CORN MARKET OP HAMBURGH. 347 



munication having been established by means of the Spree, 

 and of artificial cuts and sluices between the Elbe and the 

 Oder, and between the latter and the Vistula. Thus a con- 

 siderable part of the produce of Silesia, destined for foreign 

 markets, and even some of that of Poland, finds its way to 

 Hamburgh. By another canal, communication is also obtained 

 with the river Trave, and consequently with Lubeck and the 

 Baltic, thus saving the dangerous and difficult passage of the 

 Sound. From the wide extent of country thus traversed, corn 

 can be easily and safely conveyed to the general depot at Ham- 

 burgh, where a ready market awaits it. Notwithstanding the 

 amount of trade carried on, there are no docks or quays at this 

 port; but vessels moor in the river outside a series of piles 

 driven into the ground, a short distance from the shore. There 

 is a sort of inner harbour formed by an arm of the Elbe, which 

 runs into the city, where small craft lie and discharge their 

 cargoes. Most of the Danish corn is consigned to Hamburgh ; 

 but this has not hitherto been of great amount. 



Continuing our inquiries in the north of Europe, we find 

 that several parts of Russia have sent us large supplies of 

 corn, and will doubtless continue so to do. Petersburg!), the 

 capital of Russia, has the most extensive general foreign traffic 

 of any city in the north of Europe. The number of vessels 

 annually entering the port varies from a thousand to sixteen 

 hundred, of which the English are by far the most numerous. 

 The Russians traffic with foreigners at Petersburg!), either 

 personally or by their factors, during the winter months, and 

 the goods are delivered in May, (when the shipping season 

 commences,) or in the three succeeding months. 



In the case of produce brought from northern countries, it 

 will of course happen, that the time of its arrival here will de- 

 pend more on the breaking up of ice, and on the earlier or later 

 arrival of " the shipping season," than on any considerations 

 relating to the harvest. In those countries, the close of harvest 

 is not only the season for a suspension of agricultural labour, 

 but is one in which foreign commerce must also be put a stop 

 to ; therefore it is that autumn or winter purchases of corn in 

 northern ports are made with relation to the following spring. 



The corn-trade of Petersburgh is of considerable importance, 

 although the greater part of the wheat is of inferior quality. 

 There are three varieties of wheat, known as azemaia, or soft 

 wheat; kubanka, or hard wheat; and Russian, or inferior 

 small-grained wheat. The last, which is the most abundant, 

 is of a very dark colour, and, though sound, is unfit for the 



