RURAL ECONOMICS. 1189 



cooperation in drainage work between Inndowners, hotli with and without legal 

 proceedings, is briefly disenssed. 



The use of the split-log' drag on earth roads, D. W. King ( U. S. Dcpt. Agr., 

 Farmers' BiiL 321, pp. l-'i, figs. 5). — Directions are given for the construction of 

 the split-log drag and its use on earth roads. It is stated that among the 

 advantages to be gained from the persistent use of a road drag are the mainte- 

 nance of a smooth, serviceable earth road free from ruts and mudholes, the ob- 

 taining of such a road surface with the expenditure of very little money and 

 labor in comparison with the money and labor required for other methods, 

 and the reduction of mud in wet weather and of dust in dry weather. 



Progress reports of experiments with dust preventives {U. >S'. Dept. Agr., 

 Office Pub. Roads Circ. 89, pp. 26). — A series of experiments with dust pre- 

 ventives, carried on at Wayland, Mass., Washington, D. C, and Bowling Green, 

 Ky., during the summer of 1907 is reported, together with further observations 

 on roads at Jackson, Tenn., which were treated in 1905 (E. S. K., 18, p. 289). 



At Wayland on a mixed trap and granite macadam, which had been built 

 about 10 years, oil emulsion, water-gas tar. coal tar, a mixture of water-gas 

 tar and coal tar, and special tar mixtures and preparations were applied to small 

 sections. The total cost ranged from 1.7 to 3.8 cts. per square yard for the oil 

 emulsion, 1.5 to 12.9 cts. for the water-gas tar, 8.8 to 12.9 cts. for the coal tar, 

 and 6.2 to 31.G cts. for the mixtures and special preparations. Nearly all the 

 sections were reported as in good condition at the end of 3 months. Water- 

 gas tar is deemed a satisfactory dust layer and preventive when used in mod- 

 erate quantities on roads already in good condition. 



Solutions of calcium chlorid of specific gravity 1.0.53 to 1.060 were applied - 

 to a macadam driveway in the grounds of this Department at Washington at 

 a cost for 5 applications of 2.35 cts. per square yard. After the second appli- 

 cation the road surface, which had seemed loosely knit together and subject to 

 excessive leveling in spots, became compact and resilient. 



In the experiments at Bowling Green rock asphalt was tested as to its fitness 

 as a binder in macadam construction, and was applied at a total cost of 47.63 

 cts. per square yard. After 4 months the appearance of the roadway had 

 undergone no appreciable change. Crude oil and a special oil preparation were 

 applied to gravel and macadam roads at costs ranging from 1.17 to 2.86 cts. per 

 square yard as dust preventives with apparently satisfactory results. 



At Jackson the treatment with tar is considered on the whole as very satis- 

 factory. Crude and steamer oils have left no appreciable effects, but good 

 results are still apparent where the roads were treated with the residual oils, 

 these sections being still practically dustless and free from all washing. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



The Russian peasantry, O. GRiJNBEKO {Mitt. Liv-Esttdnd. Bur. Landeskult., 

 Jalirb. 1906-7, pp. 1-32). — This article briefly outlines the land system of 

 Russia which has developed since 1861, and gives in more detail the conditions 

 of life of the peasants, the communal system of living, and the present needs 

 of the peasantry. One of the greatest drawbacks to the economic progress of 

 the farmers is held to be the small size of the peasant holdings. As about 

 80 millions of population in Russia depend directly or indirectly upon agri- 

 culture as a means of livelihood, increase in the size of holdings, better sys- 

 tems of culture, and improvement in the system of taxation are urged as 

 among the steps the government should take for promoting the welfare of 

 the peasant class. 



