among the latter are mentioned 

 general and special education, scientific investigations and research, the gather- 

 ing and publication of statistics regarding rural conditions, agricultural credit 

 and othei' associations, road improvement, etc. 



[The movement of agricultural wages in Bavaria] {Mitt. Dent. Landw. 

 (icscll., 2.'i {1909), No. 11, pp. 277-282).— Data on the day and yearly wages of 

 farm hands in Bavaria for the years 1S96, 1906, and 1908. as measured in money 

 and actual values, are tabulated and discussed. A general increase in wages 

 for all classes of rural workers is indicated. 



The breaking of contracts by agricultural laborers in Pomerania, von 

 Stojentin {Ztschr. Agrarpolitik, 7 {1909), No. -',, pp. 180-19',).— Th(^ number of 

 foreign and native farm laborers employed in the province is presented and 



