694 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol. 35 



Rome's fall reconsidered, V. G. Simkhovitch {Polit. Sci. Quart., 31 (1916), 

 No. 2, pp. 201-243). — In this article the author points out the influence of the 

 agricultural practice and the methods of holding land upon the decline of the 

 Roman Empire. 



Monthly crop reports, July and August, 1916, {U. S. Dept. Agr., Mo. Crop 

 Rpt., 2 (1916), Nos. 7, pp. 61-72; 8, pp. 73-84, figs. 8).— These numbers contain 

 the u.sual data relative to acerage and condition of the principal crops, average 

 prices paid to producers, estimated farm value, the range of prices of agricul- 

 tural products at important markets, and miscellaneous data. 



No. 7. — This contains a statement relative to the amount of commercial ferti- 

 lizers sold in the cotton States, a special report on honey yields and prospects, 

 and a review of the tobacco situation and the condition of truck crops for can- 

 ning. In commenting regarding the prices of vs^ool the following statement is 

 made : 



" The average price paid to producers of the United States for unwashed wool 

 in the past month was 28.7 cts. per pound, which compares with 23.7, 18.4, 15.6, 

 18.7, 15.5, and 19.5 cts., respectively, in June of the past 6 years. . . . The 

 average weight of wool per fleece this year is abount 6.92 lbs." 



No. 8. — Special articles are included on the commercial acreage and produc- 

 tion of onions, the acreage in watermelons and cantaloups in 1915 and 1916, 

 receipts and exports of Durum wheat, and the largest yield per acre of various 

 crops produced on single fields or plats in different parts of the United States. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



School credit for home practice in agriculture, F. E. Heaxd (U. S. Dept. 

 Agr. Bui. SS5 (1916), pp. 27). — The author discusses (1) methods for teachers' 

 use in giving rank for home w^ork in agriculture and applying that rank with 

 proper weight to the general scholarship average of the pupil, and (2) the basis 

 of such rank or credit for the benefit of school officials who desire to introduce 

 home practice in agriculture as an educational feature into rural schools. 

 Supplementay tables of labor requirements and selected club records of boys' 

 and girls' work are included. 



Public elementary schools and food supply in war time (Jour. Bd. Agr. 

 [London^, 23 (1916), No. 1, pp. 33-40).— This is the text of a memorandum 

 issued by the English Board of Education, upon request of the president of 

 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, to local education authorities, school 

 managers, teachers, parents, and others interested in the work of elementary 

 schools, calling attention to the need for maintaining and increasing the supply 

 of home-grown food of all kinds. The memorandum, without giving detailed 

 suggestions for carrying them on, briefly indicates some minor industries and 

 occupations for increasing the food supply which have been or can be taken up 

 in connection with rural and semirural schools, such as gardening, keeping 

 live stock, poultry, rabbits, bees, pigs, and goats, making jam, evaporating and 

 bottling fruits, and the drying of savory herbs in connection with cookery 

 classes, collection of wild fruits, etc., and farm handicraft. 



[State-aided vocational agricultural education in 1915] (Ann. Rpt. Bd. Ed. 

 [Mass.], 79 (1916), pp. 185-193, 293-299, 320, 321; Bui. Bd. Ed. Mass. No. 54 

 (1916), pp. 19). — This report is devoted to the present achievements of the two 

 county agricultural high schools in Bristol and Essex Counties, respectively, 

 and the future prospects of this type of school, and to statistical data on the 

 three vocational agricultural schools and 13 agricultural departments in se- 

 lected high schools, with reference to receipts and expenditures, teachers, 

 student enrollment, distribution of graduates, activities, including judging and 



