104 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



When we reached Lake Baikal, after passing our baggage 

 through the custom house, we went on board the steamer to 

 cross the lake. The ice-breaker, used in winter for keeping the 

 channel open, went out ahead of us with the baggage cars, 

 while the passengers went on a smaller boat. Lake Baikal is 

 a fine body of water, and is said to be about 50 miles wide and 

 400 miles long. After crossing the lake we continued our 

 journey to Irkutsk. 



(Photograph No. 41.) 



That is a city of about 35,000 people, situated on both sides 

 of the Ungara River, and apparently in a flat country. The 

 next day we went shopping and bought cigars, four English 

 novels and some candy for use on the steppes. We visited the 

 cathedral and museum in the morning, and in the evening con- 

 tinued the journey. 



(Photograph No. 42.) 



The country after leaving Irkutsk is especially fine. All 

 day long we rode through a splendid prairie country with just 

 enough grade for good drainage. White birch abounded on 

 both sides of the track, and dense pine forests could be seen a 

 little further removed. Here and there was a small farm, and 

 now and then a river. The country appeared like a paradise 

 for farmers and cattle raisers. The forests are clean, no under- 

 brush, but grass and ferns carpeting the ground under the 

 trees. 



After leaving Irkutsk the country continued fine. Many 

 undulating prairies could be seen, stretching as far as the eye 

 could reach, with plenty of timber scattered about. I was 

 surprised at the extent of cultivation there, and at the fre- 

 quency and size of the towns. 



(Photograph No. 43.) 



The soil seemed to be very fertile, and the crops and 

 grass excellent. As we continued our journey westward the 

 country steadily improved in appearance, changing from a 

 prairie country to fine rolling slopes. 



After leaving Omsk we came into a flat prairie country, 

 where the soil looked rich and the grass thrifty and good. It 

 is magnificent farming land. Every little while we saw herds 

 of horses, cattle, and sheep grazing on the open prairie, and 

 Tartar boys sitting on horseback watching them. In that sec- 

 tion of Siberia the towns are larger than those we had seen 



