350 Br. W. F. Mume — Notes on Russian Geology — 



hailing from districts south of the Poltava government. Such a 

 research could not fail to be of great interest, when compared with 

 the results already obtained by students of the problems of Central 

 Russian agriculture. 



Prof. Krasnov holds the same views, and claims that they are 

 materially confirmed by the fact that in Turkestan, the Crimea, the 

 Caucasus, and America the transition districts between the dry 

 steppe and moist forest-land, under climatic influences resembling 

 those of South Eussia, possess soil structures similar to the Black 

 Earth, and present the same phases in their alternation. In addition 

 the flora can be readily paralleled with those of the steppe itself. 



The original virgin steppe is fast disappearing before the advance 

 of cultivation. Nevertheless, here and there a few traces of its 

 original characters are preserved. The typical forms are Stipa 

 pennata, Stipa capillata, Campanula Sibirica, Falcaria Rivini, and 

 GypsopMla paniculata. At a point in the south of the Poltava 

 government, Amygdalus nana and Prunus cJiamoecerasus form low- 

 growing but impenetrable bushes, so that it is evident that the 

 present conditions are but a poor indication of the wealth of vege- 

 tation which once covered these plains (Dokoutchaieff, loc. cit.). 

 The cultivation above-mentioned has, no doubt, wielded an enormous 

 influence in the production of those serious changes which are 

 causing such anxiety to Russian agriculturists. The virgin steppe 

 easily sucked up the atmospheric moisture which fell upon its surface, 

 whereas on the ploughed land the rain-water collects in the form of 

 minor torrents, sweeps away the rich earth, carrying it down into 

 the river valleys and alluvial flats. The result is very noticeable 

 along the banks of the Dnieper during the summer-time, a distinctly- 

 marked Black Earth forming a conspicuous object in the low cliffs 

 which skirt the river for many miles. In addition, the Black Earth 

 is much more liable to redistribution by ^olian action, every breath 

 of wind tending to carry away a small cloud of dust with it. This 

 may be easily proved by direct observation, the traveller who crosses 

 the steppes having his face blackened on the side which is windward, 

 whereas the other remains perfectly clean. 



This movement has only one result, viz. that the Black Earth is 

 moved from one steppe to another, excepting where it meets with 

 some obstacle, or is carried outside the plain region altogether. 

 Ear more destructive has been the forest denudation in the higher 

 reaches of the river, the flooded waters, having lost the check which 

 formerly kept them in bounds, carrying away the rich soil without 

 offering any compensating advantage. This destruction, due to 

 human agency, is in strong contrast to the gradual and natural 

 advance of trees into the steppe area, an advance which is in close 

 connection with the denudation of that area. 



It has been pointed out by students of forestry in Russia that the 

 woods on the steppe are of two classes : 1st, Conifers, represented 

 mostly by firs ; and 2nd, the leafy (deciduous) trees, principally oak, 

 ash, birch, and hornbeam. The Conifers generally form forests, 

 often of considerable extent, which occupy the alluvial plains of 



