PERIODICAL LITERATURE. 



The non-official part of the report of the 



Forests Imperial Institute contains an interesting 



of account of the forests of the Crimea which 



Crimea. are of value mainly as protection forests on 



the calcareous mountains. 



Out of the plain rises a mountain range up to 5,000 feet with 

 heights to 5,600 feet. In the foothills the lowest belt to 1,000 

 feet is grass land, here and there with oak brush, to be followed 

 by another 500 feet of rounded tops with a variety of deciduous 

 chaparral. On the northern slope of the mountains proper a 

 forest of low oaks, blue beech, maple, ash, elm, aspen, "silver 

 pear," Cornus mas, Rhus cotinus, Hazel and Thorns is found up 

 to 4,000 feet. Another narrow forest belt, located between 2,000 

 and 2,500 feet on fresher soil consists of high stemmed oaks with 

 basswood, ash, beech, and other broadleaf trees. The forest is 

 open with a grassy and shrubby vegetation. 



A third belt above this consists of excellent pure beech forest, 

 between 2,500 and 4,000 feet ; 3 feet diameter being no rarity. 

 Only on steep and stony ridges is to be found Pinus sihfestris and 

 Juniperus excelsa. Above the beech region up to 5,000 feet, 

 there follows chaparral of Juniperus sabina and depressa or open 

 stands of broad-crowned maple, blue beech, basswood, oak, and 

 beech. The top of the range is a treeless plateau, the so-called 

 Jaila, covered with a thin grass cover, here and there showing a 

 remnant of the Taurian Pine. The cause of the treelessness is 

 not known, undoubtedly in part due to man. 



On the southern slope the beech belt between 1,500 and 3,000 

 feet is less satisfactorily developed and towards the East gives 

 way to Pinus laricio and silvestris. On the stony ridges often 

 a truly northern forest type appears of birch, aspen, pine. 



Below the beech belt, oak and Crimean pine appear, the former 

 occupying more the eastern, the latter the western end, the pine 

 everywhere mixed with oak, except in the higher altitudes of its 

 field, where it becomes pure with varied undergrowth and de- 

 velops excellent form. 



The southern shore region can be divided into three belts. The 



