CLIMATE OF ROSS. 125 



The climate at Ross is mild. Reaumur's 

 thermometer seldom falls to the freezing point ; 

 yet gardens cannot flourish, on account of the 

 frequent fogs. Some wersts farther inland, be- 

 yond the injurious influence of the fog, plants 

 of the warmest climates prosper surprisingly. 

 Cucumbers of fifty pounds* weight, gourds of 

 sixty-five, and other fruits in proportion, are 

 produced in them. Potatoes yield a hun- 

 dred or two hundred fold, and, as they will 

 produce two crops in a year, are an eff'ectual 

 security against famine. The fortress is sur- 

 rounded by wheat and barley fields, which, 

 on account of the fogs, are less productive 

 than those of Santa Clara, but which still 

 supply sufficient corn for the inhabitants of 

 Ross. The Aleutians find their abode here 

 so agreeable, that although very unwilling to 

 leave their islands, they are seldom inclined to 

 return to them. 



The Spaniards should take a lesson in hus- 

 bandry from M. Von Schmidt, who has brought 

 it to an admirable degree of perfection. Im- 

 plements, equal to the best we have in Europe, 

 are made here under his direction. Our Spanish 



