AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 393 



Land mortgrage credit system in America, H. C. Price (Ticentieth Cent. 

 Fanner, 1913, No. 64S, pi). 5, 22). — This article discusses briefly the necessity 

 for agricultural credit in the United States and points out some of the funda- 

 mentals which must be considered in working out a plan upon which such 

 credit is to be obtained. 



A plan for a state land mortgage bank, which is an adaptation of the ISui'o- 

 pean plan, is proposed. The plan as outlined would involve the establishing 

 of a state land mortgage bank as a state institution which in exchange for 

 accepted mortgages on farm real estate would issue bonds of equal amount in 

 denominations from $25 to $1,000, and bearing interest at from 3 to 4^ per 

 cent, as preferred by the borrower. These bonds could be sold by the borrower, 

 a local bank, or the state bank. The borrower would pay on his loan the same 

 rate of interest as the bonds issued, plus ^ per cent to pay the operating 

 expenses of the state bank and build up the reserve fund, together with the 

 per cent or fraction of a per cent that is to apply to the amortization of the 

 principal. 



Objections which might be raised to such a plan are pointed out and discussed. 



The introduction and org'anization of real credits in Wiirttemberg (Wiirt- 

 temb. Wchnbl. Landw., 1913, No. 18, Beilage, pp. 271, 272). — This article out- 

 lines in considerable detail the organization, work, and progress of the real 

 credit systems as operated in Wiirttemberg in supplying loans to farmers upon 

 real property as security. It is noted that the Central Bank of the Province 

 had such outstanding loans to the amount of 105,978,053 marks ($25,222,775) 

 in 1909 and 115,063,589 marks in 1911, and that from the 71 communal banks 

 in operation in 1909 farmers had secured loans upon mortgages to the extent 

 of 192,428,752 marks and 264,845,671 marks in 1911. 



Data are given showing prevailing rates of interest charged, the period for 

 which loans are granted, and the terms of repayment. 



Agricultural statistics of Belgium in 1912 (Min, Agr. et Trav. Pub. [Bel- 

 gium^, Off. Rural Raps, et Communs., 1913, No. Jf, pp. 183). — Reports and com- 

 munications made by the Minister of Agriculture and Public Works as to re- 

 sults of investigations and studies in various agricultural activities in the 

 Provinces of Belgium in 1912 are here presented. 



Trade unionism, unemployment, wages, prices, and cost of living in 

 Australia, 1891—1912, G. H. Knibbs {Commonwealth Bur. Census and Statis. 

 Aust., Labor and Indus. Branch Rpt. 2, pp. 77, figs. iO).^The main object of 

 this report is to present in coucise and convenient form the results of certain 

 investigations concerning industrial and agricultural unions, unemployment, 

 changes of rates of wages and hours of labor in various occupations, prices, 

 price indexes, and cost of living by States from 1891 to 1912 inclusive. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



Fifth report of the Rural Education Conference on courses in agricultural 

 colleges {London: Bd. Agr. and Fisheries and Bd. Ed., 1912, pp. 31). — This 

 report deals with the considerations which should be borne in mind in the 

 framing of courses of instruction occupying not less than two sessions at insti- 

 tutions devoted to the higher study of agriculture, and on the main character- 

 istics which such courses should possess in order to render them suitable to 

 students who intend to take up practical farming or the management of landed 

 estates. Courses of this natui'e are provided in 16 institutions in England and 

 Wales. 



The conference finds it desirable that all students attending long courses for 

 intending farmers should have received a good secondary education and have 



