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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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74<br />

V. I. LENIN<br />

Thus the well-<strong>to</strong>-do peasantry are far better supplied<br />

with implements than the poor and even the middle peasantry.<br />

It is sufficient <strong>to</strong> glance at this table <strong>to</strong> see how <strong>to</strong>tally<br />

fictitious are the “average” figures which people are so<br />

fond <strong>of</strong> bringing in<strong>to</strong> play when they talk <strong>of</strong> the “peasantry”.<br />

The commercial cultivation <strong>of</strong> the peasant bourgeoisie is<br />

accompanied here by commercial lives<strong>to</strong>ck farming, namely,<br />

the breeding <strong>of</strong> coarse-wool sheep. Regarding implements,<br />

we shall quote in addition figures for improved implements,<br />

which we have taken from Zemstvo statistical returns.*<br />

Out <strong>of</strong> the <strong>to</strong>tal reaping and mowing machines (3,061),<br />

2,841, or 92.8%, belong <strong>to</strong> the peasant bourgeoisie (5 <strong>of</strong><br />

the <strong>to</strong>tal households).<br />

It is quite natural that the well-<strong>to</strong>-do peasantry also<br />

employ a farming technique much above the average (larger<br />

size <strong>of</strong> farm, more plentiful supply <strong>of</strong> implements, available<br />

financial resources, etc.); that is <strong>to</strong> say, the well-<strong>to</strong>-do<br />

peasants “do their sowing faster, make better use <strong>of</strong> favourable<br />

weather, sow the seed in more humid soil,” and reap<br />

their harvest in proper time; they thresh their grain as it<br />

is carted in from the field, etc. It is also natural that the<br />

expenditure on the production <strong>of</strong> agricultural produce<br />

diminishes (per unit <strong>of</strong> product) as the size <strong>of</strong> the farm<br />

increases. Mr. Postnikov proves this proposition in particular<br />

detail, using the following system <strong>of</strong> calculation: he determines<br />

the number <strong>of</strong> people working (including hired<br />

labourers), the number <strong>of</strong> draught animals, implements, etc.,<br />

per 100 dessiatines <strong>of</strong> crop area in the various groups <strong>of</strong><br />

the peasantry. It is proved that these numbers diminish as<br />

the size <strong>of</strong> the farm increases. For example, those cultivating<br />

under 5 dessiatines have per 100 dessiatines <strong>of</strong><br />

allotment land 28 people working, 28 draught animals, 4.7<br />

ploughs and scarifiers, and 10 carts, whereas those cultivating<br />

over 50 dessiatines have 7 people working, 14 draught<br />

animals, 3.8 ploughs and scarifiers, and 4.3 carts. (We omit<br />

more detailed data for all groups, referring those interested<br />

in the details <strong>to</strong> Mr. Postnikov’s book.) The author’s general<br />

* Statistical Returns for Meli<strong>to</strong>pol Uyezd, Simferopol, 1885<br />

(Statistical Returns for Taurida Gubernia, <strong>Vol</strong>. I), 44 —Statistical<br />

Returns for Dnieper Uyezd, <strong>Vol</strong>. II, Simferopol, 1886.

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