91 — 
9. When we take into consideration how the sheets 
of water and the river-systems are drying up") while the 
dryness of the climate increases, it may almost be regarded 
as certain that the western and northern forms will ere long 
cease to reproduce themselves successfully in the Aralo-Caspian 
countries, and that forms already found there will begin 
to die out. On the other hand, it is beyond doubt that the 
southern and south-eastern desert-forms will continue to 
extend their zone towards the north and the west as a 
result of the environment. Saxaul, Elaeagnus hortensis and 
some others are at present migrating towards the north, 
whereas species such as Populus nigra and P. alba are 
disappearing from the southern latitudes where they occur- 
red; this proves, that this period is already drawing near.” 
Borszczow’s memoir ends with some brief notes on the 
Cryptogams which, on the whole, are not specially important. 
Parmelia esculenta occurs sporadically in the deserts along 
with a few Lycoperdaceae. 
In spite of its antiquity, Borszczow’s work has been 
dealt with at considerable length because, on the whole, it 
conveys an interesting picture of the Aralo-Caspian countries. 
The relation of the flora to that of the surrounding areas is 
especially well defined, hence I have included the Stipa- 
steppe, which otherwise does not come within the scope of 
this work. As far as I know, Borszczow’s work is the only 
one that treats the flora of Aralo-Caspia from that point 
of view, but it may be that other important works have 
been overlooked on account of the inaccessibility of Russian 
literature. 
The next work known to me in this connection is: 
A. A. ANTONOW: “On the Plant-formations of the Trans- 
caspian territory’ ’) 1892. 
') According to Barr (1855), the phase of drying up is now past and 
a condition of stability has long ago set in. Comp. ScHwaRrz and BERG, 
above page 14. 
*) “Territory” is here given as the translation for “oblast”. In 
Borszczow, “area” is given; this author uses it as corresponding to 
AnTonow’s “formation.” ANTONOw himself uses the word "formation." 
