THE NEVA. 9 



wild clover, and for some years hay crops are taken. The 

 red clover gradually gives place to white clover, which 

 grows abundantly where woods have been burnt, and the 

 Timothy grass gives place to some extent to other grasses 

 less nutritive to horses and cattle, but which still yield a 

 valuable hay. After a time the same routine is repeated. 



On some farms the ground is divided into four, five, or 

 six sections, each of which in succession is planted with 

 potatoes, with appropriate manure, or sown with grain. 

 Winter-sown rye yields a beautiful crop, but the risks 

 from early frost are so great as to frighten many from 

 adopting this method of culture. 



When the winter-grown rye makes what is deemed too 

 great progress, it is eaten down with cattle or mown, by 

 which operations the number of stoles is probably 

 increased. If in spring the crop threatens to fail, it is 

 generally ploughed up, and the ground left in fallow. 



Though damage is done to the hay by rain, a copious 

 rainfall immediately before cutting the grass is hailed 

 with delight as greatly facilitating the work of the mower. 

 The mowing is generally done during the night, through- 

 out which there is abundant light in July in this region. 

 The cut grass is turned and tossed by women the following 

 day, and by nightfall or next morning it is fit for stocking 

 in hay-cocks. 



The German colonists give more special attention to the 

 growth of potatoes, and only introduce the other cultures 

 in so far as this can be subordinated to the successful 

 growth of the potato. 



Four hours' steaming brings the traveller from St. 

 Petersburg to Schlusselburg, the fortress of that name 

 being situated on an island in the river, the town on the 

 shores of Lake Ladoga, from which the river takes its rise. 

 The Neva has a course of about 40 miles, the medium 

 breadth of its main stream is about 1500 feet, and the 

 depths of its mid channel, near St. Petersburg, is about 

 50 feet. 



