RURAL ECONOMICS. 91 



Tile mutual iusurauot' yucifties were iuytituted for tlie insurauce of farm 

 buikliugs against Are and storms, of live stock against loss from diseases or 

 otJier causes, and of crops against storms, floods, and other natural forces. 

 kSince their origin in 1898 the mutual insurance societies have increased to 

 7.824 in May, 1907. The statistics of mutual credit hanks have already been 

 noted from another source (E. S. R., 19, p. G92). 



The Utopia of agricultural credit, H. Oestueiciier {Iiiaug. Diss., Vniv. 

 Frcihiiifh 1907. pp. 129). — This is an inaugural dissertation dealing with the 

 history of agricultural credit reform, from the efforts of Itodl)ertus in 18GS to 

 the pref-ent time, with a critical discussion of the different systems and an esti- 

 mation of their value. 



[Cooperative societies in Bombay Presidency], C. S. Campbell and J. E. C. 

 Jukes (Ann. Rpt. Work. Coop. Credit Soc. Bombay Pres., 1906-7, pp. .'i5+3, 

 map 1). — The total number of societies is 70 as compared with 31 in the pre- 

 ceding year, with a membership of 4,845. The maximum rate of intei*est is I25 

 per cent, the lowest Gi per cent, and the average per society 8* per cent. 



Summary of the work of the agricultural commission during the year 

 ended October 1, 1907 {AperQu dcs travaux des Commissions agraircs pendant 

 la premiere annee de leur fonctionnement {jusqti'au 1-er Octobre 1907). St. 

 Petersburg: Dir. Gen. Organ. Agraire et Agr., 190S, pp. 20). — This report deals 

 with the new land surveys in Russia, the modification of the rural land-tenure 

 system, and the financial aid afforded the peasantry for improving their holdings 

 under the terms of a royal decree issued March 17, 1906. and the law of May 9, 

 190G. 



The agricultural budget for 1908. E. Martin {Bui. Hoc. Agr. France, 1908, 

 Mag 1. pp. SI 1-8 16). — This is a detailed discussion of the law relating to the 

 government exi»enditures in France for the different branches of agriculture for 

 the year 1908. The law carries for agriculture the sum of 40,005,594 francs 

 (about $9,200,000), an increase of 850,448 francs over 1907, or 1,17 per cent of 

 the total French budget. 



Crop Reporter (U. »S'. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Statis. Crop Reporter, 10 (1908), No. 

 7, pp. .'19-56). — Crop acreages and conditions in the United States and foreign 

 countries, and the value and prices of the principal agricultural products are 

 reported to July. 1908. 



Agricultural production in Russia in 1906 (Hcpurate from f-ltatis. Empire 

 Russ. 60 (1907), PI), iy+57. charts 13). — Statistics of crop production are 

 reiiorted. 



Agricultural statistics of Bengal for 1906—7 (Agr. Statis. Bengal, 1906-7, 

 pp. 68). — Statistical data showing total acreage, classification of areas, crops, 

 current fallows, etc.. are reported. 



Manual of world economics, edited by E. von Halle (Weltivirtsehaft. 2 

 (1907) pts. 1, pp. yi+368, pis. 2, figs. 8; 2, pp. VIII+28-',, dgms. 18; 3, pp. 

 Tl -\- 288). — This publication gives a general review of the world's economic, 

 social, and political conditions during 1906. 



Part 1 contains an article by C. Ballod (pp. 64-84), which gives statistics on 

 the production of cereals and other staple crops, meat production and consump- 

 tion, and other data relating to agricultural products in the chief countries of 

 the world. 



Part 2 contains an article by W. von Altrock (i)p. 5-63), which discusses the 

 statistics of cereal and fruit production, number of live stock, dairy cooperative 

 societies, agricultural credit societies, etc., in Germany. 



Part 3 contains articles reviewing the economic and agricultural conditions 

 in the United States, Europe, and the far east. 



