392 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



[Increasing the usefulness of the district agricultural associations!, 

 LXJSCHKA (handle. Jahrb. Bayern, 4 (1914), No. 1, pp. 29-40).— This article dis- 

 cusses the legal status of the Bavarian associations and their problems In the 

 light of the demands of present times, also the proper undertakings for the 

 local unions and their relations to a central organization. Methods of co- 

 operating with other agricultural associations are pointed out. 



Farmers' elevators in Minnesota, L. D. H. Weld (Minnesota Station But. 

 152 (1915), pp. 24, fig. 1). — The annual reports filed with the University of Min- 

 ne.sota indicate that there were on January 1, 1915, at least 27S cooperative 

 farmers' elevators in the State. The elevator companies had a membership of 

 34,500, or 1 farmer out of every 5 in the State. The aggregate amount of 

 business conductetl was $24,000,000, of which .$22,000,000 represented the vaUie 

 of grain marketed and the balance the supplies purchased. 



Of the 239 companies reporting, 94.5 per cent had the one man one vote 

 principle, five-sixths limited the number of shares that one person could own. 

 while the majority did not limit the dividends that might be declared on capital 

 stock. A very few companies imposed a penalty on members who sold grain 

 or other products to outside parties. The salaries of managers ranged from 

 $60 to $165 a month, the average being about $90. 



As to the sources from which the elevator companies borrowed money, 51 per 

 cent were financed in whole or in part by couunission men, 72 per cent bor- 

 rowed more or less from local banks, and only 13 per cent borrowed from the 

 farmers. About one-fourth of all the elevators reported that they were finance*! 

 exclusively by corami.ssion hou.ses. The average rate of interest charged by 

 commission houses was 6.7 per cent, by local banks 7.4 per cent, and by farmers 

 6.3 per cent. 



The elevators had a capacity ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 bu. of grain, with 

 an average of 27,0(X). 



There are also included in this report suggestions as to how to organize a 

 farmer.s' elevator company under the Minnesota cooperative law, articles of in- 

 corporation, and the Minnesota law relating to coop^^rative associations and 

 rural telephones. 



Cooperative ovraing agreements, C. L. Stkwabt (Fanners' Rev., 47 (1915), 

 No. -'/7, pp. 1028, 10 'iS, figs. 2). — This article describes methods devised for the ctv 

 operative owning of threshing machinery. It points out that the associations 

 that have been formed are primarily for getting threshing machinery Into the 

 community and .secondly for financial advantage. Methods of organizing the 

 as.soclation and conducting the business are outlined. 



[Railway freight rates on agricultural products] (In Comparison of Rait- 

 way Frciglit Rates in tlie I'nited States, tfie I'rineipal Countries of Europe. 

 South Austratia, and South Africa. Washington: Bur. Raittcay Econ., 1915. 

 pp. 66-81, 96-109). — In these pages freight rates for grain, fertilizers, and 

 manures In the Unite<l States and a ninuber of foreign countries are given. An 

 endeavor has been made to present those rates under which moves the greater 

 part of the traffic for the articles mentioned. The tables Indicate the movement 

 of the shipment, minimum weight to which the rate applies, the rate per ton. 

 and the charge per ton-mile. 



Parcel post profit from farm produce, 11. H. West (Rockford, lit.: Autlior. 

 1915, pp. 32). — This pamphlet contains .suggestions for advertising, obtaining 

 customers and holding their trade, and methods of shipping by parcel post, nn«l 

 other advice as to methods of making sales to consumers direct. 



Monthly crop report (f7. S. Dept. Agr.. Mo. Crop Rpt., 1 (1915), No. 7, pp. 

 65-76, figs. 9). — This number gives the usiial monthly estimates of the acreage, 

 condition, and yield of the more Important agricultural crops, the farm prices 



