492 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



remain, since they can not live near enough to their work. The poor hous- 

 ing conditions are responsible for the spread of many contagious diseases and 

 immorality. 



Small holdings are deemed desirable because of the greater independence and 

 the relatively greater chance of the laborer rising to a better social position. 

 The committee also considers that small holdings will increase the output and 

 give employment to a larger number of persons per unit of area. To bring 

 this about it is recommended that there should be a land court to fix the price 

 of land, list vacant properties, and encourage the movement in every possible 

 way. 



Other means mentioned for improving the condition of agricultural workers 

 are agricultural cooperation, credit, and education. 



Rent, wages, and profits of British agriculture (Economist, 77 {1913), No. 

 S666, pp. 1175-1177). — By means of estimates the total output of agricultural 

 products is distributed as follows: Landlords' share £38,500,000, share of the 

 occupiers and their families £51,000,000, and share of wage laborers £30,500,000. 

 The profits of occupiers represent the average income of £100 a year, of which 

 £16 a year is taken from the farm in kind. Out of this income the occupier 

 has to pay his rates, insurance, and replacement of the capital in addition to 

 the personal expenses of his family. 



Organization of small rural holding's, J. Benard (Z. Cong. Internal. Agr. 

 Gand, 1913, Sect. 1, Ques. 3, pp. 9). — The conclusions reached are that the 

 founding of small holdings would be a means of keeping a man attached to the 

 soil, but that the area of land placed at his disposal must be sufficient to attach 

 him firmly, and that loans granted by the mutual agricultural credit societies 

 for the formation of these holdings will offer a guaranty such that the State 

 could afford to encourage them. The object aimed at in the encouragement oi 

 small holdings should be ownership and not tenancy. 



Desertion of the rural districts, E. Laue (Z. Cong. Internat. Agr. Gand, 

 1913, Sect. 1. Ques. 2, pp. 66). — The author, after calling attention to the fact 

 that the rural population is becoming a smaller factor in the total population 

 for practically every country, gives as some of the causes for this situation the 

 lower wages in agriculture than in other professions, longer hours of labor, ir- 

 regularity of employment, and unsatisfactory social position of the agricultural 

 laborer, especially as relates to the large land proprietors. To improve the con- 

 ditions of the rural working class he recommends the adoption of an agricultural 

 policy favoring the formation of small holdings, improvement of agricultural 

 technique, a campaign against pests of agricultural products, and the extension 

 of the system of insurance. 



Agricultural cooperation and rural credit in Europe (U. S. Senate, 63. 

 Cong., 1. Sess., Doc. 214, 1913, pp. 916, pi. 1). — This document gives a statement 

 of the information and evidence secured by the American Commission (E. S. R., 

 28, p. 301) while studying in European countries cooperative land-mortgage 

 banks, cooperative rural credit unions, and similar organizations and institu- 

 tions devoted to the improvement of rural conditions. It consists principally 

 of seeches or special reports and statements prepared by representatives of the 

 foreign countries for the use of the Commission. 



Rural credit and cooperation in Hungary (Budapest: Roy. Hungarian Min. 

 Agr., 1913, pp. 100, pis. 2). — After calling attention to the peoples and agri- 

 cultural resources of the country and the economic conditions of the farming 

 classes, it is pointed out that because of the conservative tendencies of the 

 Hungarian farmers the government has to take the initial step in practically all 

 new agricultural undertakings. The State furnishes them with seed for sowing, 

 seedling trees, and material for the breeding of live stock. Practically all of 



