METEOROLOGY. 5 



sandstones of different ages, and other rocks not mentioned as occurring in that portion of 

 Eussia. 



In the classification of the relative fertility of soils in the various provinces of Russia, those 

 here described are grouped as follows : ' ' Soil in general of great fertility ; Bessarabia, (Koursk.*) 

 A large portion of the soil very fertile ; Ekatherinoslaw, Taurido, Kherson, Stavropol, Don 

 Cossacks country. Soil very meagre and ungrateful, either from its rare qualities or from the 

 climate; Astrakhan." In another table is given the proportion of meadow to arable land in 

 each province, with the following figures to each hundred : "Koursk, 24.5; Bessarabia, 92.3; 

 Ekatherinoslaw, 108.2; Kherson, 142.9; Taurido, 213.3; Stavropol, 533.3; Astrakhan, 533.3." 

 And of forest land the proportions are: "Koursk, JJ^; Bessarabia, ^f^; Taurido, y|^; Don Cos- 

 sacks country, j-g-j; Kherson, Yio'> Ekatherinoslaw, y-J-j-; Stavropol, j^-^ ; Astrakhan, js^o^-" 



The land actually under cultivation is in the following proportions: " Koursk, 60.7 per cent.; 

 Bessarabia, 30.1; Kherson, 20.9; Ekatherinoslaw, 19.7; Don Cossacks country, 15.G; Taurido, 

 12.8; Stavropol 5.6; Astrakhan, 1." Of the remainder only a very small portion is estimated 

 to be occupied by forests, and it is estimated that "in the eastern and southern provinces, and 

 in all the countries of the steppes in general, more than half the uncultivated land, and 

 frequently more than two-thirds of it, is used for pasture." 



The following general remarks might be applied almost verbatim to Nebraska: 



"This region," (the steppes,) "which occupies about a fifth of the whole possessions 

 of the Russian empire in Europe, or more than twice the extent of France, is, both from its 

 immense extent and from its geographical position, called to take an important part in the gradual 

 development of the jaroductive forces of Russia, and deserves on that account our particular 

 consideration. The opinions which we have heard expressed with regard to the agricultural 

 capabilities of these countries are various and conflicting. Some consider the larger portion of 

 the steppes as unfertilizable deserts; others, dazzled b)^ the prosperity of some isolated colonies, 

 believe nothing wanting but hands and judicious culture to convert them into rich and fertile 

 places. 



"We have always thought it probable that the truth must be somewhere betwixt these two 

 extreme opinions, and we have been confirmed in our surmise by the perusal of a paper by 

 Koeppa. Amonsgt other peculiarities of the steppes, a very prominent and the most dis- 

 tinctive one is the absence of timber. In some places the stratum of soil proper for vegetation 

 is not deep enough to admit of trees taking i-oot; in others it is the vigorous growth of the 

 grasses, which prevents the development of forest vegetation unaided by the care of man. 

 Opinions difi'er greatly as to the possibility of wooding it anew. Upon comparing all the 

 information we possess upon this point, it may, we conceive, be laid down as certain that in part of 

 the steppes sylviculture is impossible, or at least too difficult and costly to warrant the attempt, 

 whilst in other portions partial plantations and sowing would be a very practicable undertaking, 

 holding out a fair promise of a large ultimate benefit. The most suitable localities for such 

 imjjrovements would be the banks of rivers and the numerous ravines formed by the infiltration 

 of rain water. 



"The upper stratum of the soil presents every variety of composition, from shifting sands 

 and saline impregnations to the most fertile composts. As this stratum generally rests upon a 

 basis not very accessible to infiltration, it is upon its thickness that the degree of its fertility 

 depends. Where it is not deep enough to retain the moisture, it easily becomes saturated with 



~ This, though north of latitude 49°, is compared with Fort Benton, having a climate colder and drier. 



