EURAL ECONOMICS. 293 



The agricultural holding's act, 1908 {J(jiir. Bd. Agr. [London], 16 (1909), 

 Xo. 2, pp. 113-111). — A discussion of tlie uiahi provisions of this act (E. S. R., 

 20. {). !»!)<)). 



Agricultural legislation in France. II. I^. Rudloff (Linnhr. .Jalnb., 3S 

 (1909), No. 2, pp. 193-250).— The autlior gives a historical slcetch of French 

 legislation relating to agriculture, the article being an epitome of the French 

 rural code discussed under the topics of the laws relating to land and labor, 

 water rights, and the public welfare. 



The sig-nificance of the colonial system to agriculture in Germany, Woiilt- 

 MAXN (jQlirl). Dent. Landw. (JchcU., 2', (1909), No. J, pp. o/-6-'/).— This is an 

 address before the meeting of the German Agricultural Society at Berlin on 

 Februar.v 24. 1009. 



The author discusses the extent, location, and agricultural products of the 

 German colonies, shows that these products do not compete to any extent with 

 home production, and believes that the agricultural develoi»ment of the colonies, 

 particularly in the growing of tropical and subtropical products which are now 

 imported from other countries, would be of great economic and financial advan- 

 tage to Germany and her colonies. 



Agriculture in Italy and the spread of socialism in rural districts, T. Poggi 

 (CoUivatore, 55 (1909), Nos. 3, pp. 65-68: 6. pp. 161-16',; 13. pp. 3S5-3S9 ; 15, 

 pp. .'i-',9-.'i5S; IS, pp. 5.'f5-5Ji9). — The author discusses the extent of the formation 

 of unions among the peasants in certain provinces of Italy as a result of 

 socialist propagandists, points out the economic errors on which such doctrines 

 rest, and offers suggestions for the imi)rovement of rural conditions, the better- 

 ment of the agricultural classes, and the increase of social welfare in Italy. 



Agricultural associations and their functions, F. Convert (Rei\ Vit., 31 

 (1909), No. 803, pp. 503-508). — A discussion of the features of the proposed 

 laws relating to the limitation of the functions of agricultural associations in 

 France (E. S. R.. 20, p. SS8). 



How shall the farmer pay off his mortgage? (Wiirttcnib. Wchnhl. Landw., 

 1909, No. 19. p. 3.7/).— The great advantages to the farmer of being able to 

 borrow money of agricultural credit societies on long-time loans at 4 per cent 

 interest over e\ery other method of securing credit are discussed in this 

 article. 



Agricultural credit in Roumania (Bui. Mens. Off. Rcnscig. Agr. [Paris], 8 

 (1909), No. 3, pp. .'iOO-.'i04). — A brief I'eview of the development of agricultural 

 credit in Roumania with statistics from 1882 to 1908. inclusive. 



The progress of cooperative societies (Indian Agr., 3'/ (1909), No. .',, pp. 

 102. 103). — Coojierative societies in India increased during 1908 from 84.3 to 

 1,201, and the membership from 91,000 to 149,000. The cooperative credit 

 societies lend money at Vlh per cent, as compared with the prevailing rate of 

 from .37* to 75 per cent charged by professional money lenders, though in some 

 parts of India interest r:ites run from 150 to 720 per cent. 



The agricultural labor system in Chile, P. Coignard (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. 

 sn:, 11 (1909), Nos. 15. pp. J,12-.'il'i; 16. pp. ',9. ',-.',96). —The author shows that 

 Chile is a country of large holdings, that the extensive system of agriculture 

 necessaril.v prevails thei'e, that settlements and villages are remote from each 

 other, and that because of these conditions the agricultural labor system is 

 different from what it is in many countries. 



The life and labors of the permanent and temporary farm hands are de- 

 scribed in detail, including the privileges granted as to residences, the amount 

 and quality of food furnished, use of land for cultivation and pasturing of 

 stock, fuel for household purposes, etc., rates of wages, the extent of piece 

 work and its advantages to the laborer, the management of stores on large 



