Michael S. Farbman

“ The removal of millions of men and horses from production is in itself sufficient to account for the agricultural crisis of Russia. But to understand thoroughly how Russia as an agricultural country became so poor during the war, it is necessary to consider two more factors. ”

“ Now the Russian army required an immense number of horses, on which their artillery and transport system almost entirely depended. And the chief burden of the mobilisation fell on the peasants, since horses in regular use for transport could less easily be interfered with. Peasant households having two horses had to give up one, and many of the one-horse households had to do without. The decrease of horses in Russia was felt immediately the war broke out, but it became more and more acute, for the drain on horses for war purposes never ceased. ”

“ To begin with, Russian agriculture never was sound and healthy. Russia lived permanently in a state of agricultural crisis. Famine, or at least semi-starvation, was habitual in rural Russia. Great districts, year after year, were in such straits that the peasants had to apply to the Government or to the Zemstvos for help. The supply of extra seed-grain was a regular thing; but in many cases corn had to be supplied to the population for subsistence till the next harvest. ”

“ The soldiers were certainly fed out of all proportion to their accustomed fare in the villages. Not only was their bread ration higher than the quantity habitually consumed by the most well-fed Russian workers, but in addition they had a daily meat ration. In peace time meat was certainly very little consumed in the villages, and even the town workers were accustomed to a very limited ration of meat. ”

“ The war stopped the import of agricultural machinery altogether, and this led very quickly to a virtual crisis, because worn-out implements could not be replaced nor broken ones properly and quickly repaired. ”

“ It will be felt for many years to come, for a very small proportion of the mobilised horses will ever return to civil employment. An enormous number died for want of fodder, especially last year, in addition to those which were killed or lost in the campaigns. ”