206 REPORT — 1875. 



In tlie succeeding- years the death-rate of Clifton has heen smaller ; and even if all 

 deaths of parishioners occurring elsewhere (in liospitals &c.) are added, the rate 

 for 1873-74 is but 16-9, and for the last spring quarter 15-4, the zymotic rate being_ 

 1-4 per annum. It is doubtful whether anywhere in England an equal mass of 

 population can be found yielding so favourable a rate. By Mr. Humphreys's method, 

 the normal death-rate of Clifton would be 21-8, so that the actual rate is 4-9 below 

 the calculated one. 



On Sericiculture. By Mons. Bonttomme. 



On Agricultural Statistics ami Waste Lands. By William Botly. 



The obj ect of this paper was to show the utility of a better and more correct statis- 

 tical publication of tlie amount of our cereal, root, grass, and other crops, cattle, sheep, 

 swine, and horses. The author stated that tlie nations of antiquity, and even Peru 

 at the present time, were much in advance of Great Britain and Ireland in carrying 

 out this idea. In treating of waste lands, the total acreage of Great Britain and 

 Ireland was stated to be 77,500,000, of which, in 1874, there were : — 



In corn 11,364,834 



Root and green crops 4,957,683 



Flax, hops, bare fallow, clover, and other grasses under rotation. . 7,140,387 

 Permanent pasture, meadow, and grass, exclusive of moimtain and 



heath 23,680,416 



It is a most extraordinary fact that out of the total acreage of 77,500,000, there 

 are no less than 30,356,080 unaccounted for. 



The author suggested the propriety of the legislature offering secure inducement.? 

 for the cultivation of waste lands. 



On Worlcmen^s Bivellinys. By W. Botlt. 



On the WorJciny of the Building Societies Act, 1874. 

 By E. W. Brabrooe:, F.S.A., Barrister-at-Law. 



By this Act the rules of Building Societies are to be transferred from the custody 

 of the Clerks of the Peace in the several counties to that of the Registrar in London. 

 The Clerks of the Peace for some counties of importance have not j'et eiiected the 

 transfer, but the rules of 5157 societies have been received by the Registrar. Of 

 these, it is probable that about 2000 are still in existence, the others having been, 

 for the most part, terminating societies whicli had completed the period for which 

 they were established. 



Every society established after the passing of the Act has, and every society pre- 

 viously established may have, the privilege of incorporation. As yet, however, 

 only 300 societies (of which 70 are new ones) have obtained certificates of incor- 

 poration. The certificate carries with it limitation of liability, and the right to 

 borrow money to the extent of two thirds of the amount secui'ed to the society by 

 mortgages from its members. 



The Act provides for tlie making annual retm-ns to the Registrar by every incor- 

 porated society. Returns have not yet become due from the generality of societies ; 

 but those of 93 societies (42 incorporated, 51 not) already recorded at the Regis- 

 tiy-oiiice show a capital from share-subscriptions of £4,015,977, from borrowed 

 money of £2,044,287, and from accumulated profit of £230,751, together £6,291,015 ; 

 of which there was invested on mortgage £5,961,820, existing in other assets 

 £328,918, and a balance deficient in one society of £257. The annual income of 

 the 93 societies was £3,819,504. 



The societies in Bristol and its neighbourhood are numerous and flourishing, and 

 nearly all of them have become incorporated ; but it is in the North of England 



