Redemption-Free Land Allotment

Redemption-Free Land Allotment 

(darstvennyi nadel), a land allotment in Russia that was equal to one-fourth of the largest allotment established for a given locality under the Peasant Reform of 1861. Subject to the peasants’ agreement, the landlord could give them, as their property, a redemption-free land allotment, keeping the rest of the land for himself. This land allotment was considered a gift (dar), hence the name. The redemption-free land allotment was insufficient for maintaining a peasant household. The peasants who received the redemption-free land allotments were called krest’iane-darstvenniki.