EURAL ECONOMICS. 991 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



The indebtedness of the peasant class on the continent (Jour. Bd. Agr. 

 [London], J.'/ (11)07), Xo. U, iij). o.jD-oU.J) . — Tliis is a review <tf two papers read 

 at the International Congress of Agriculture at Vienna in the spring of 1907, 

 the purpose being to suggest remedies for the preservation of the peasantry and 

 for the burden of indebtedness. 



Dr. A. Orinmi recommended (1) the extension and improvement of agricul- 

 tural education, (2) old age pension and better facilities for agricultural la- 

 borers to acquire homes. (3) road improvement, and (4) tariff protection for 

 agricultural products and protection of live stock against the introduction of 

 disease. 



In the paper by Dr. C. von Grabmayr attention is called to the increasing 

 indebtedness of the peasant class which seriously threatens their future welfare. 

 As remedies he suggests (1) a plan of redemption by instalments by which the 

 debtor instead of paying 5 per cent annual interest as called for by mortgages 

 will pay 4 per cent interest and 1 per cent redemi)tion money, and (2) a legal 

 restriction on the freedom to incur debt. Such remedies it is thought would be 

 effective in forcing the peasant to transform present mortgage indebtedness 

 which the creditor may call in at pleasure into debts which the debtor must pay 

 off by regular instalments. The means advocated for accomplishing this end is 

 the establishment of mutual loan societies of known solidity. 



The income of farm laborers, H. Thiel (Dcitt. Landw. Presse, 3.J (1907), 

 No. 102, p. 795). — From statistics gathered from two large farms, the author 

 shows that the total income, which includes wages, dwelling, garden, and 

 other privileges, of farm laborers of different capabilities and duties, ranges 

 from 865.60 to 948.09 marks (from about $200 to $22.5) per annum. The in- 

 come of farm hands is believed to compare favorably with the wages of the 

 average industrial worker in cities. 



Conflicts between proprietors and farm laborers, U. Paluani (BoL Quind. 

 Soc. Agr. ItaL, 13 (1908), Xo. 2, pp. 35-39). — The author describes the organ- 

 ization and functions of arbitration councils composed of proprietors and farm 

 laborers as instituted in France for the settlement of differences, .ind makes a 

 plea for the establishment of such councils in Italy. 



Equipment of small holdings, W. J. Malden (Jour. Dept. Agr. West. Aunt., 

 15 {1907), No. 11, pp. ^>'.J 2-8.5 -'/) . — The amount and kind of labor and machin- 

 ery for profitable production on small holdings are discussed in relation to dif- 

 ferent branches of the agricultural industry. 



The new ag'rarian legislation in Ireland, C. Paladini {Bol. Ufflc. Min. Agr., 

 Indus, e Com. [Rome], 6 {1907), VI, Xo. 7-8, pp. 853-865, figs. 5).— A brief 

 historical review of the Irish agrarian question, with more particular refer- 

 ence to the various laws passed by the British Parliament to improve the 

 land-tenure system in Ireland. The e.\pondilures by the Government under 

 these laws from 1869 to ,Iune .30. 1906, were £38.404.925 (about $192,000,000). 



The measures adopted by the government [of Portugal] to encourage the 

 production, sale, and exportation of agricultural products {Bui. Mens. Off. 

 Rrnsiig. Agr. [Pfiris], 7 (1908), Xo. 1, pp. 59-75). — The regulations of the gov- 

 ernment with particular reference to cereals and wine are reported, together 

 with statistical data as to the exports and imports of cereals from 1881-1906, 

 and as to the quantity, value, and kinds of wine produced and exported in 1900. 



Business and mutual agricultural associations, A. Lkcomte {Paris [1906], 

 pp. xn +297). — This volume gives ii brief historical sketch of the early agri- 

 cultural societies iu France, but deals more particularly with the development, 



