KURAL ECONOMICS. 487 



rarm leasing' system in New York State (Breeder's Gu,:., 5'i (1908). Xo. 7, 

 pj). ,^oo, 236). — This is a description and discussion of the system of leasing and 

 farm management practiced on the 30,000-acre Wadsworth estate in the Genesee 

 ^■a]ley. One of the most unusual features of the lease is that the tenant pays 

 all taxes. This gives the tenant a i)ersonal interest in the farm and places upon 

 him the duties of citizenship. The tenant is thus compelled to participate iu 

 the activities which the State, county, and district require of citizens. 



The system of farm management practiced, which is under the personal direc- 

 tion of the owner, aims to maintain as well as to improve the fertility of the 

 soil. The system has been in operation for a century. It is said to secure 

 permanence of tenantry, to keep the land in good condition, and to work for the 

 economic advantage of both tenant and landlord. 



The subdivision of farms in France, L. Grandeau (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 

 to {1908), No. 21, pp. 9, 10). — This article calls attention to the system of farm 

 holdings which prevails throughout France. It appears that the farms consist 

 of numerous small, noncontiguous parcels of land. As an extreme illustration 

 of French farm-holding conditions, a single proprietorship in the Department of 

 Ilaute-Saone of 30 hectares (about 74 acres) was comjiosed of 130 separated 

 plats. It is estimated that the farm lands of Fi-ance consist of more than 

 12.j,(K>0,000 jilats, "the average of each farm holding being 10 plats. In some 

 eastern i)rovinces a farm sometimes consists of 100 plats." 



The author calls attention to the enormous economic waste arising from such 

 conditions, the inability of farmers to use machinery to advantage, the loss of 

 time in passing from one plat to the other, etc., and believes the present farm 

 system is a problem requiring an immediate practical remedy. 



The exchange and reassignment of land, L. Guandeau (Jour. Agr. Prat., 

 ri. scr., 10 (190S), Xo. 28, pp. J7, 38). — The author calls attention to the 

 economic waste arising from the present system of working the 12."i,000,000 

 small strips of land into which the farms of France are subdivided, and advo- 

 cates the reassignment of farm lands directly by the government or the volun- 

 tary exchange of separate small parcels by neighboring farmers under govern- 

 ■ nient supervision. The latter is regarded as the better plan. The economic ad- 

 vantages of repartition are illustrated from results accomplished in Sweden 

 ••ind Germany. The chief articles of the Saxon law bearing on this subject are 

 included. 



The fluctuations in value of agricultural land in France since 1851, II. 

 Saui.nier (Econ. Frune., 30 (1908), II. Xo. 32, pp. 202-205).— Tho author gives 

 statistics of land values and discusses the causes of the fluctuations in value 

 which the returns show. 



From 18.51 to 1879 there was with few exceptions a general rise in agri- 

 cultural land Aalues in all departments of France, averaging for the whole of 

 France 43.S per cent, and reaching as high as 141.7 per cent increase in value 

 in the I)ei)artment of Allier. From 1880 to 1905 there was a general decrease 

 in values, reaching 67 per cent in the Department of Aude and averaging 30.5 

 per cent decrease for the country at large. Since 1905 the decrease in value 

 has continued in .35 departments, while in the rest of France land values have 

 remained stationary or have only slightly increased. The average agricultural 

 land values wei'e as follows: In 18.51, 1,275 francs per hectare; in 1879, the 

 highest period, 1.8,30 francs; and in 190.5, the lowest period, 1,264 francs per 

 hectare. Suggestions for the formation of more stable conditions are presented. 



The fluctuations in value of agricultural land in France, D. Zolla (Jour. 

 Di'hats I'olil. vl Lit.. 120 (1908), Xo. 201, p. 2; Econ. Franc., 30 (1908). II, 

 A o. 39, p. .'/.)7). — From statistics derived from the rent-roils of eleemosynary 

 institutions in several departments of France, the author shows that from 1876 



