quantity of rain", to this end the author advises the extirpation of weeds 

 in their initial stage, the destruction of crust on the surface by means 

 of harrowing etc.-- identical measures recommended by A. A. Shishkin. 



P. F. Barakow also recommends measures very similar to those of 

 A. A. Shishkin. 



His views are as follows: 



1) The strictest possible preservation of forests and steppe silvicul- 

 ture, especially in the form of protective plantations. 



2) Forbidding the tillage of steppe declivities of valleys and 

 forestry. 



3) Irrigation of the steppe by the aid of running water and especially 

 by means of the retention of snow and snow-water (the watering of mea- 

 dow land). 



4) Diminishing the area of ploughing and enlarging the meadow 

 and hay fields by means of artificially sowing grass seed. 



5) Improving generally agricultural technic, and above all introdu- 

 cing a rational working of black fallow, which is 'he corner-stone of 

 steppe farming, and depends entirely upon a timely — that is to say as 

 early and at the same time as deep as possible tillage of the soil 

 (black fallow). 



6) The introduction of farmyard manure, not only in order to enrich the 

 soil straight away with nourishing matter — azote and phosphoric acid, 

 minute quantities of which undoubtedly exist in the soil, - but also in 

 order to save moisture and economise in the expenditure of it by the 

 plants themselves: the dung being previously applied in the form of a 

 pall or covering. 



7) Correct rotation of crops requiring the utmost diversity of 

 culture, especially leguminous (beans) and thorough ploughing plants. 



8) Improving the sowing seed, by means of carefully selecting, clea- 

 ning and sorting them. 



Comparing the above with A. A. Shishkins propositions we find the 

 following novelties; prohibiting ploughing on the declivities of valleys and 

 the retention of snow on the fields. As regards the accumulation of snow, 

 this question was raised at the end of 1890. 



P. J. Kostichew and P. A. Barakow strongly supported the idea of 

 making use of accumulated snow as a means of fighting against drought 

 and worked up the question very completely. 



At that period many authors dealt with this theme. It was sugge- 

 sted, that fields should be enclosed by living hedges being constructed 

 at a distance of 23 yards from one another (Kostichew), the rearing of 



