The forests of Russia and their Products. 333 



tarry nature does not rot, and is, generally speaking, stronger than the 

 former. In the open air, and particularly in water, it becomes as 

 hard as iron. With us in llussia larch is certain to supplant teak in 

 the construction of ironclads, the foreign material being much more 

 expensive, and in no way superior." 



Colonel Okannieff, author of a work entitled " The Theory of Iron- 

 clad Shipbuilding," likewise testifies to the superiority of larch over 

 teak for the backing of iron plates. 



It should be remarked that up to within a few years ago the 

 export of Piussian larch was strictly forbidden. This dog-in-the- 

 manger policy, however, was abandoued in 1800, when a company was 

 formed by Mr. Latkin for the export of larch timber from the 

 Petchora. 



The oak grows in Russia in the provinces of Courland and Lietland, 

 then takes a southerly direction to the governments of Witepsk and 

 Smolensk, then makes a bend to the Volga. On the right bank of 

 that river there are no good oak forests, but along the left bank they 

 extend to the utmost limits of Southern llussia, extending also into 

 the Crimea and throughout the Caucasian regions. 



The common ash, as a small thin tree, is met with farinthe extreme 

 north, but as a fully developed tree it flourishes more to the south. 

 The northern limit for its full development must be considered the 

 governments of Lietland, Courland, Volhynia, Mohilew, Vladimir, and 

 then a line along the right bank of the Volga. Under favourable 

 conditions this tree reaches a height of 100 ft. with a diameter of 

 from 3 to 4 ft. 



The white maple is met with in the forests of the middle 

 and southern provinces, but particularly in the governments of 

 Podolia, Volhynia, and others adjacent to them ; it grows likewise at 

 the foot of the Caucasian Mountains in Georgia, and along the Eiver 

 Ivour. It lives ahout 300 years, and generally it reaches a height of 

 from 80 to 100 ft. 



The lime, or "linden tree," is found in the whole of middle 

 Eussia, and flourishes mostly in damp soil, on the low spurs of moun- 

 tains, and in the plains. It is very hardy and continues to grow 

 even when its trunk is entirely rotten within. Under favourable 

 conditions of growth it reaches a height of 80 ffc., with a diameter of 

 from 4 to G ft. The bast or inner bark of the lime tree is used for the 

 manufacture of what are called " Pussian mats," of which millions 

 are made annually for home consumption and exportation, to the 

 destruction of entire forests of lime trees. From the outer bark are 

 manufactured the Capti or peasants' shoes. 



The common birch extends far into the north and east of Pussia. 

 In the northern " tundras," or extensive marshy plains, the birch 



