RURAL ECONOMICS. 1091 



from tbis Department and the State experiment stations, tlie development of 

 agricultural education, and the agencies which are at work to improve the 

 dwellings of country people, their modes of living, their home life, and their 

 social life. These influences, it is believed, "may he de]»ended upon to save to 

 our agriculture all the labor it will need for the maintenance of our national 

 self-sufficiency. ■■ 



A history of the English agricultural laborer, W. Hasbacii (London, J!>08, 

 pp. WI+'/lO; rcr. in IJvononiist, US {IHd!)). \o. 3.',I2, .S'«/>., pp. V, VI ; Jour. 

 Roy. Statis, Soc, 77 (1908). A'o. '/. /*/». 1.ii-7.i3). — A history of the agrarian 

 problem in England to the year 1907. with particular reference to the develop- 

 ment of the agricultural proletariat during the past two centuries. 



The breaking of contracts by agricultural laborers, F. Mkndkl.sox (Landw. 

 Wrlinsviir. .sacliscn, 11 (I'Hj!)), \os. 11, pp. 1 1.5-117 ; 12, pp. 127, TiS).— Statistics 

 are presented and discussed regarding the prevalence of contract breaking 

 among different classes of agriculturiil laborers iu Saxony, the data being con- 

 fined largely to the years 1!»0T and lOOS. 



Free agricultural employment agencies in Sweden, W. Muller (IUus. 

 Landtr. Ztg., 28 (1908), No. 93, pp. 799, 800).— The author describes the oper- 

 ation of the free employment agencies that have been established in ten of the 

 chief cities of Sweden since 1902. Their chief value lies iu locating on farms 

 the unemployed in cities, particularly those persons who had left farms to seek 

 employment iu the cities. A great number of laborers have already been won 

 back to farm life, and the extension of the agencies throughout Sweden is 

 urged in behalf of agriculture and the national welfare. 



State assistance to agriculture in Switzerland, L. von Hennet (Mitt. Fach- 

 bvrivhterstiit. K. K. Ackerb. Min. [Vienna], 1909, No. .J. pp. 25-28; Jour. Bd. 

 Affi: [London], 15 (1909), No. 11, pp. 86.), S6J).— The law of 1S93 for the pro- 

 motion of agriculture is discussed. Subsidies under its provision are now 

 granted for the following lines of work: Agricultural instruction, establish- 

 ments for research and experiments, improvement and Insurance of cattle, 

 soil improvement by drainage and irrigation, measures against plant diseases, 

 and insurance against hail, and for agricultural societies and syndicates. 



The encouragement of agriculture [in Switzerland]. Mutual aid and 

 agricultural education (Bui. Mens. Off. Renseig. Agr. [Pom], ,S {1909). No. 1, 

 pp. 55-U'i). — Notes are given on the different forces in operation for the promo- 

 tion of agriculture. These include the state inspection of plants and animals 

 offered for siile, federal and state assistance for various imdertakings, and 

 agricultural a.ssociations, expositions, legislation, and education. 



Data are presented regarding the date of origin, organization, membership, and 

 state financial aid to the more important agricultural societies in Switzerland. 



The union of Swiss peasants (liiiJ. Mens. Off. Renseig. Agr. [ ['aris], 7 ( 1908). 

 Xo. 12, pp. 1559-1502). — This society was organized iu 1S98 and has for its 

 object the furtherance of agricultural interests in Switzerland. In 1907 the 

 organization had more than 9S.000 members and published two monthly jour- 

 nals. One of its chief economic inquiries has rel;ited tti the determination of 

 the profitableness of agriculture in Switzerland. acco\nits of which have already 

 been noted ( E. S. K.. 19, p. (i91 ; L'O, p. f.ST). 



Concerning the establishment of a cential agricultural credit bank, \'. 

 r.\MANM (Hoi. Qitinil. Nor-. Agr. Itnl.. 1 ) (1909), Xo. /. pp. 10-12).— Tho 

 author favors the establishment in Italy nnder state supervision of a central 

 bank serving both public and private ends, but with particular reference to the 

 furnishing of credit to agriculturists. 



Report on the working of cooperative credit societies in the Punjab for 

 the year ending June 30, 1908. S. Wii.iiian oiai; (Rpt. Work. Voop. Credit Soe. 



