RUSSIAN PROSPECTS 61 



The paternal assistance of the Russian Govern- 

 ment to agriculture should be noted. The drought 

 of 19 1 1 brought cattle into the market. The 

 Government allayed the peasants' natural anxiety 

 and tided over the period by transporting fodder 

 from the more favoured districts. The wheat 

 crop of 19 10 was an abundant one — the Govern- 

 ment provided special credit facilities so that 

 farmers should not be obliged to force their crops 

 on the market. Another remarkable feature is 

 the emigration to Siberia. Canada boasts its 

 " 1000 a day." In one year, 1909, emigrants to 

 the number of 700,000 went to Siberia. In 1910 

 and 1911 the figures were 352,000 and 230,000, 

 the falling off being due to bad harvests in Western 

 Siberia. Not all who go are successful in finding 

 the land they require. In both years some 70,000 

 returned. In spite of this the figures are remark- 

 able especially in view of the scanty transportation 

 facilities. 



A line drawn from St. Petersburg in the West 

 right across to the boundary of European Russia 

 in the East would roughly divide the cultivated 

 and uncultivated portion of Russia's vast Empire 

 in Europe. It is to the south of the line that 

 the main area of production lies. Rye and 

 wheat are widely distributed. Oats are grown 

 more in the Provinces lying just south of the line ; 

 barley near the Black Sea and maize in the 



