FORESTS ON THE DNIEPER. 173 



the transport of forest materials. Successive thaws 

 in winter, and rains in spring and late autumn, make 

 the transport of forest materials more difficult on 

 wheels. The black soil gets wet through for some 

 eighteen inches, and the cartage of heavy loads is 

 difficult. Only in summer, the end of spring, and 

 beginning of autumn, are the roads passable for burdens ; 

 the dried soil becomes even and hard, and at this time 

 loads can go with the same ease as on a macadamised 

 road. Hains during the summer produce nmd about 

 three inches deep, but this dries soon ; one or two sunny 

 days, and a strong wind, and the road becomes practicable 

 this is the time most suitable for transporting burdens, 

 and consequently forest materials. But at this time field 

 labours take place, and the want of means make the 

 transport of forest materials unprofitable; the end of 

 summer and the beginning of autumn, set free from field 

 labours a considerable number of transport means, but at 

 this time commences the cartage of the products of rural 

 economy to the ports on the Dnieper, and only after the 

 sale of these products are the transport means free. In 

 order not to return home empty from the ports of the 

 Dnieper forest materials are bought and taken back to 

 Ekatherinoslav, and the neighbouring governments. 



' By such means the forests of the government of 

 Ekatherinoslav meet with difficulties in transportation, so 

 that they sometimes remain partially unsold, notwith- 

 standing the general want of forest materials. 



' In the government of Ekatherinoslav the competition 

 of different substitutes for wood has attained greater 

 development than in other governments : stone buildings, 

 huts built of clay and kizik (cow's dung), lougia, reeds, dry 

 grass (called burian), straw, coal, and anthracite, and 

 finally with a long and hot summer, and winters not cold, 

 these are competitors with forest materials in this govern- 

 ment. But notwithstanding this competition the prices 

 of forest materials are constantly rising. Although in the 

 eastern part of the Ekatherinoslav government, and the 



