ABSTRACT
The deficiency in agricultural implements and the mobilisation of horses would alone have had a fatal effect on Russian agriculture. Russia lived permanently in a state of agricultural crisis. Famine, or at least semi-starvation, was habitual in rural Russia. 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 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. Not only in agriculture, but in Russia's transport system this scarcity was very acutely felt. But to understand thoroughly how Russia as an agricultural country became so poor during the war, it is necessary to consider two factors. First, the increase in the consumption of agricultural products in the country; and, secondly, the slackening of economic inducements towards the intensification of work.
