GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE NEW KUSSIAN r,AND REFORMS I57 



and its permanence may be assured. Where these arrangements cannot be 

 made, the farm is sold as a whole, and so passes intact to a new owner. 



Making all allowance for the diffierence of legal and economic conditions, 

 it is true that, as regards cUmate and the social system prevaihng in the 

 agricultural world, Russia has more affinity with the Scandinavian than with 

 other European countries; but it is still to be feared that the Russian peas- 

 ants are generally so attached to the ancient method of dividing land that 

 \\hen they find themselves entirely free to act as they please and no longer 

 controlled by the mir, they will often subdivide the land itself among 

 their children, or sell it in difficult years unscientifically divided. A 

 \\ hole Hterature has been written in Russia on the subject, which, in spite 

 if its one-sidedness, seems to justif}^ these fears, for incontestable proofs 

 have not been wanting that there have already been instances of abuse 

 of rights to too large areas of land, too suddenly acquired. We canno*:, 

 of course, go into the details of this discussion, which has assumed very 

 large proportions ; we must limit ourselves to reproducing the general im- 

 pression of a practical and impartial observer. The summary conclusions 

 to be drawn at the present state of this highly important question, may be 

 expressed as follows : it seems undoubtedly best to limit to a certain degree 

 b}- re\dsion of the law on peasants' succession, the liberty of the peasants to 

 sell and di\dde their land. Even in countries where the farming popul- 

 ation have more liberty and have attained a higher intellectual level, it has 

 been necessary, as recently in Denmark, to estabUsh at least minimum 

 limits for areas of parcels and of the principal holdings, when it is 

 necessary in cases of inheritance, to proceed to the division of the land(i). 

 Similar provisions, adapted to the conditions of Russian farms, far from 

 restricting, would undoubtedly contribute to encourage the work of farm 

 readjustment, so happily commenced in Russia, and to assure its success. 



Especially as regards the right to contract loans on mortgage of 

 nadiel land, the legal provisions now in force in Russia undoubtedly are 

 sufficient guarantee against any abuse. Mortgages on nadiel land can only 

 be registered in favour of the Peasants' Bank, which only giants loans for 

 purchase of land or justifiable farm improvements or other profitable under- 

 takings. Thus all the loans correspond with an increase in the value of 

 the farm; in any case, the increase of the comparative indebtedness caused 

 by divisions due to the law of inheritance or through unscientific methods 

 of farming, which is possible in Western Europe, where land credit pure 

 and simple prevails, seems almost impossible in Russia. 



On the other hand, we may, with every reservation, consider probable 

 V. hat has been repeatedly observed by certain Russian authors, that the 

 exodus of the excess agricultural population to the towns will inevitably con- 

 tribute, sooner or later, to increase the proletariate. Whilst the new agri- 

 cultural reforms are opposed from this special point of \dew, it may be asked 

 vvhether the old system of constant partition and the division of peasant 



(i)Thelawof May nth., i897,in cases of subdivision, fixes the miuimum limit of the farm 

 at from 4 to 8 ha., according to circumstances. 



