Variation in the Price and Supply of Wheat. 
245 
Tegion in the world. But the vicissitudes of successive invasions to which the 
country has for centuries been subjected, on account of its fiat nature, and 
the want of fortified positions, have denuded it of trees, and as no others have 
teen planted, there is nothing to attract moisture and retain it. The emigra- 
tion of the Tartar races, and the liberation of the peasantry from serfdom, 
which have deprived the proprietors of labouring hands, have given the finishing 
stroke to the well-being of this unfortuuate country, and we now see it reduced 
to the last extremity. 
The government have done very wisely in ordering that every district in 
Russia should, from time to time, bring its i^roducts and manufactures to au 
" Exhibition," for the distances between the farms or liamlets (for there are no 
large villages) are so great, that it would be impossible for the inhabitants to know 
what improvements are being made in other parts of this vast extent of country. 
Should no future political revolution take place in the Crimea, the German 
element will one day predominate to the exclusion of all other ; for this hard- 
working, persevering race overcome all difficulties, and manage to thrive where 
the Russians and ev^en Tartars fail. 
Beet-root, from which Russia now obtains its supply of sugar, has become a 
most important vegetable ; the cabbage furnishes the food of two-thirds of the 
population, in some shape or another, winter and summer. 
; There is no aiiparent reason why the Crimea should not produce the finest 
and most abundant crops of cotton, for the soil is, in general, excellent, and the 
climate quite as hot, if not hotter, than any part of America. This plant will 
also succeed very well where it is not watered, as it does in Syria, where no 
rain falls during the whole summer, so that the want of rain would not be an 
obstacle. In Cyprus, also, cotton grows very well during the great droughts 
to which that island is subject. Tobacco gi-ows in the Crimea very well, and 
why should not cotton ? 
The same may be said of silk, for the specimens of cocoons and thrown silk 
were exceedingly good and fine, but the specimens are the results of the ex- 
periments of the German colonists ; although silkworms have been reared for 
years in the Crimea, the Tartar emigration has nearly destroyed the cultiva- 
tion, for the worms were reared by the peasants, who were all Tartars. 
The breed of horses is of the small Tartar breed, and not remarkable for 
anything except their powers of endurance. 
ST. PETERSBURGH, 1867.— Freights have ruled as follows :— 
Ports and Goods. 
May. 
June.; 
July. 
Aug. 
Sept 
Oct. 
s. d. 
S. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 

8. d. 
s. d. 
London : Tallow per ton 
18 0 
19 0 
21 0 
18 0 
17 0 
„ Wheat per qr. 
3 0 
3 9 
3 3 
3 9 
3 6 
3 3 
„ Oats .. „ 
2 4 
2 6 
2 3 
2 3 
2 6 
Marine Insurance. — The usual rates of marine insurance at St. Petersburgh 
are 1 to 6 per cent, in the case of sailing-vessels, and J to 3 per cent, in the case 
of steamers, according to the time of the year, the premiums rising about the 
month of August. 
The shipping season commenced with the breaking up of the ice on the 
^a'rd tto-^ ' closed on the 10 (22) November, having been shorter by two 
days than in 1865. 
The tendency of Russian produce to cheapen is one of the natural conse- 
quences of improved communication. Formerly the produce exported from 
St. Petersburgh had been grown two years previously : thus, the wheat, the 
hemp, and the tallow of 1860 were only exported in 1862. Now, however, the 
inland stocks are considerably reduced ; and at least half the cereals grown in 
1866 will be available for 1867, 
