The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-06-11
SOVIET MODEL
FARMS DEVELOP
BETTER CROPS
Good Grade Seeds and
Pure Bred Cattle
BY ALFRED kNuTsoN
Especial 20 The Daily Workerl

MOSCOW, y. B. 3. Hs-(By MalO-
The Soviet farms have az their pur.
pose TO develop pure bred cattle and
good grades of seeds and place these
things at the disposal Of the farmers.
These farms are agricultural expert
ments stations where tho farmers In
a particular district can 90 and get
good cattle, good seeds and receive
valuable information as to how to
get the best results out Of their work
on the farm.
They constitute q landmark In the
development Of Russian agriculture
and are Of tremendous significance
for the farnAers generally.
Modern Production Methods
1t is true that these stations cannot
as yet function really we'll because of
the lack of modern farm machinery,
but It Is only question Of time when
this need can be supplied. The So
Wet authorities are all the time anx-
ious to make use OF the most up-to-
date farm production methods avail
able, no matter from what source they
may come.
The size of the Soviet farms is
about one section or GAO acres, some
containing larger area and others a
little less. The one l visited at Ra-
menBko near Moscow has an area Of
about $50 dessjatina, approximately
one section Of land. and OF this 1862
acres are under cultivation, 1875 acres
In timber land and the rest meadows,
pastures and garden land.
A Soviet Farm
The farm has 13 horses. 40 mich
cows, 80 heifers and usually employs
% workers. With the introduction Of
modern farm machinery the number
Of workers can undoubtedly be ma
terially reduced.
This farm is now self supporting.
The wages Of the workmen is 2S
roubles per month and they receive
in addition living quarters, light and
heat without paying anything extra.
The board costs the workers about
8 roubles per month. The workday is
hours except in the busiest time Of
the summer when it is 10 hours or
more and then the wages are 80 per
cent greater.
Success Assured
The wages are in accordance with
the income Of the farm, and it is very
significant to note that as production
increases the wages also Increase.
The conditions Of the workers on this
Soviet farm are steadily becoming
better from year to year. It is a
hard pull, to be sure, but success is
assured.
Horse Breeding Farm
Near Tula, about 100 miles south Of
Moscow, is horse breeding farm,
the purpose Of which is to furnish the
farmers with good breeds Of horses.
At the present time the Soviet gov
eminent is substituting this farm in
the amount of $4,000 roubles per year.
Among the $50 horses now found on
the farm, some are considered very
valuable. was shown one stallion
really very pretty animal that the
manager said was easily worth 100 900
roubles.
Likes Soviet Management
The manager OF this horse farm is
tile former owner--a bourgeoisie of
the old days, and he toin me that he
was more satisfied with the work on
the farm under the new government
than during the reign of the Gear.
He was frank enough to admit that
the Soviet government was proceed
ing along far more practical and use
full lines than the rulers OF the old
| days.
The walls Of the residence are
decked with all kinds of large paint
ings OF different breeds of horses and
the manager took particular delight
in explaining the merits and dement's
of the various types. His very life
was wrapped UP in horses.
When sold the horses usually bring
good price, stations selling for
1000 roubles and mares for 600 rou.
Mes (one rouble is about 30 cents)
The average horse that is used by
the Russian farmers generally in cul-
dvating the land is valued at from
10 to $50 roublss.
Government Helps
Under the new economic policy eve.
ry enterprise is expected to be self
supporting but this farm is not yet
able to pay its way. The government
helps wherever help is needed and
as production in both industry and
agriculture increases II becomes more