788 



RUSSIA. 



called the perelog plan.* The sterile part of the 

 steppes is scarcely less profitable than that which 

 is cultivated, for on it are found the salt lakes, 

 probahly the remains of a sea which at some for- 

 mer period covered the country, or perhaps their 

 saline qualities may arise from strata of rock-salt 

 forming their beds, or the qualities of the soil 

 through which the various rivulets run in their 

 course to the lakes. It is not improbable, that, 

 by means of perseverance in an improved system 

 of cultivation, many saline districts may become 

 fertile in the production of useful plants. Some 

 parts may be laid under water to great advantage, 

 especially if they succeed in constructing conduits 

 of fresh water. But the chief advantage derived 

 from the steppes is the means afforded of rearing 

 large flocks of fine-woolled sheep. Considering 

 the low price of land in Russia, the immense 

 extent of the steppes that furnish good pasturage 

 for sheep, and the cheapness of labour and bread, 

 the period may arrive when Russia will furnish the 

 greater part of Europe with wool, except perhaps 

 the very finest sorts, which it may be more con- 

 venient to produce where sheep breeding is con- 

 nected with agriculture in its highest state of im- 

 provement ; and even towards this end the Baltic 

 provinces have made considerable progress. The 

 variety of climate in this region is much greater 

 than in the last described. The western govern- 

 ments, as Keiv and Podolia, are favoured with 

 very mild seasons, but towards the east, the un- 

 genial effects of the vicinity of Asia are plainly 

 felt, even without entering Siberia, and the more 

 so as we approach the limits of the next, or 

 seventh region. This variation is distinctly visi- 

 ble in the productions of the earth, it being no 

 longer possible, though on the same degree of 

 latitude, to produce and rear those plants which 

 thrive in the west. Perhaps, in the course of 

 time, when the soil and forests are propeily culti- 

 vated, a considerable improvement may take place 

 in the climate. 



With respect to the population of this region, 

 it may be divided into the old established Russian 

 inhabitants, who have from time immemorial dwelt 

 in the western governments of Kiev, Podolsky, 

 Malo-Rossia, &c., and those that have settled at a 

 later period in Kursk, Saratoff, &c. The original 

 Russian governments are pretty well peopled, 

 according to their extent, and the imperfect sys- 

 tem of agriculture which has hitherto prevailed, 

 a system requiring a far greater extent of arable, 

 meadow, and forest land than would be necessary 

 under an improved system of husbandry ; so that, 

 in some parts, a want of land has been felt, espe- 

 cially in Little Russia and the government of Pol- 

 tava, where the former prosperous condition of the 

 people has been considerably deteriorated by the 

 extraordinary increase in the consumption of 

 ardent spirits. 



7. The Region of Maize and the Vine Al- 

 though the vine and Indian corn are characteristic 

 productions of this region, it must be remembered 

 that it produces also all those common to the last 

 described. The vine, as is well known, thrives 

 only in certain climates and situations ; and Indian 

 corn is not to be considered as an exclusive pro- 

 duct, but rather as a distinguishing feature. This 

 region includes Bessarabia, the New Russia, the 



This consists in sowing- corn on fresh land, until its produc- 



* and then aband n * * to * 



territory of the Don Cossack?, the government of 

 Astraclian, and the Caucasus. The southern part 

 of Siberia, from the peculiar nature of the climate, 

 can scarcely be said to form any portion of it. 

 The greater part of the above mentioned govern- 

 ments and districts consists of steppes, partially 

 used as pasturage, and in part unproductive. The 

 Crimea (at least the southern part of it,) belongs 

 rather to the next region. The hilly parts of 

 Bessarabia are fruitful and well supplied with 

 wood. The low lands are steppes, which, towards 

 the Danube, are covered with reeds, and the air 

 unwholesome. On the banks of some rivers, and 

 in various other parts, the vine may be cultivated 

 to advantage. The government of Cherson pre- 

 sents a vast plain intersected by deep narrow 

 ravines or dells ; the soil is hard, and but little 

 suited to the growth of trees, without the assis- 

 tance of art, exposed to frequent droughts, and 

 consequently to bad harvests; besides which it is 

 at times (as well as other parts of the seventh 

 region), subject to the ravages of the locust. The 

 government of Yekaterinoslav suffers less than 

 that of Cherson ; but eastward towards the Don- 

 etzky ridge, near Bakhmut and Slavianoserbsk, 

 droughts are more frequent. The northern part of 

 the government consists of steppes fit for pastur- 

 age, and abounding in salt ; the southern part 

 enjoys a most genial climate, especially along the 

 shore, where the sea has considerable influence on 

 the atmosphere, but this tract belongs properly to 

 the eighth region. Not only the vine and other 

 delicate fruit-trees grow here in perfection, but 

 also the olive, the caper, &c., which have been 

 planted, thrive, and will doubtless, in the course 

 of time, be cultivated on a large scale. The 

 southern parts of the government of Voronesh are 

 steppes, but capable of cultivation. The territory 

 of the Don Cossacks is also steppe, towards the 

 south-east, but fit for all the purposes of husbandry. 

 Coal is found in the Donetzky ridge^ as well as 

 mines of lead and iron. Other parts are more or 

 less suitable for the purposes of agriculture and 

 the growth of the vine. The government of As- 

 tracan, has, in many parts, a sandy soil, affording 

 scanty pasturage for the cattle, and the vine is 

 cultivated in the Asiatic manner, by irrigation, 

 which renders its fruit unfit for wine. The nor- 

 thern part of the Caucasus is principally sandy, 

 interspersed with saline tracts and rivulets. Breed- 

 ing of cattle is carried on to great advantage by the 

 nomadic tribes which inhabit it. The southern 

 parts towards the rivers Terek and Kuban are 

 good for tillage, especially towards the west. In 

 the environs of Kizliar, a kind of wine is made, 

 that is chiefly used in the distilling of brandy, and 

 no doubt there are many other situations where 

 the vine would thrive. The territory belonging 

 to the Cossacks of the Black Sea, consists partly 

 of very low grounds, the rest resembles the wes- 

 tern part of the Caucasian government. Popula- 

 tion is but thinly scattered in this region, and the 

 attempts at agriculture are all of recent date. A 

 considerable portion of the population is of Asiatic 

 origin, and not a few of the tribes still retain their 

 nomadic habits. The other inhabitants of the 

 country consist of Russians, Moldavians, Bulgar- 

 ians, Greeks, and German colonists, the latter in- 

 cluding the Menonists, celebrated for their superior 

 husbandry. Gardening, as a speculation, is carried 

 on to a considerable extent, but the numerous 

 flocks of Merino sheep form the principal source of 



