RURAL ECONOMICS. 889 



cultural associations" dosiffiiod to talc«' the place ()f the i)rosent associations, 

 and points out the defects in the lU'oposal should it become law. 



The agricultural associations (FeuiHc Vin. (Jirondc, 3Jf (1901)), No. 2, pp. 

 a, ?'). — A review of the development of these associations in France, together 

 with the text of the proposed law and a discussion of its provisions. 



Concerning' agricultural credit in Rumania, D. Gociu {Obcr den laiidicirt- 

 sclidftlicln n Knilit in li iiiiiUnicii. Iikiii;/. IHss., Viiir. JJildiif/cn, 11)07. pp. I\' + 

 96). — This deals with the history and economic signiticance of the dilTerent in- 

 stitutions concerned with agricultural credit in Rumania. Among the benetits 

 to the rural classes as a result of the organization of cooperative credit have 

 been to reduce the amount of mortgages, to increase farm values and farm 

 rents, and to lower the rates of interest. Befoi-e the establishment of mutual 

 credit and other agricultural banks annual interest rates ranged from 60 to 070 

 per cent, but farmers can now secure loans through their societies at from 4 to 

 7 per cent per annum. 



The improvement of farm labor conditions in North Germany {Deut. 

 lAiitdir. I'ir.ssc, 35 (Ji)08), No. 97, pp. 1015, 1016). — This article contains the 

 conclusions reached by (ierlach in his book entitled Ansiedlung von Land- 

 arbeitern in Norddeutschland, these being reprinted because of their important 

 bearing on the farm labor problem in (Jermany. The results of the ln(iuiry 

 relate particularly to the improvement of the economic and social conditions 

 surrounding the life of the farm laborer and include suggestiims relating to 

 the granting of land to farm laborers for the growing of their household 

 supplies, the keeping of cows, pigs, and other live stock, regular hours of labor, 

 better housing conditions, better schools for the children, etc. It is believed 

 that the sense of proprietorship in land and other property on the part of 

 farm' laborers will be the strongest factor in retaining the most efficient workers 

 on tlie land. 



What influence has piecework upon the agricultural labor problem and 

 hew can its most important features be carried out? L. von der Heyde 

 (///«.s'. Luiidic. Zt(j.. 2S (190S), Nos. 9.'i, pp. 805-807; 95, pp. 813, 8IJ,).—The 

 author shows from the oi)e"ration of a large farm that there is little financial 

 advantage to the farmer who hires help whether he ]»ays by the year, day, or 

 piecework, but that the moral effects upon the pieceworker and other laborers 

 favor the last-mentioned method of employment. The modification of the con- 

 ditions and pay of piecework, according to soil, weather, and other circtmi- 

 stances, is advocated for the mutual advantage of both farmer and laborer. 



Farm laborers' wages (Agr. Gaz. \ London], 68 (1908), No. 1825, p. 389). — 

 The wages of farm lal)()rers in Great Britain are discussed in this article. At 

 present these range from 8s. Od. (about $2.10) per week in County Mayo, 

 Ireland, to 2."s. ."jd. (about $().10) in Lancashire, England. 



Cost of producing crops in the Hawkesbury district (Agr. Gaz. N. »s'. 

 Wales, 19 (1908), No. 9, pp. 732-73.^). — From tests made in Australia, the cost 

 of producing corn was about £4 per acre, the estimated profit being about 

 £2 5s. The corresponding figures for the cost of wheat for hay and for grain 

 were £2 lis. 7d. and £1 14s. Od.. the in-ofits being estimated :it about £1 Ss. 

 per aci'e for cmcIi irop. 



Turkish land tenure (U. .S'. Di/it. Agr.. liitr. Shilis. Crop Reporter, 11 (1909). 

 No. 2, pp. 15, /6").-r-Xotes are given on the chief systems of land tenure in 

 Turkey, namely, government ownership, eleemosynary ownership, and freehold. 

 The greater part of the land devottnl to agriculture is owned by the State, the 

 peasants working the land on shares called the " tithe," strictly tenderable in 

 produce, although usually paid in money. The pasture land is held in common 



