that they should never be bound to any of the new agricultural methods, or to use the improved tools. They agreed that the new-fashioned plow worked better, that the weed-extirpator was more successful; but they in vented a thousand reasons why they should not use them; and, although he had made up his mind that there must be a coming down from anything like ideal management, he felt deep regret to give up improvements the advantages of which were so evident. But in spite of all these difficulties, he persevered; and by autumn the new arrangement was in working order, or at least seemed to be.
At first Levin intended to give up his whole domain[1] just as it was to the muzhiks—the laborers—and over seer on the new conditions of association. But very soon he found that this was impracticable; and he made up his mind to divide the management of the estate. The cattle, the garden, the kitchen-garden, the hay-fields, and some lands fenced off into several lots were to be reckoned as special and separate divisions.
Ivan, the simple-minded herdsman, who seemed to Levin better fitted than any one else, formed an artel, or association, composed of members of his family, and took charge of the cattle-yard. A distant field, which for eight years had been lying fallow, was taken by the shrewd carpenter Feodor Rezunof, who joined with him seven families of muzhiks; and the muzhik Shuraef entered into the same arrangements for superintending the gardens. All the rest was left as it had been; but these three divisions constituted the beginning of the new arrangement, and they kept Levin very busy.
It was true that matters were not carried on in the cattle-yard any better than before, and that Ivan was obstinate in his opposition to giving the cows a warm shelter, and to butter made of sweet cream, asserting that cows kept in a cold place required less feed, and that butter made of sour cream was made quicker; and he demanded his wages as before, and he was not at
- ↑ Khozyaïstvo.
