318 [Assembly 



nades, which were soon followed by numerous elegant villas. We 

 present a rapid sketch of the gardens. At the distance of some 

 kilometres around St. Petersburg, the soil appeared to us ungrateful 

 and difficult of cultivation. The vegetation is rickety, stinted; the 

 woods chiefly willows, Aldeis, xMapies, Aspens, and especially Pines 

 and Birch. All these trees attain but a moderate height, except in 

 the imperial parks and estates of the principal lords; but by way ol 

 revenge the woods and swamps are filled with an infinite number of 

 bushes bearing berries. Among them we noticed the Rubus Arcticus, 

 of Linna-us, Raspberry, (the Chamceraorus,) and also the Vaccinium, 

 (Whortleberry.) The fruit of the Rubus forms an article of consid- 

 erable trade in the city, where they eat them as we do Strawberries. 

 Notwithstanding this little fertility, }et the marsh grounds near the 

 city yield well, and supply the city with vegetables. We examined 

 the soil, and found it to be a silicious clay. The absence of forests 

 permits the northern winds to exert their melancholy influence over 

 the territory of the city — the climate is rude and very changeable. 

 In common years the winter has 162 days of frost and continual ice; 

 spring continues from 40 to 60 days, and it freezes regularly every 

 morning and evening; summer has 143 days. The mean of greatest 

 cold is 27*^' Centigrade== — 16^ of Fahrenheit; but there are always 

 days in which the mercury is at 30 to 33 Centigrade=lo — 20^ — 

 of Fahrenheit. The heat on the other hand is extremely great in 

 summer, in June and July, the mercury being from 30 to 33 Centi- 

 grade =to 86^, and 9P of Fahrenheit. Frost begins ordinarily 

 about the end of September and lasts till the end of April, and even 

 to the middle of May. Tt may be said that there are but two sea- 

 sons in St. Petersburg — winter and summer; for one can hardly call 

 a few fine days spring, while the river Neva still presents its solid 

 roads of ice. It is only in the beginning of May that the first luke 

 warmth is felt, then vegetation developes itself with an incredible 

 rapidity, and then in six or seven days in summer, which continues 

 until the fore part of August. Storms are very rare in summer; 

 those we saw were very short and not violent. One thing we have 

 no idea of in France, and that is the ravishing nights of St. Peters- 

 burg during the summer. Imagine a sort of mysterious half day- 

 light, soft, vapory, and I might stiy veloutee, (velvety) strong enough 

 for one to read and write by. in the open air, at all hours of night 

 in June and in part of July. We might say that the capitol enjoys 

 one day of two entire months duration." 



Mons. Masson gives full descriptions of the magnificmt gardens 

 and conservatories on the Island of Yelaguine, the private property^ 



