594 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



1850 to August 15, 1919, the price per acre, total value, and payments on 

 farms for the years 1917 and 1919, the time and rate of interest for the same 

 years, a correlation of the prices of crops and live stock with the price of land, 

 1915-1919, inclusive, the labor income and landlord's percentage on the tnvest- 

 nu'ut on Iowa farms, and the net worth of 204 farmers who reported in 1914. 

 The data presented indicate that buyers of land were thinlving in terms of the 

 prices of farm products current at the time, and that regardless of the land 

 paying its way they coul4 afford to pay the price for other reasons. 



In addition answers returned from a questionnaire inquiring the reasons for 

 the advance in the price of land are given, the five principal causes slwwn being 

 speculation, prices of food products, high returns, the increasing value of the 

 fa'rm home as an institution, and the security of the investment. ^ 



Sale and rental value of agricultural land in Sweden before the outbreak 

 of the war and the rise in i)rice of the same up to the beginning of 1918, 

 L. Nanneson (K. Landthr. Akad. Hundl. och Tidskr., 58 {1919), No. 3, pp. 178- 

 186).— Data returned on a questionnaire, distributed by the economics division 

 of the National Agricultural Bureau of Sweden, are summarized and compared. 

 Answers are given as to land values from the point of view of soil types, size 

 of holdings, location, and transportation facilities. 



Interim repoi-t to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland on the econom- 

 ics of small farms and small holdings in Scotland, H. M. Conacher and 

 W. R. Scott {EdinMirgli: Scot. Bd. Agr., 1919, pp. 98). — Report is made of an 

 inquiry to ascertain the facilities needed in order to enable small farmers and 

 small holders to obtain more capital for their undertakings or steps to be taken 

 to cheapen expenses of production, as well as to study the experiences of 

 existing holders with a view to futui-e settlement on new holdings. Various 

 types of holdings in noncrofting and crofting districts are described. Ques- 

 tions were asked regarding the value of stock, capital required, average stock 

 required, and financial returns of typical small holdings. 



Cooperation in many lands, L. Smith-Gordon and C O'Brien {Manchester, 

 [England]: The Cooperative Union, Ltd., 1919, vol. 1, pp. 11+272). — Early chap- 

 ters of this volume are concerned with the principles and organization of the 

 cooperative movement and theories of the relation between producers and con- 

 sumers. The history of consumers' and producers' cooperation in various 

 countries is outlined. Societies are described and classified according to activi- 

 ties, with technical details of organization, conduct of meetings, functions of 

 committees, finance, and economic, political, and educational policy. 



The appendix gives a brief review of the legislation of various countries 

 relating to cooperation, together with a bibliography. 



The cooperative movement in Nebraska, M. H. Weseen {Jour. PoUt. 

 Econ., 28 {1920), No. 6, pp. 477-498). — Reviewing the history of the movement, 

 it is stilted that the first farmers' organization in Nebraska to embody coopera- 

 tive principles in its by-laws was started in 1904. Since that time the number 

 and functions of such groups have increased rapidly until there are in the 

 State at present about 400 genuinely cooperative elevators, 170 farmers' union 

 companies shipping live stock, and 100 cooperative stores handling merchandise. 

 The number and amount of business of mutual insurance companies and mis- 

 cellaneous and unique associations are noted. Account is given of difficulties 

 in the way of competitive pressure, the struggles of cooperators to secure 

 representation on the Grain Exchange, and tlie obstacle of liemg classified as 

 corporations subject to the constitutional provision allowing stockholders the 

 right to vote according to number of shares. 



An act incoiTporated into the laws of 1919 obviates the last-named difficulty. 

 Another act in 1919 authorizing cooperative credit associations is outlined. 



