RURAL ECONOMICS. 389 



Applications of electricity to agriculture, D. Hermenegildo Gorria {Mem. R. 

 Acad. Cien. y Artes Barcelona, 3. ser., 6 {1908), No. 33, pp. 57). — This article 

 discusses at some length the utilization of natural supplies of power in the pro- 

 duction of electricity and the applications of electricity in electro-culture, in the 

 destruction of insects, in assisting the germination of seed and the fixation of 

 nitrogen in soils and plants, the production of nitrogenous fertilizers by means 

 of electricity, and the use of electricity in various farm operations — heat, light, 

 power, and communication. It is shown that there are a great many useful 

 applications of electricity in agriculture which might be profitably employed 

 through cooperation or associations of farmers, if not by the individual farmer. 



The equipment of farms and country houses with electricity, P. A. Bates 

 (Jour. Franklin Inst., 166 {1908), No. 1, pp. 47--'i9, figs. .JJ). — This article dis- 

 cusses various kinds of machinery and appliances used in the equipment of 

 farms and country houses with electricity. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



The mistakes of farm management as determined by bookkeeping {Landw. 

 ZtscJir. Rheinprovinz, 9 {1908), No. 26, irp. So't, 355). — The net returns of 8 

 farms differently managed as to the extent of field culture, number of live 

 stock, fertilizers purchased, etc., show a range from a loss of O.IS mark to a 

 gain of 30.7 marks per hectare, as compared with the average net returns of 57 

 well-managed farms of 48.9 marks per hectare. The management of each of 

 the 8 farms is described. 



Piecework in agriculture, Stieger {Mitt. Deut. Landw. Gescll., 23 (1908), 

 No. 29, pp. 2Jfl-250; Bl. Zuckerriihenhau, 15 {1908), Nos. U, pp. 213-222; 15, 

 pp. 235-2^/3). — The author discusses the infiuence of piecework on the agricul- 

 tural labor problem in Germany, with particular reference to the benefits accru- 

 ing both to the farmer and to the laborer from this form of agreement. 



Piecework in the place of a day wage is advocated as a means of counteract- 

 ing the effects of rural depopulation by accomplishing a greater amount of 

 work with a given number of laborers. The benefit to the farmer of piece- 

 work lies in hastening the work of the farm and relieving him of overseeing 

 to a great extent ; the benefit to the laborer lies in his greater independence, 

 larger income, and development of character. 



What influence has piecework upon the agricultural labor problem and 

 how can its most important features be carried out? T. Romer {IUus. Landiu. 

 Ztg., 28 {1908), No. 76, pp. 651-661, figs. 5). — The author discusses the reasons 

 for introducing piecework into agriculture, the terms of agreement, the greater 

 amount of work accomplished by this form of employment, the practicability 

 of piecework in the agricultural industry, its effects upon the worker, and the 

 general results. The author concludes that " piecework in agriculture operates 

 very favorably upon the labor situation, being advantageous to both the laborer 

 and the employing farmer ; that, on account of his greater income, it raises the 

 economic 'condition of the farm laborer and improves his character ; and that 

 these results are undoubtedly to be credited to the operation of piecework." 



The Belgian migratory laborer, F. Ryzigeb {Ann. Gembloiix, 18 (1908), No. 

 8, pp. .'i7 0--'i7 8) . — This is a critical dissertation on a work by J. Frost entitled 

 Relgische Wanderarbeiter. The author sets forth certain facts regarding the 

 farm laborer's mode of life, the causes of emigration, number of farm laborers 

 migrating to Holland, France, and Germany, the wages paid in the different 

 countries as compared with the wages paid in Belgium, and the kind and length 

 of service. Suggestions are made looking to the economic and social improve- 

 ment of this class of laborers. 



