56 Botanical and Horticultural Tour 



their liorses to profit, as well as their venture, and then begin 

 their gardening operations, first by early hot-beds, but, as soon 

 as the ground is thawed, by general cultivation. When the 

 winter sets in, they collect their debts, and go back to their 

 respective villages, waiting for the return of their migratory 

 season ; for spring it cannot be called. They are a most indus- 

 trious race of men, and spread over almost every part of the 

 empire which is somewhat advanced in the comforts of life ; even 

 as far as Poland, and down to Abo, on the Gulf of Bothnia. 

 A few, of course, remain in the great towns during the winter ; 

 but they must be viewed more as shopkeepers than gardeners j 

 for their time is spent in vending vegetables, which they preserve 

 through the severe season in a masterly way ; so that the green 

 cellars in Petersburg are well worth visiting in the months of 

 December, January, and February ; keeping, however, the climate 

 in view, and not expecting to meet with a counterpart of Covent 

 Garden. 



Rostoff is 797 wersts, and Ouglitch 732 wersts, distant from 

 Petersburg : each werst being 3500 ft. and the gardeners travel 

 this distance (nearly 700 English miles) twice every year. 



The young peas (see Vol. XII. p. 95.) I sent you, and about 

 which you enquire, are dried in the interior, as labour is too va- 

 luable, and the demand for vegetables too extensive, to allow of their 

 preparation near the capital. The process, as far as I can learn, 

 is, after being shelled, to throw them into boiling water, and just 

 scald them ; next to put them on linen and let them dry, but not 

 in the sun, as that would bleach them ; occasionally turning them 

 over, to prevent their moulding. Lastly, they must be put on 

 paper, and dried on the top of the oven, as, by keeping them in 

 the inside of it, though a cool oven, they would damp ; or, in 

 preference, they are put on a flue used as a bedstead, where the 

 Russians deposit a bed and pillows, and, employing it generally 

 for a siesta, enjoy the luxury of the warmth it imparts, which 

 rises up about them, and lulls them to repose. The migration 

 of the working class is not confined to gardeners, but carpenters, 

 bricklayers, masons, &c., follow the same plan. 



Cronstadt, May 6. 1836. 



Art. III. Botanical and Horticultural Tour in Lombardy. 

 By Giuseppe Manetti. 



(^Continued from Vol. XII. p. 450.) 



The Garden of Casa UlricJi, near Milan. — This beautiful 

 garden contains about 20 Milanese perches ; and it was laid out 

 by a German, about 20 years ago. The present gardener, Signor 

 Mose Mavari, is however, improving it every day. There is a 



