RURAL ECONOMICS. 91 



heip defrny the cost of living, and that laborers should be permitted to enjoy 

 Sunday as free as possible from all kinds of labor. Such social advantages, it 

 is believed, \A'ould I'esult in the establishment of farm laborers' households 

 with their attendant joys of family life and would serve as a means of retain- 

 ing laborers on the land. 



The chief recoumiendation, however, is the erection on each large farm of a 

 ball vt'here the worl^men aud their families could meet in social gatherings, 

 where lectures could be given and entertainments held, and with a library of 

 good books aud other educational features provided which would take the place 

 of the attractions of the cities. lu these features the woman on the farm could 

 play a k^rge social role, as could also the proprietor to whom, particularly, it 

 would be a matter of economic interest to promote the social welfare of both 

 farmers and tenants. 



The farm, at Trousse and the laborers' dwellings, II. Hitier {Jour. Agr. 

 Prat, u. scr., 19 {1910), Nos. 2, pp. Ji9-53, figs. 3; 3, pp. 83-86, flgs. 7).— This 

 article describes the arrangement and operation of a farm of 075 acres, the 

 proprietor of which received the gold medal awarded by the Agricultural 

 Society of Meaux for the amelioration of agricultural conditions. 



The special feature on this farm which led to the reward was the erection 

 of laborers' houses, well lighted, sanitary, commodious, and with attached 

 gardens which were constructed and arranged by the proprietor with the 

 desire of actually improving the conditions of the agricultural laborers em- 

 ployed on his estate. The plans of these houses aud their interior and exterior 

 arrangement and surroundings are described and illustrated. It is urged that 

 the example set by the proprietor of this farm should be emulated by large 

 farmers as a means of raising the standard of living of farm laborers and 

 their families. 



Concerning" the establishments for mig'ratory laborers (Wiirttvinh. Wclnihl. 

 Landio., 1910, No. 10, pp. 159, 160). — Statistics are presented on the successful 

 operation for the three months ended December 31, 1909, of the 27 places 

 established in Wiirttemberg for the registration and care of agricultural and 

 other lal)orers in search of employment. The returns show a decrease in 

 begging and of offenses punishable by imprisonment as a result of the estab- 

 lishment of these institutions. 



The winter woi'k of the farmer {Luiuhr. Ztsclir. Rhcinprovinz, 10 {1909), 

 Xo. .'i9, pp. 702, 703). — This article discusses the different lines of work which 

 farmers can do in winter, such as the care of tools, machinery, buildings, 

 fenpes, manure, soil, woodlands, orchards, etc., the keeping of farm accounts 

 and their value, attendance at meetings of farmers, and the reading of agri- 

 cultural literature. Such work, it is believed, would give the farmer a better 

 insight into the economic status of his farm operations and result in more 

 l>rotitab]e systems of farm management. 



Working methods in American agriculture, J. Suxuby {Tid^shr. Xorske 

 Landbr., 16 {1909), Nos. 9, pp. 387-.',19; II. pp. .'i98-536).—A report on ol)serva- 

 tions made by the author during a visit to the United States in 190S. 



The agrarian situation and ag-riculture in Belgium, J. Frost { Agrarrcr- 

 ffifisuiig iind Laridicirtschaft in Bclgicn. Berlin. 1909, pp. V II I +.55.5. maps 

 '}. — This volume discusses the climate and soils of Belgium, the means of 

 transportation, the condition of the agricultural population, agricultural organi- 

 zations, and education, with detailed accounts of the systems of farming 

 practiced in the different sections of the country and the nature and extent of 

 the agricultural industries, including data as to both the kind and quantity of 

 croi)s raised and the live stock industries. 



