THE NEVA. 9 
wild clover, and for some years hay crops are taken. The 
red clover gradually gives place to white clover, which 
grows abundantly where woods have been burnt, and the 
Timothy grass gives place to some extent to other grasses 
less nutritive to horses and cattle, but which still yield a 
valuable hay. After a time the same routine is repeated. 
; On some farms the ground is divided into four, five, or 
six sections, each of which in succession is planted with 
potatoes, with appropriate manure, or sown with grain. 
Winter-sown rye yields a beautiful crop, but the risks 
from early frost are so great as to frighten many from 
adopting this method of culture. 
When the winter-grown rye makes what is deemed too 
great progress, it is eaten down with cattle or mown, by 
which operations the number of stoles is probably 
increased. If in spring the crop threatens to fail, it is 
generally ploughed up, and the ground left in fallow. 
Though damage is done to the hay by rain, a copious 
rainfall immediately before cutting the grass is hailed 
with delight as greatly facilitating the work of the mower. 
The mowing is generally done during the night, through- 
out which there is abundant light in July in this region. 
The cut grass is turned and tossed by women the following 
day, and by nightfall or next morning it is fit for stocking 
in hay-cocks. 
The German colonists give more special attention to the 
growth of potatoes, and only introduce the other cultures 
in so far as this can be subordinated to the successful 
growth of the potato. 
Four hours’ steaming brings the traveller from St. 
Petersburg to Schlusselburg, the fortress of that name 
being situated on an island in the river, the town on the 
shores of Lake Ladoga, from which the river takes its rise. 
The Neva has a course of about 40 miles, the medium 
breadth of its main stream is about 1500 feet, and the 
depths of its mid channel, near St. Petersburg, is about 
50 feet. 
