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

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAPITALISM IN RUSSIA
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to Porechye in the summer season both from neighbouring
villages and from neighbouring gubernias” (ibid., 99). It is
estimated that in the whole of Yaroslavl Gubernia
10,322 persons (of whom 7,689 are from Rostov) engaged
in “agriculture and vegetable growing” are migratory
workers—i.e., in the majority of cases are wage-workers
in the given occupation.* The above quoted data on the
migration of rural workers to the metropolitan gubernias, 101
Yaroslavl Gubernia, etc., should be brought into connection
with the development not only of dairy farming but also
of commercial vegetable growing.
Vegetable growing also includes the hot-house cultivation
of vegetables, an industry that is rapidly developing
among the well-to-do peasants of Moscow and Tver gubernias.**
In the first-named gubernia the 1880-81 census
showed 88 establishments with 3,011 frames; there were 213
workers, of whom 47 (22.6%) were hired; the total output was
valued at 54,400 rubles. The average hot-house vegetable
grower had to put at least 300 rubles into the “business.”
Of the 74 peasants for whom house-to-house returns are given,
41 possess purchased land, and as many rent land, there is
an average of 2.2 horses per peasant. It is clear from this
that the hot-house vegetable industry is only within the reach
of members of the peasant bourgeoisie.***
In the south of Russia melon growing also comes within
the type of commercial agriculture under review. Here are
some brief observations about its development in a district
described in an interesting article in the Vestnik Finansov
* Here, too, a characteristic specialisation of agriculture is to
be observed: “It is noteworthy that in places where vegetable growing
has become the special occupation of part of the peasant population,
the others grow hardly any vegetables at all, but buy them at local
markets and fairs” (S. Korolenko, loc. cit., 285).
** Productive Forces, IV, 50-51. S. Korolenko, loc. cit., 273.—
Statistical Returns for Moscow Gubernia, Vol VII, Pt. 1.—Statistical
Returns for Tver Gubernia, Vol. VIII, Pt. 1, Tver Uyezd: the census
of 1886-1890 counted here something over 4,426 frames belonging
to 174 peasants and 7 private landowners, i.e., an average of about
25 frames per owner. “In peasant farming it (the industry) is a big
help, but only for the well-to-do peasants.... If there are more than
20 frames, workers are hired” (p. 167).
*** See data on this industry in appendix to Chapter V,
Industry No. 9.