RURAL, ECONOMICS. 487 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



The present status of the international cooperative movement in agricul- 

 ture, Paisant (Rev. G6n. Agron., n. ser., 2 (1907), Nos. //, pp. 183, IS-i; 5, pp. 

 235-237). — Brief accounts are given of the International Agricultural Associa- 

 tion for establishing the price of cereals, the International Institute of Agricul- 

 ture, ami the International League of Agricultural Cooperative Societies, a new 

 society organized in January, 1907. 



The organization, constitution, and aims of these different bodies are briefly 

 dis<eussed. Their jiuriKise in general is to secure and disseminate inforuiatiou 

 regarding the specific branches of agriculture in which each international body 

 is interested and to secure greater returns to the producers of agricultural forms 

 of wealth. 



[Report on the mutual agricultural insurance societies in France] (Bui. 

 Mens. Off. Rcnscig. Ayr. [Pahs}, 6 {1907), Xos. 6, pp. 676-689; 7, pp. 787-79.}).— 

 This is the report of the minister of agriculture for 1906, and gives data to May 

 1, 1907, 



The total number of mutual insurance societies in France on that date was 

 7,824. Of this number 0,730 were societies for insuring against loss of live stock, 

 with ,35.5,600 members carrying insurance on stock valued at 384,895,435 francs ; 

 1,008 insured against loss from fire with 34,457 members carrying insurance on 

 property valued at 291,334,850 francs, and 28 insured against loss from hail with 

 42,5.50 members carrying insurance on growing crops valued at 27,749,815 francs. 

 Statistics are also presented of 58 other mutual insurance societies. 



Agricultural warrants, R. Worms (Bui. Soc. Nat. Agr. France, 67 {1907), 

 -Yo. ,5, pp. .'iSS-.'i'i9). — The author discusses the operation of the law of July 18, 

 1898, legalizing the issuance of warrants for the securing of credit on agricul- 

 tural products, implements, etc., and points out the beneficial features of the 

 new law of April 30, 1906. Statistics show that from July 1, 1901, to December 

 31, 1903, there were issued 4,658 w^arrants securing loans of 15,293,036 francs, 

 lai'gely on crops. It is believed that, under the more favorable provisions of the 

 new law. the farmers of France will continue in increasing numbers to use 

 this form of obtaining credit. 



The agricultural warrant according to the French law of April 30, 1906, 

 H. L. RuDLOFF {FiHilUnfs Landw. Ztg., 56 {1907), No. 15, pp. 519-528).— The 

 author discusses the present law, compares its provisions with those of the law 

 of 1898, and points out where improvement can still be instituted. While grant- 

 ing that the law of 1906 indicates a positive advance in behalf of the tenant 

 farmer, the author believes it is not the final word on agricultural warrants, 

 which are capable of further development along social, economic, and legal lines, 

 particuhirly as regards the rights of lessors of farms. 



Concerning credit for agricultural improvements, E. Cinquini {Boh Quind. 

 hioc. Agr. ItaL, 12 {1907), No. 16, pp. 7)3-7 't7). — The author discusses sections 

 of the law of December 22, 1905, relating to the agricultiu-al credit fund, shows 

 how the operation of the provisions of the law relating to repayment is liable 

 to embarrass rather than to aid the farmer who borrows to improve his prop- 

 erty or to increase the production of crops, and makes suggestions as to wherein 

 the law can be imi)roved. 



The improvement suggested consists in providing easier financial facilities 

 aud methods of procedure in the formation of societies relating to agriculture, 

 and that the government iti^elf supervise such funds in order to diminish the 

 risk of loss and increase the likelihood of gain on the part of those who adopt 

 this means of securing credit. 



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