322 METEOROLOGY. 
sandstones of different ages, and other rocks not mentioned as occurring in that porticn of 
Russia. 
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; Ekathérinoslaw, Tauride, 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; 
Ekathérinoslaw, 116.7; Kherson, 142.9; Tauride, 213.3; Stavropol, 533.3; Astrakhan, 533.3.” 
And of forest land the proportions are: Koursk, 4%; Bessarabia, ;$,; Tauride, v45; Don Cos- 
sacks country, 424; Kherson, +35; Ekathérinoslaw, 435; Stavropol, то; Astrakhan, тоу. 
The land actually under cultivation is in the following proportions: ‘‘ Koursk, 60.7 per cent. ; 
Bessarabia, 30.1; Kherson, 20.9; Ekathérinoslaw, 19.7; Don Cossacks country, 15.6; Tauride, 
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 ‘іп the eastern and southern provinces, and 
in all the countries of the steppes in general, more than half the uncultivated land, and fre- 
quently 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 а 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 productive 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 by 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 
Koeppen. Amongst 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 root; in others it is the vigorous growth of the 
grasses which prevents the development of forest vegetation unaided by the care of man. 
Opinions differ 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 improvements would be the banks of rivers and the numerous ravines formed by the 
infiltration of rain water. LS 
“Тһе 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 à 
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 490, is compared with Fort Benton, having a climate colder and drier. 
