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FROM SUMAROKOVA TO YENISEISK
243
farmhouse ; one would be more exposed to attack
and robbery.
I But it is not difficult to see that a great change is in
progress in this respect, even in Siberia, in the last few
years. In 1911 land was allotted to 255 families in
possession as freehold farms ; but in 1912 such allotments
were made to 3354 families, that is, nearly thirteen
times as many ; the movement had extended so rapidly
that in 1912 all the land was tåken up that had been
surveyed for colonization in separate farms, and in
January 1913 there was only so much land available
as had been set aside for this use at the close of 1912.
In addition to this there is the right which, as wc have
seen, the older colonists now possess, of håving land
apportioned to them out of the common ownership of the
mir of which they have been members, if they wish to
adopt the system of freehold farms. This parcelling out
is now constantly going on in several places. Thus,
in the districts of Yeniseisk and Kansk 12,760 dessia
tines (34,452 acres) of land were in 1912 transferred
from common ownership to separate farms.
But with this village or mir system, as it has existed,
and still for the most part exists, it is not to be wondered
at that Siberian agriculture is still in its infancy. Take,
for instance, this question of manure, which even here
in the corn-growing country lies in hills, forming a sort
of rampart towards the river in front of every single
village. It looks as if they wanted to defend themselves
against civilization and progress, which might be brought
by the traffic along the river.
For that matter there is doubtless a reason even
for this failure to use manure. There is so much space
here and so few people that there may still be enough
virgin soil to be had, or soil that has lam fallow for a long
time and does not require manuring. The peasants
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