894 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



district and a minus labor income of $207 for the same class in the Warren 

 district. The labor incomes of 1913 represented a greater amount of purchasing 

 power than those based on land values of August, 1919. 



Operators' labor income of tenants and owners additional, percentage of 

 landloi'ds' net return on present value of investment, and economic rent, net 

 return of all classes of operators on operators' capital, and precariousness of 

 farmers' incomes are made the subjects of similar comparative study. 



The conclusions are reached that probably the principal cause for the 

 " boom " was the large increase in net earnings of farmers, the speculative 

 interest which developed being secondary. One important immediate conse- 

 quence was the rapid recapitalization of Iowa farm lands on the basis of high 

 prices of farm products, and due to the fact that the advance in land values 

 more than absorbed all the gain, and labor incomes were forced below what 

 they were in 1913, it has become financially undesirable as well as almost impos- 

 sible for tenants to acquire ownership of farms. 



The economic problem of the Ozark Highland, C. O. Sauer (Set. Mo., 11 

 (1920), No. 3, pp. 215-227). — Social and economic traditions of dwellers in this 

 region are discussed here. Geographic features, crops, and live-stock indus- 

 tries are described. Among the steps recommended as the solution for the 

 stagnation of rural life in the Ozark region are better roads, better live stock, 

 development of the dairy industry, and a forest policy for both Missouri and 

 Arkansas. 



Helping men own farms, E. Mead [Netv York: The Macmtllan Co., 1920, pp. 

 [4] +228, pis. 9). — This discussion sets forth the conditions and influences 

 which led to the passage of the Land Settlement Act in California, and ex- 

 plains methods and policies of planned rural development which it has brought 

 into operatiob. A brief account is given of State aid to farm settlement on 

 irrigated land in Victoria, Australia, as well as of Government encouragement 

 of small farm owning in Italy, Denmark, Holland, and the British Isles. Five 

 of the 14 chapters are given to details of the establishment of the Durham 

 State land settlement, in Butte County, Calif. The author maintains that 

 public control of utilities and natural resources is profitable and necessary. 



The rural community, N. L. Sims [New York: Charles Schribner's Sons, 

 1920, pp. XXIII+916, pi. 3, figs. 34)- — This is a book of readings, the excerpts 

 arranged in three parts, the first, historical and relating to the ancient and 

 medieval agricultural community, the early village community in America, 

 and the history and theory of communal disintegration. The other parts are 

 composed of records of typical community experiences and institutions and of 

 community reconstruction. 



The farm woman tells her own story, F. E. Ward (U. S. Dept. Agr., Weekly 

 News Letter, 7 (1920), Nos. 48, pp. 5-8, fig. 1; 49, pp. 5-7).— Findings of a re- 

 cent survey of a large number of farm homes in the 33 Northern and Western 

 States are written up to show the extent to which power and labor-saving 

 devices, improved means of sanitation and communication, etc., are now in use 

 or needed in farm homes, and how some of these conditions may be remedied. 



Agriculture during two great wars: 1793-1815 and 1914-1918, 

 Ernle (Jour. Min. Agr. [London], 27 (1920), No. 3, pp. 227-240) .—The contrast 

 between England's policy of taxation during and after the French and the 

 German wars and of the position of agriculture and of labor conditions is 

 pointed out. It is maintained that in the latter war producers carried the 

 burden of a taxation policy favoring the consumer, while on the other hand 

 the position of agricultural labor has been materialy improved instead of being 

 made worse as it was in 1816. 



