The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-05-31
TERM g.


Ihe Steppes are the bottoms of an
cient seas which once rolled over a
large portion of the consnent of Asia
rises I'm tumnltuons waves, not of We
ter. bni of sand, the particles of which
might be lIkened to spray, but that
they burn ike sparks of fire. The
terror inspired by these storms is such
as TO deter even the most adventurous
merchant from travelling the Steppes
in summer, unless under the most
pressing necessity. Their aspect, when
covered with snow, is described AZ
strangely awful and oppressive. ex-
hibi ing the expanse of the ocean,
without its animation, and the solitude
Of the Arctic regions without their
sublimity. Woe to the traveller who
is overtaken by a snowstorm in the
Steppes; his doom is inevitable, and
bodies of troops, which have assailed
the perilous task of marching across
the Steppes in winter, have been over
taken and overwhelmed by a tempest
of snow. Dreary as are the Steppes
in winter, their aspect in spring is not
without certain beauty. The veget-
alton is rapid, and they are clothed
with short vivid green grass, inter-
spersed with scarlet poppies, wild tu-
lips, yellow larkspur. geraniums. and
many kinds of cruciferous and legu-
minous plants. The oases of Central
Asia afford a striking contrast to the
surrounding desOlation, and the cities
which i'm past ages sprang up i'm these
favored spots, abounded in everything
that could crafty the heart of the
Asiatir. Even in their decay they
possess attractions which excite the
enthusiasm of travellers, and BOkhara
Balkh, Khokan, Samareand, khiva
and Tashkend are still celebrated for
their babbling streams, bubbling foun-
tains, delightful gardens, and deep
outrageous groves. The oases are
very carefully cultivated. Waterm6e
ons are grown over extensive areas,
and afford the most grateful allevia-
ton to the often overpowering heat;
fruits Of various kinds are raised in
great perfection and tobacco of the
finest quality is produced I'm such
abundance as to place this necessary
Of life for an As:atic within the reach
of the poorest individual.
The gardens, Mr.. Schuyler says, con-
stitute the beauty of this land. The
long rows Of poplar and elm trees, tine
vineyards, and the dark foliage of the
pomegranite. transports one at once TO
the plains Of LombaTdy or the South
of France. In the early spring the
cities and their vicinity are one mass
OF white and pink with the bloom Of
almond. peach, cherry, apricot and
plum trees. which perfume the air for
miles around. These gardens are the
favorite resort of the people in sum-
mer, and well they may be. Tor no.
where are fruits more abundant, and
of some varieties nowhere are they
better. The apricots and nectarines it
would be impossible to surpass. The
peaches, though small in size, are said
to possess a higher flavor than the
best of England. The large blue
plums of Bokhara are celebrated over
the whole of Asia. There are in COM
mon cultivation ten varieties of melons
In that hot climate they are consider
ed particularly wholesome, and in
snmmsr form one of the principle ar
ticles Of food. An acre Of land pro-
perly prepared will produse in ordi-
nary years, from 1000 to 5000 and i'm
good years double that quantity
[Quarterly Magazine.