236 



Agricultural Machinery in Russia. 



power threshing machines, etc. At present this trade is 

 entirely in the hands of Russian and German manufacturers ; 

 the latter especially do a large trade in ploughs. 



There is also a good demand for horse-power threshing 

 machines of improved construction with straw shakers, riddle 

 and corn screen, and automatic feeder. These machines are 

 much in favour with the peasant proprietors and German 

 colonists, and they prefer them to the steam threshers, firstly, 

 because the capital invested is small compared with the 

 latter — they are sold, including horse gear for eight horses, 

 at ;£io5 — and secondly, they are afraid of using steam-power, 

 not being accustomed to it. Russian and German firms are 

 the only sellers of this kind of machine in the consular 

 district of Odessa. Steam threshing machines are in limited 

 demand, but a few sets are sold every season. German 

 makers are trying hard to get hold of this branch, and are 

 pushing their machines and competing with well-known 

 British makers, and they have succeeded in selling' several 

 sets during the last two years in the Crimea, 



The chief demand is for reapers with manual delivery, 

 the peasant proprietors and colonists prefer them to the 

 English and American made machines with rakes. Binders 

 are very little known in the district, and are considered too 

 complicated for the ordinary farm labourer to work ; but Mr. 

 Mackie thinks that a profitable business might be done in 

 these binders, if British makers would only push the business 

 and send out a competent man for one or two seasons to put 

 the farmers in the way of w^orking them. 



With regard to Chilian nitrate of soda, winch may now^ be 

 imported into Russia duty free, Mr. Mackie states that the 

 advantages of this fertiliser have, during the past couple of 

 years, been receiving the attention of farmers, fruit- 

 growers, viticulturists, and sugar beetroot growlers through- 

 out Russia, articles appearing upon the subject in the new^s- 

 papers both in North and South Russia, while an active 

 propaganda by means of circulars and pamphlets is spreading 

 throughout the country. The valuable assistance ot the rural 

 communes and other official bodies has been enlisted in 

 carrying out trials of this nitrate upon grain, sugar-beets. 



