JOURNEY FROM St. PETERSBURG TO TZARITZ1N. 17

trees covered with branches from the furface of the ground tothe top ; and which never grow ftraight, nor to any confiderableheight.

The birch and linden-tree delight in this foil, and flourifh ingreat perfe£tion : the former could be eafily increafed by feeds,and might be ufed for many purpofes inftead of the oak. Thelime-tree of this country is very conducive to the general cul-ture of bees, and might fervc as the moft proper tree for grovesalong the road. This plantation, which was ordered bygovernment throughout the empire, and which had beeneffected for about two ftages from Saranfk, is ufually fo inuchnegleöed, or, if attended to, is done with fuch faplefs and weakplants, that they foon wither away, as they are not planted deepenough in the foil, and neither fupported nor manured. Hencethe neceffity of placing at leaft three vigorous plants in everytrench, and of making this in a dry foil, and fo deep that it maybe filled up tili within about nine inches of the furface aroundit : in this manner more moifture and fhade would cherifh theroot. It is farther neceffary to plant more than one row of treeson each fide of the road, that they may afford mutual protectionto each other.

Agriculture is moft lhamefully neglected in the govern-ment of Penfa ; and the boors, though pofTeffing the moft fer-tile country of the empire, live in miferable frnoky huts, and inthe moft difgufting ftate of uncleanlinefs. Nay, I muft confefs,that the inhabitants of this diftricl; did not appear to me themoft virtuous fubje&s of the crown ; and their condu£t towardsthe nobility, at the time of the rebellion excited by Pugatlhef,bears evidence of their depravity.

vol. 1. D Not-