19161 RURAL ECONOMICS. 295 



Although the fecundity of married women in rural districts is greater than 

 tliose of the same nativity in urban districts, the presence of a larger number 

 of foreign born in cities causes the relative birth rates to appear about equal. 

 When the death rate is compared, age for age, it is found to be higher in the 

 urban than in the rural districts, the difference being greatest at those ages 

 at which the largest number of deaths occur. Even if the birth rate for rural 

 and urban districts were the same, the greater death rate in cities results in 

 a smaller percentage of those born in cities reacliing the productive age periods. 

 Migration from rural districts apparently begins with those 10 to 15 years of 

 age, and practically ceases at 35 years of age. The higher death rate in cities 

 accounts for the fact that a large percentage of those in rural districts survive. 



He also points out that the white females arc migrating from rural districts 

 in greater numbers than males, and that their migration begins at an earlier 

 age. The extensive use of agricultural machinery in the United States is 

 probably the cause of this migration from rural districts. As long as the 

 women are employed in the fields they contribute to the farm income. When 

 an agricultural machine is introduced it not only takes away the field work of 

 the farm women so that they become of less economic value on the farm, but it 

 also makes them seek remunerative employment elsewhere. 



Information for prospective settlers in Alaska, C. C. Geokgeson (Alaska 

 Stas. Circ. 1 (1916), pp. 30, pis. 5). — This circular is based largely on the 

 results of the station's work. It is estimated that in the whole Territory there 

 are about 100,000 square miles which can be made available for tilling and for 

 grazing purposes, but about one-half of tliis area has little value except for 

 the latter purpose. General information is given concerning the climate, agri- 

 cultural conditions, how to obtain a farm, chances for work and wages paid, 

 transportation facilities, cost of living, crops and live stock, population, means of 

 communication, etc. 



An article by M. D. Snodgrass is included pointing out some of the problems 

 confronting early settlers in the Matanuska Valley. Methods of clearing the 

 land at present are various and crude, including grubbing with mattock and 

 shovel, cutting some of the roots and lining with rope through a lead block, 

 pulling stumps with homemade stump pullers, and burning during the dry 

 seasons. The principal crops in this area are barley, oats, rye, potatoes, cab- 

 bage, turnips, rutabagas, carrots, tomatoes, cauliflower, beets, and most of 

 the common garden vegetables. Wild fruits are abundant in this region, con- 

 sisting of currants, blueberries, salmonberries, raspberries, gooseberries, cran- 

 berries, and a number of other edible sorts. The strawberries so common on 

 the coast of southeastern Alaska are not found in the Matanuska country, but 

 wherever planted they grow well. 



Under the present homestead laws any person who has not used his home- 

 stead rights may take up 320 acres of land (160 acres in the National Forests) 

 and acquire patent thereto by establishing his residence on the land and 

 putting one-eighth of it under cultivation within three years after taking up 

 the land. On the whole, the amount of land allowed is deemed more than the 

 ordinary man can handle and comply with the laws ; 160 acres being regarded 

 as sufficient for the average person. 



Statistics of the food supply in Germany, R. M. Woodbury (Quart. Pubs. 

 Amer. Statis. Assoc, n. ser., 15 (1916), No. 113, pp. 93-109).— This paper, read 

 at the annual meeting of the American Statistical Association, Washington, 

 D. C, December 29, 1915, is a review of discussions by various authors as to 

 the possibilities of a decision of the European War being brought about by 

 the starvation of Germany. After reviewing the literature the author con- 

 cludes : 



