Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 13 - From Marx to Mao

AGRARIAN QUESTION AND “CRITICS OF MARX”189of improvement large-scale farming outstrips small-scalefarming. Here is a comparison of the average weight of theaverage animal by groups in 1875 and in 1884.Average weight Increase Per centof average ani-increasemal in kilogrammes1875 1884(a) Estates 537 619 +82 +15.2(b) Farms of 25 ha and over 376 427 +51 +13.6(c) ” ” 7.5 to 25 ha 356 382 +26 +7.3(d) ” ” 5.5 to 7.5 ” 337 352 +15 +4.4(e) ” ” up to 2.5 ” 280 301 +21 +7.5Average 354 385 +31 +8.7The improvement is greatest on the big capitalist farms,then come the medium-sized capitalist farms; it is entirelynegligible on the small peasant farms and very inconsiderablein the rest. Like the great majority of agronomistswho write on problems of agricultural economics, Drechslernoted only the technical aspect of the matter. In the fifthconclusion he draws from the comparison between 1875and 1884 he says: “A very considerable improvement in thekeeping of livestock* has taken place: a reduction in thenumber of cattle and an improvement in quality; the averagelive weight per animal increased considerably in eachof the three groups of villages.** That shows that the markedimprovement in cattle rearing, feeding, and tending of cattlewas more or less general (ziemlich allgemein).”* Drechsler speaks here of all cattle except draught animals(called Nutzvieh). Further we quote figures on draught animalsseparately. The general conclusion remains the same whatever type ortype groups of animals we take.** Drechsler divides the 22 villages into three groups accordingto geographical location and other farming conditions. We have takenonly the summarised data in order not to overburden this articlewith figures. The conclusions remain the same whatever groups ofvillages we take.