1088 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The rural credit system of Prussia, H. Maueb (Das Lntidschaftliche Kredit- 

 iccscii Prcus-sois. Str<tMshHr<j, 1!)07, pp. 206). — This is a contribution to tlie 

 history of agriculturnl credit in Prussia from 1S05 to 1905. An extensive bibli- 

 ograpliy is included. 



The rural leagues in Italy, E. Brianza {Riv. Interna^. Sci. 8oc., f'/ (1907), 

 No. 176, pp. 5 '(6-559). — This is a brief discussion of the organization and func- 

 tions of the rural associations for the improvement of the farm laboring classes 

 in Italy, the causes which gave rise to these leagues, and the results which have 

 followed their organization. The economic and social conditions of farm la- 

 borers have been improved since these associations were formed. 



The agricultural situation, E. Lahitte (La Situacion Agricola. Buenos 

 Ayrcs, 1907, pp. 23). — The author discusses the prevailing agricultural condi- 

 tions in Argentina, and presents a proposed law for the establishment of 

 cooperative societies which carries a grant of $2,000,000 for the promotion of 

 agricultural credit among farmers. 



Agricultural credit, E. Lahitte (El Crcdito Agricola. Buenos Ayrcs, 1907, 

 pp. 29). — This pamphlet gives a brief review of the development of agricultural 

 cooperative societies in various countries, shows the great need of credit on 

 the part of farmers, and makes a plea for the ytassage of a law to promote 

 cooperative societies and agricultural credit in Argentina. 



The farm labor problem, E. von Graeve (Illus. Landw. Ztg., 27 (1907), 

 No. lO.'f, pp. S93, 89Jf). — The author calls attention to the increasing difficulty of 

 securing farm help and gives an outline of the plan carried out on his own 

 estate for keeping his laborers on the land. 



The system consists in granting holidays to the help during certain seasons of 

 the year, when it will interfere least with the heavier and necessary duties of 

 the farm, and other privileges as a free dwelling, garden, cow, wood, manure, etc. 

 The estimated income of a married man on this basis is placed at 533 marks 

 (about $128), and of a young person 219.50 marks. In addition a premium is 

 paid to young workers according to age which at 20 equals 50 marks. When 

 all items are taken into consideration, the farm hand is shown to be far better 

 off than the ordinary factory hand in cities. 



The agricultural labor problem., J. G. Mailath (Ztsclir. Agrarpolitilc, 6 

 (190S), No. 1, pp. 15-25). — The author points out many differences between 

 agriculture and other industries which directlj' or indirectly affect the question 

 of labor. As means for improving the relations between master and man and 

 of placing the agricultural industry on an independent economic basis, the 

 author advocates the granting of a piece of land by the proprietor for the use 

 of the laborer, the regulation of the tariff with regard to the exportation of 

 agricultural products, and the appointment of an arbitration commission to 

 settle farm labor disputes. 



The wages of British agricultural laborers, B. Skalweit (Mitt. Dcut. 

 Landw. Gescll., 23 (1908), Bcilagc No. 1, pp. 1.',, dgm. 7) .—Statistical data are 

 presented and discussed as to the different kinds of farm help and their wages 

 in the various counties of the United Kingdom from 1790 to 1900. The prices 

 of the most important necessaries of life are also included, and their bearing 

 on the improvement in the standard of living of farm laborers is pointed out. 



Num^bers engaged in the chief agricultural pursuits, 1870-1900 (f7. 8. 

 Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Statis. Crop Reporter, 10 (1908), No. 5, pp. 35, 36),— Census 

 decade returns for the United States are presented and discussed. 



In general the number of persons engaged in agricultural pursuits in 1S70 

 was 5,919,857 and in 1900, 10,243,403. Compared with the total population for 

 these years it shows an increase of 73 per cent in the number of persons en- 

 gaged in agriculture, with 97 per cent increase in the general population. A 



