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Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 3 - From Marx to Mao

Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 3 - From Marx to Mao

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292<br />

V. I. LENIN<br />

1860-1864 was 4.1 million berkovets*; in 1870-1874—<br />

9.3 million; in 1875-1879—12.8 million; in 1890-1894—<br />

29.3 million; and in 1895-96 and 1897-98—35 million.**<br />

The amount <strong>of</strong> processed sugar-beet has grown since<br />

the 60s more than 8-fold. Hence, there has been an enormous<br />

increase in the beet yield, i.e., in labour productivity,<br />

on the big estates organised on capitalist lines.***<br />

The introduction <strong>of</strong> a root-plant like beet in<strong>to</strong> the rotation<br />

is indissolubly linked with the transition <strong>to</strong> a more advanced<br />

system <strong>of</strong> cultivation, with improved tillage and cattle<br />

feed, etc. “The tillage <strong>of</strong> the soil for beetroot,” we read in<br />

the His<strong>to</strong>rico-Statistical Survey (<strong>Vol</strong>. I), “which, generally<br />

speaking, is rather complicated and difficult, has been brought<br />

<strong>to</strong> a high degree <strong>of</strong> perfection on many beet farms, especially<br />

in the south-western and Vistula gubernias. In<br />

different localities, various more or less improved implements<br />

and ploughs are used for tilling; in some cases even steam<br />

ploughing has been introduced” (p. 109).<br />

This progress <strong>of</strong> large-scale capitalist farming gives rise<br />

<strong>to</strong> quite a considerable increase in the demand for agricultural<br />

wage-workers—regular and particularly day labourers—the<br />

employment <strong>of</strong> female and child labour being<br />

particularly extensive (cf. His<strong>to</strong>rico-Statistical Survey, II,<br />

32). Among the peasants <strong>of</strong> the neighbouring gubernias a<br />

special type <strong>of</strong> migration has arisen, known as migration<br />

“<strong>to</strong> sugar” (ibid., 42). It is estimated that the complete cultivation<br />

<strong>of</strong> a morg (=q dess.)**** <strong>of</strong> beet land requires 40<br />

working days (Hired Labour, 72). The Combined Material<br />

on the Position <strong>of</strong> the Rural Population (published by Committee<br />

<strong>of</strong> Ministers) estimates that the cultivation <strong>of</strong> one<br />

dessiatine <strong>of</strong> beet land, when done by machine, requires 12,<br />

and when by hand 25, working days <strong>of</strong> males, not counting<br />

women and juveniles (pp. X-XI). Thus, the cultivation<br />

<strong>of</strong> the <strong>to</strong>tal beet area in Russia probably engages not less<br />

than 300,000 agricultural day labourers, men and women.<br />

* Berkovets—360 lbs.—Ed.<br />

** In addition <strong>to</strong> above sources see Vestnik Finansov, 1898,<br />

No. 32.<br />

*** Taking the average for the period 1890-1894, out <strong>of</strong> 285,000<br />

dess. under beet in the Empire, 118,000 dess. belonged <strong>to</strong> refineries<br />

and 167,000 dess. <strong>to</strong> planters (Productive Forces, IX, 44).<br />

**** 1.8 acres.—Ed.

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