RURAL ECONOMICS. 191 



agriculture in improving these industries and tlie effects of the truck system. 

 The report, in commenting on the effect of rural home industries upon the 

 economic life of the people, says: "Where the crofts are small or poor, and 

 where there is a large cottar population, home industries are necessary for the 

 support of the people, while any considerable extension of such occupations will 

 have a material effect in raising the standard of comfort. The nature of the 

 work in the vicinity of the home constitutes adaptation of the people to a 

 refinement which, from the point of view of agricultural production, is an 

 unkindly one." 



Abandoned and unoccupied farms for sale in Pennsylvania, N. B. Critch- 

 riELD and L. H. Wible (Perm. Dept. Agr. Bui. 252 (1914), pp. 48, pis. 3). — This 

 bulletin contains a list of farms for sale, together with a description showing 

 the location in regard to schools and markets and the character of the land 

 and buildings. 



International annual of agricultural legislation (Inst. Internat. Agr. 

 [Rome], Ann. Internat. Leg. Agr., 3 {1913}, pp. VI -\- 11 13). —This report con- 

 tains abstracts and quotations of laws with references, concerning methods of 

 gathering agricultural and commercial statistics; the regulation of commerce 

 in agricultural produce, fertilizers, and live stock; appropriations for agricul- 

 tural purposes; taxation and exemption of agricultural property; regulations 

 concerning the production of plants and animals and industries connected there- 

 with ; control of plant and animal diseases ; cooperative organization, insurance, 

 and agricultural credit; relationships of the agricultural landowner, tenant, 

 and laborers; rural sanitation; and police duties in rural districts. 



Bural credits in Ireland, W. Fhost (U. 8. Senate, 63. Cong., 2. Sess., Doc. 

 607 (1914), pp. 12). — This contains a review of the report already noted (E. S. 

 R., 32, p. 2S6). 



Long-time farm loans, B. B. Hake {U. S. Senate, 63. Gong., 2. Sess., Doc. 

 421 {1914), pp. 12). — The author has outlined the system of extending credit 

 to farmers as found in New Zealand. This country issues and sells bonds, the 

 proceeds from which are loaned to settlers for periods varying according to 

 the character of the security offered. He points out how the system might be 

 adopted in South Carolina, and that it is in effective operation in eight American 

 States. 



Cotton warehouses: Storage facilities now available in the South, R. L. 

 Nixon {TJ. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 216 {1915), pp. 26). — The author concludes that 

 in storage capacity the present warehouses are ample, but that these ware- 

 houses are poorly distributed. The best warehouses are not available to farm- 

 ers. The dealers or middlemen not only control the best storage houses but 

 have better financial connection. He calls attention to the fact that a large 

 standard storage house pays ample dividends while many of the owners of 

 small warehouses actually lose money on their investment. He considers 

 it desirable that the farmers cooperate in building their own warehouses, and 

 advises that all warehouses should conform fully to the standards recognized 

 by the underwriters' associations, as this will save cost in construction, in 

 handling, and in insurance. A proper system of warehouses would simplify 

 the financial system and eventually free the southern cotton farmer from the 

 present disastrous credit system. He also believes that cotton mills should 

 encourage storing by paying a premium for cotton in good condition. The 

 estimated number of warehouses in the cotton belt at the beginning of the 

 1913-14 season was 3,145, with a storage capacity of 9,344,520 bales, flat; 

 12,486,920 bales as offered, or 15.738.825 bales compressed. 



A system of accounting for cooperative fruit associations, G. A. Nahstoll 

 and W. H. Kebe (17. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 225 {1915i), pp. 25).— There is outlined 



