92 PRODUCTION 



regions for dairy fanning as the forerunner of other kinds of farming, 

 besides improving the quality of the exports by increasing the 

 refrigerated space available on the railways and river steamers, 

 and by reducing the distances which butter has now to be hauled 

 overland in sledges in the summer sun. In the second place, 

 dairying is complementary to cereal cultivation in providing a 

 proper rotation of crops and pasture under more intensive methods 

 which will follow in Siberia as elsewhere with the growth of settle- 

 ment. In the third place, there is every likelihood that Siberia 

 will become an important meat-producing area. If cattle and pigs 

 are reared and fattened in Siberia, grain, especially barley, will 

 find a larger local market, and will thus be exported in the more 

 convenient form of meat and meat products. The existence of 

 dairying, with cheap cereals and abundant pastures in the same 

 region, presents highly favourable conditions for the production 

 of pork and beef. In this direction, therefore, much is to be ex- 

 pected from Siberia. 



The poultry industry is important in Siberia as it is in Russia, 

 though it has not yet reached very great proportions. 1 It is quite 

 probable that Siberia will supply very much greater quantities 

 of eggs to foreign markets in the future than it has done hitherto, 

 since it will be to the advantage of Siberian farmers to forward 

 their produce in the most concentrated and valuable forms rather 

 than export cereals in bulk. 



With reference to the probable future rate of development in 

 Siberia in general and of its possible extent, some estimate may 

 now be made. The limits of agricultural settlement are set by the 

 arid steppes of Central Asia towards the South, by mountains, 

 and by the gulf of Arctic cold to the East, and by forests and tundra 

 beyond the 62nd parallel to the North. Within this rhomboid 

 lie the areas where development is possible. No great permanent 

 expansion is possible without considerable capital outlay on roads 

 and other means of transport, on schools and hospitals, on live- 

 stock, agricultural machinery, and cold storage. It is doubtful 

 whether capital will be available in sufficient quantities for these 

 purposes in Siberia. In any case, the price in terms of interest 

 may be a hindrance. America, it should be remembered, was 

 developed during a period when supplies of capital were abundant 

 and cheap, but in the case of Siberia the greater outlay is yet to 

 come. Russia itself will not be able to spare much because it is 

 also in great need of large external supplies of capital for development 

 purposes. It cannot be presumed that Siberia will be developed 

 as rapidly as the new countries in Noith and South America have 

 been. It is possible, however, that the world-prices for animal 

 produce will in future be much higher, and this would give Siberian 

 farmers a stronger financial position than American farmers had, 

 and make it easier for them to develop their land independently. 



1 The exports of eggs which in 1909 exceeded 4,200 tons in weight are some 

 indication of the extent of poultry rearing. 



