tains. In proportion as the geological subsoil changes in this way, a great number of the 

 plants which are common in the more westerly regions, disappear, while new ones, 

 especially with a more distinct subarctic stamp, creep in. The distance from Minusinsk 

 to Kushabar does not exceed 120 wersts, but there is a considerable difference in the 

 natural conditions of the two places. The village of Kushabar itself is grandly situated 

 in a rugged, partly wooded country, on the edge of the forest zone, facing the snowy 

 mountains to the south, and the country around is considered to be one of the best 

 residences in all southern Siberia. It is situated on the boundary between the fertile 

 Siberian soil and the Sayansk eruptive rocks. Here the fertile and well cultivated black 

 soil area of the Siberian plain-land end, and in front extend immense areas of the most 

 impenetrable type of Siberian virgin forest, called by the Russians the «b 1 a c k» or 

 «m o i s t t a i g a», extending nearly unbroken over thousands of wersts as far as the 

 Amoor Province, and forming a complete barrier against any progress of human culture 

 this way. 



In places, especially on level-land, there is often a remarkably sudden transition 

 between the steppe and the taiga. As cut with a knife, the border of the primeval 

 forest extends in a direct line; only a few steps, and the traveller from the sunny, open 

 steppe enters the^moist twilight of the virgin forest. 



The climate here is very moist, showers occur at short intervals, and the tran- 

 sition from the dry climate in the more westerly steppe regions is very sudden. In spring, 

 the weather is rather variable in this part of southern Siberia, and severe storms may 

 arise suddenly, accompanied by great changes of temperature. In the first half of May, 

 the temperature rises quickly from some degrees of frost to towards 30° C. of heat. In 

 the second half of May, the weather is sunny and hot, the spring advancing very quickly. 



As an instance of the composition of the vegetation here are given in the following 

 a list of plants found by me on a dry and moderate dry mountain-side consisting of 

 granophyr, just outside Kushabar. 



Betnla verrucosa, Pinus silvestris, Populiis tremula.Soibus Aucuparia, Rosa aciciilaris, Vegetation 

 Crataegus sanguinea, Cornus alba, Ribes rubrum, Carlina vulgaris var. nebrodensis, ^t Kushabar. 

 Woodsia ilvensis, Epipaclis latifolia, Verbascum Thapsus, Arabis incarnala, Agrinionia 

 pilosa, Arenaria serpy Hi folia, Myosotis intermedia, Potentilla argenlea, Potentilla 

 noivegica, Achillea Millefolium, Achillea impaiiens, Hypericum perforatum, Hypericum 

 hirsutum. Erysimum c.heiranlhoides. Lappa tomentosa, Ciisium lanceolatum, Tanacetum 

 vulgare, Carum Carvi, Campanula glomerata, Carex pediformis, Calaminiha Acinos, 

 Lotus corniculatus, Fragaria vesca, Rumex Acetosella, Rubus saxalilis, Veronica 

 Chamaedrys, Veronica agrestis. Polygonum dumetorum, Chelidonium majus var. 

 grandiflorus, Rumex arifolitis, Gentiana macrophylla, Taraxacum spec, Euphrasia tatarica, 

 Euphrasia hiitella, Euphrasia Jaeschkei, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria uliginosa, Galium 

 boreale, Planlago major, Plantago media, Urtica dioica, Iri folium pratense, Tri folium 

 repens, Trifolium medium, Alchemilla minor, Alchemilla pasloralis, Polygala comosum 

 forma, Linaria vulgaris, Sagina procumbens, Daclylis glomerata, Primula elaiior var. 



A 3.3 



