— 238 - 



turbed by geological causes, that ihere are no meaiis by which 

 (he water which falis at ihese seasons can be accumulated and 

 slored up in subterranean réservoirs or fissures — (ihe exi- 

 stence of springs dcpending on the inclination of strata and 

 dislocation of beds). — The water is thus simply absorbed of 

 the soil and when the warm season cornes is gradually evapo- 

 rated. — llence arises of the extrême beat and cold which 

 characterise the district in suminer and winler. — No plant 

 which cannol live like bulbs under ground can survive thèse 

 extrêmes of température. — .AU leaves and branches and 

 stems are every year eut down. Consequently Irees cannot be 

 expected to grow. 



ïhere are some counlries so situated in relation to neigh- 

 bouring mouutains ihat it may be doubtful whelher rain could 

 ever be attracled to ihem, as in the dry régions of Thibet, but 

 tbere is do such physical disability in the South of Hussia. 

 With such large masses of water as the Black sea and the Cas- 

 pian in its immédiate vicinity and no great mountains inlerve- 

 ning, tbere is no reason why the régions which are now a waste 

 for some months in the year should not be a garden; — were 

 the ground even parlially clolhed w ilh limber the whole would 

 be changed. — There is no réservoir of moislure equal to a 

 forest. — Il is a sponge which soaks up an enormous quantily 

 of water to render il back in perennial springs and streams. — 

 Moreover foresls not only receive rain and retain it when it 

 falls, bul they attracl it. — I read that already a few trees plan- 

 ted by the engineers employed in the excavation and conslruc- 

 lion of the Suez Canal near iheir temporary résidences, bave 

 had the effect of atlracting clouds and that the rare event of 

 rain falling in the land of Egypt bas already taken place in 

 their vicinity. To do the same thing in the South of Russia is 

 obviously (as the very question proposed implies) the true means 

 of utilizing, fertilizing and rendering productive the vast step- 

 pes in question, aud il must be done in the same way. The 



