EUEAL ECONOMICS. 89 



virus of fowl cholera iiresfrved in f;la>;s vessels retained its virulence for 2 

 years. 



Spirochetosis of Sudanese fowls — au after phase, A. Balfour {Jour. TroiJ. 

 Mag. and HijU-, ^1 (IDOS), No. 3, p. 37). — In continuation of his work in spiro- 

 chetosis of fowls, the author has observed the parasitic organisms entering 

 blood corpuscles. The organisms apparently degenerate after penetrating the 

 corpuscles but the corpuscles also disintegrate. The fact is recorded that after 

 the spirochetes had entirely disappeared from the peripheral blood they reap- 

 peared again in considerable quantities. 



Some observations on s"wrollen head in turkeys, U. S. Graham-Smith (Jour. 

 Ayr. IScL, 2 (1907), No. 3, pp. 227-2.'i3, pis. 2). — A disease commonly known as 

 swollen head of turkeys is described and notes are given on the symptoms 

 usually observed and on the lesions as determined hy an examination of a 

 number of affected turkeys. 



The most characteristic symptom is an extensive swelling about the head 

 which becomes so enlarged that the birds are unable to see. The swelling is 

 due to an accumulation of gelatinous substance in the infraorbital cavity. 

 This swelling may disappear in a short time or may persist for several mouths. 

 The swellings contain a cheesy foul-smelling material and death may take 

 Ijlace without regard to the apparent severity of the disease. The lesions are 

 confined to the head except for an occasional distension of the ceca. Bacilli 

 related to the diphtheria bacillus are frequently found in the exudate, but no 

 organism has been definitely shown to be the primary cause of the disease. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



Piece work in agriculture, G. Wasmuth (Dvut. Landio. Presse, 35 {I'JOS), 

 Xo. 33, pp. 35S, 359). — The author shows that the amount of work done and the 

 wages earned by the average farm day laborer is the correct basis for determin- 

 ing the rate of pay for job workers in many of the operations of agriculture. 

 The various classes of work both by hand and machinery that could be assigned 

 as piece work in agriculture are enumerated, and the author advocates piece 

 work rather than day work for farm laborers. It is maintained that where this 

 class of work has been tried the piece workers accomplish more, earn more, 

 live better than farm laborers paid by the day, and do equally good work. 

 Where laborers are scarce piece work is regarded as a partial solution, because 

 three men on piece work will accomplish as much as four ordinary day laborers. 

 Moreover, the incentives of independence and higher wages as a result of piece 

 W'Ork puts the agricultural industry on the same level as other industries so far 

 as wages is concerned, and this is regarded as affording the brightest prospects 

 in the future for retaining the young workers on the land. 



The farm labor problem in the Empire State {Anicr. Ayr., SI {190S), No. 21, 

 pp. 5S3, SS-'i). — This article contains brief statements from several farmers in 

 different parts of New York State relating to the farm labor problem. The 

 general trend of the replies indicates that good farm laboi* is scarce, that wages' 

 for day labor range from $1.25 to $1.50 per day, and monthly wages from $20 

 to $33 with board for 10 hours work per day, and that the scarcity of work in 

 cities is bringing back to the farm those who were born and brought up thereon. 

 The encouragement of the immigration of farm labor from the United Kingdom, 

 Germany, Sweden, and other European countries and the greater use of farm 

 machinery are advocated as a remedy. 



Emigration to Virginia and the labor question, G. W. Koiner (Rpt. Vu. 

 t^tntc Hurt. Soc, 12 {1907), pp. I'i5-155). — This is an address delivered before 



