204 
Variation in the Price and Supplij of Wheat. 
The emancipation of the serfs lias been a temporary cSTise of iuterniption of 
the corn trade. Also the reduction of ptrotit on exportation of grain, which 
used to reach ISs. a quarter, tlie wealthy mcrcliants having the monojioly of 
mfurmation (in the absence of the telegraph), which enabled them to dictate 
their own terms to jirodncers. 
The export trade suffered from the fall in prices in spring, 18G2, after large 
imports in the preceding year, and this is likely to be the case in the year 
following a ])eriod of great demand in England and France. 
The transit by the Dneister to Odessa from the districts which export most 
com is 300 miles ; that by river and rail to Triest from Hungary is 800 miles. 
The produce of the latter will be chiefly consumed hy Austria, Silesia, and 
Saxony, except in dear times. 
l,o6o,OOOZ. is about to be spent in the improvement of Odessa ; a contract 
for clearing the port is negotiating; and 8,000,000/. of British capital are about 
to be invested in a railway to Kieff. 
Cajjital is being expended in machinery, &c., by the landowners. 
ODESSA. llEroKT by Mu. Coksul-Genkral Murray foe 18C3. — 
During the early ]jart of the year the corn trade at Odessa was very dull, 
but it improved towards the close of the autumn. It is probable that on 
completion of the railway to Kishinieff, now in progress, the trade in grain 
here will not only become larger than ever, but that Southern Ilussia will 
be able to supply corn to England at prices which will defy all competition 
from other countries. 
The number of sailing ships imder I'ritisli flags continues to diminish, as 
merchants can charter Greek and Italian vessels much cheaper. The number 
of steamers also augments, and their tonnage is larger than formerly. 
The arrangements so long pending bL'tween the land owners and peasantry 
have generally been satisfactorily settled in this part of the coimtry. The 
price of land, however, has ihllen considerably, ami tliere are a great many fine 
estates in the market without buyers. 
Agricultural machinery continues to be largely imported from England. 
The most remarkable feature for the past year has been the numerous 
British railway and other companies tendering for contracts in Russia, and the 
steady increase of tlie trade and relations between Bussia and Great Britain, as 
well as the increase of good I'eeling generally observable on the part of the 
Bussiaus towards the English eslablishcd here. 
In conclusion, the prospects of Odessa look brighter than they have done for 
some years past. Owing to the railways already commenced, and the new 
Universit}', this city is likely to rise rapidly in size, importance, and com- 
mercial prosperity. It must remain for many years to come the principal 
liort of export for the rich produce of Boland and Southern Kussia, as well 
as the chief port of import for railway p)lant and agricultural steam ma- 
cbiner}'. 
18G4. — The scarcity of agricultural labourers to cultivate the immense 
tracts of rich corn lands which remain follow year after year, from the want of 
means to bring them under cultivation, has at last attracted the serious atten- 
tion of landed proprietors, and they are beginning to try to remedy the evils of 
a scanty population by tlie introduction of steam machinery in the cultivation 
of land. As, however, this method of farming is quite new, many and very 
serious difticulties are met with. Machines will break when iar away from a 
workshop. The peasants have to learn the way to use modern agricultural 
implements. Broprietors generally cannot at first imagine that an engineer to 
work their machinery is indispensable, and they try to work it themselves, 
and only become convinced of their inability, and the necessity of having 
cdiiipeteut workmen, when they see boilers burst and engines blown to ptieces. 
All these difficulties, however, will soon disappear, and there can be no doubt 
