BUBAL ECONOMICS. 491 



universities. The general run of city students, it is believed, is liardly suffi- 

 ciently adapted to the strenuous conditions of farm life, work, and wages to 

 be profitably employed during the summer vacation in agricultural pursuits. 



Statistical yearbook of Belgium, 1909 (Ann. Stat is. Bclg., 40 {1910), pp. 

 LXXV+JiS'J, dyui. 1) . — This volume contains detailed statistics relating both 

 to agriculture and commerce for the year 1909. Statistics on agriculture are 

 presented and discussed as to the population, wages of agricultural laborers, 

 extent and division of agricultural lands, acreage in crops, number and size of 

 holdings, number and size of proprietary and rented holdings, crop and live stock 

 production, land values, prices of agricultural products, etc. 



Agricultural population and production in Algeria, P. Meueiot {Jour. 

 Soc. Statis. Paris, 51 {1910), No. 10, pp. 397-Ji02).— This article points out the 

 predominance of agriculture in the economic life of Algeria, as shown by the 

 statistics of the census of 1906. 



Of a population of 5,258,000, no less than 3,632,000, or 70 per cent, depend 

 upon agriculture for a living. Comparisons are made between the number of 

 native and foi-eign proprietors, farmers, renters, and laborers, their acreage 

 under crops, ownership and number of live stock, amount of capital invested, 

 and the kinds' and amounts of crops raised by native and European farmers. 

 The advantage of modern scientific over native methods is shown by the in- 

 creased returns per hectare secured by Europeans. 



The American farmer: His past, present, and future, E. B. Dorsett 

 {Penti. Dept. Agr. Bui. 193, pp. 96-100). — This paper describes the influence 

 wrought by the farmer in the past and present development of this country, 

 and points out what agricultural education is likely to do, not only in producing 

 a race of scientific farmers but also in establishing the government on a more 

 economic and equitable basis. 



Good farming and attractive country homes, W. J. Spillman et al. 

 {Spokane, 1910, pp. 162, figs. 61). — This volume consists of a compilation of 

 letters selected from a large number submitted by farmers and their wives for 

 prizes which were awarded for the best letter or plan on the following topics : 

 (1) How to make farm life more attractive; (2) how to farm 160 acres of non- 

 irrigated land ; (3) how to farm a 10-acre irrigated tract ; and (4) how to plan a 

 model farm house. The letters and plans constitute a series of practical sug- 

 gestions on farm management and farm sociology which are published in antici- 

 pation that they will be useful to farmers in all parts of the country and helpful 

 in the solution of important farm problems. 



The farmer and the cost of living, B. F. Yoakum {Saturday Even. Post, 

 183 {1910), No. 6, pp. 10, 11, fig. 1). — This is a discussion, by the chairman of 

 the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company and allied lines, of economic 

 problems relating to the production, distribution, and cost of food supplies. 



The author believes that the farmer should be aided in the adoption of better 

 agricultural methods to increase production and a better business system 

 through cooperation to increase his profits and reduce the cost of living to the 

 consumer. Road improvement to facilitate the transportation of goods to the 

 railroads is advocated to prevent one of the gi'eatest economic wastes in the 

 distribution of agricultural products. The sum received by farmers for eggs, 

 coffee, rice, cabbages, onions, milk, potatoes, meat, and poultry in 1909 was 

 $274,289,000, while the price paid by consumers for the same goods in New 

 York was §464,147,000. After paying the freight on these goods of $25,045,000, 

 the expenses and profits of the middlemen were $164,813,000. These figures are 

 quotetl to show that it is not the prices farmers are getting nor high railroad 

 freight rates which make living so expensive, but the expense of getting products 

 to the railroads and the profits of wholesale and retail dealers. 



