INDIA 



"It may not be generally known in America that out of the population of 315 

 millions which make up the Indian Empire, there are in my native land, India, exclusive 

 of male adults of unwarlike races, about sixty million male adults of the fighting races — 

 a number not far short of the total population of Japan and her dependencies — out of 

 which a choice of recruits for this war might be made. If this is going to be a war of 

 attrition, it may be worth remembering thac the above figure of sixty millions represents 

 more than double the total number of male adults in the German Empire, and about 

 twice the total number of white male adults in the British Empire. It is not difficult, 

 therefore, to see whether Germany or England is capable of the longer endurance so 

 far as fighting men are concerned, and which part of the British Empire can supply the 

 largest number of soldiers for the longest period, to preserve the prestige of the Union 

 Jack. The native soldier of Hindustan has already stood the rigors of a European winter, 

 has fought with valour side by side with the British soldier in the trenches in Flanders, in 

 France, at the Dardanelles, and elsewhere, has won several Victoria Crosses and Military 

 Crosses, and has often been mentioned in dispatches." 



— S. M. Mitra, in The Nation, London. 



AGRICULTURE IN FRANCE 

 Compulsory Cultivation of all Fallow Land 



In order to obtain a maximum amount of agricultural production, Mr. Meline, 

 the French Minister of Agriculture, has prepared a law under which proprietors of 

 fallow lands will be invited within two weeks after notice is served upon them by a 

 registered letter, to have these parcels of land ploughed and under cultivation. If the 

 invitation is not complied with, the law will provide that the mayors of the "communes" 

 or towns will have a right to commandeer the land in question and order its cultivation, 

 which will be done under the direction of the municipalities which shall provide the 

 funds necessary to the proper carrying out of the work. The same law provides for the 

 creation of a municipal or farming committee in charge of the superintendents of these 

 parcels of land to be cultivated until harvesting time, when the crops will be sold by 

 auction by the same committee. 



Mr. Meline in the reasons set forth in the preamble to the law, says that the 1915 

 crops were 10% short of what they were in 1914. 



The Minister insists upon the importance of not losing a minute if France is to 

 avoid being taken unawares by events and left subject to the possibility of being too 

 late in the field of economic exigencies. Farm hands will be provided, under special 

 arrangements, by the military authorities from the minor services and from the incapa- 

 citated soldiers. 



SCHEMES TO DEFRAUD FARMERS 



Speaking before the Commission of Conservation lately, Mgr. Choquette, of 

 St. Hyacinthe, Que., drew attention to the uncurbed activities of those who victimize 

 farmers by selling them stock in worthless or fraudulent enterprises. 



"Hardly a day passes," he said, "when farmers, young and old, are not invited to 

 share in some financial operation, in some great speculation, dazzling their sight with the 

 hope of immense gains. The agents are persuasive and insistent. They know a 



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