60 THE FARMER'S OUTLOOK 



been without its influence in diminishing the 

 number of cattle. 



There are several noticeable features in Russian 

 agriculture. The poverty of the cultivator and 

 the destitution resulting from bad harvests occurs 

 only too frequently. Much has been and is being 

 done to remedy this, for Russian agriculture is 

 undergoing a transition. The agrarian riots of 

 1905-6 were caused by dissatisfaction with the 

 communal land system. The custom by which the 

 strips of common land cultivated by the peasants 

 were periodically redistributed as population 

 increased brought much hardship in its train. Nor 

 did the system make for good cultivation. To 

 paraphrase a well known saying, what might 

 be anyone's property is nobody's property. By 

 the law of November 22, 1906, the land was 

 apportioned in each commune or " mir " to the 

 peasants who became the owners of the freehold. 

 Those who were too poor to make a living out of 

 the land allotted to them sold their new posses- 

 sions, became labourers, or emigrated, as we shall 

 see, to Siberia. The new and better system has 

 brought new needs into existence, capital and 

 co-operation. The Zemstoos and other associa- 

 tions assist the farmer not only with capital, but 

 also with expert advice. A marked increase in 

 the number of these societies, as well as in imports 

 of agricultural machinery have resulted. 



