FOREST INDUSTRIES. 141 



landed proprietors, in the northern parts of the Russian 

 empire. Consequently, an immense quantity of turpentine 

 must be procured in this way during the course of the 

 year, both for public and private consumption. It pro- 

 duces a great advantage also in affording in-door work for 

 the boor during the severity of a long and dismal winter.' 



SECTION C. HOUSE BUILDING AND CARPENTRY. 



Throughout the district, as is generally the case I had 

 almost said throughout the whole of Russia the houses 

 are built of logs laid one upon another, and caulked with 

 moss, those of adjacent sides crossing each other a little 

 way from the corner j and wood is the only fuel used. I 

 have visited at houses elegantly furnished, which must 

 have been done at great expense, and where the dress, 

 accomplishments, rank, and bearing of the inmates and 

 their visitors were such as one migkt expect to meet with 

 only in the more fashionable resorts of Central Europe, 

 but where the houses were only such as I have referred to 

 elegant and somewhat imposing in their external aspect, 

 for which the mode of structure offers facilities ; but inter- 

 nally even the public rooms had walls and partitions of 

 slightly hewn logs, without covering of paint, tapestry, or 

 paper. 



In these the furniture was made to some extent of 

 imported woods rosewood and mahogany but largely of 

 the forest produce of the locality. 



In Vologda, and in all the forest lands of the north- 

 eastern districts, all the world is plotnik a carpenter, and 

 these carpenters, who work in wood in every possible 

 fashion, manufacture the most delicate articles as well as 

 the rudest, with their hatchets alone, and hardly ever 

 using their saws. Their ability and cunning workman- 

 ship, remarks Wahl, are qualities not to be met with in 

 any foreign country, and must excite the admiration of 

 all beholders. 



