With diminution of the pasturage came diminution of the live stock, their sole means of subsistence.

In spite of their passively conservative spirit they had to look about for some new means of obtaining food and clothing--some new mode of life requiring less extensive territorial possessions.

It was only then that they began to think of imitating their neighbours.

They saw that the neighbouring Russian peasant lived comfortably on thirty or forty acres of land, whilst they possessed a hundred and fifty acres per male, and were in danger of starvation.
The conclusion to be drawn from this was self-evident--they ought at once to begin ploughing and sowing.

But there was a very serious obstacle to the putting of this principle in practice.