9 English feet, and the maximum, 13 feet. The following will serve to show the nature of the stream at different winds; March, April, May.. June and July.. August, September, and October. English feet 9 11 12 to 13 During the inundations, the water diminishes in depth so much that whilst the banks of the Danube are overflowed, the depth at Sulina is the least. No vessel then of 110 tons (register measurement) can leave the river without lightering. This, however, also depends upon her construction. On the subject of the agriculture of the Danubian Provinces, Mr. Negropont observes, Moldavia is much more cultivated than Wallachia, comparatively with their respective extent of territory. The latter contains a great portion of her soil uncultivated, so much so that her powers or capabilities of producing are as yet unknown, whilst those of Moldavia have been proved. Were the soil of Wallachia as much cultivated as that of Moldavia, on the Danube, she could produce six times as much grain as is now produced by her rival neighbor. And yet Moldavia needs an improved system of agriculture, by which means her export Commerce would be also augmented. The evidence of this, it suffices to know that after a crop of grain has been reaped the land is permitted to be sterile, for at least two years, which is thought indispensable, and then resown with grain. The dressing of the cattle, which collects in the winter season, is thrown into the nearest stream, or in some useless spot, on account of the idea entertained that it would injure the crops if thrown on the fallow ground; and this perhaps is so, for they never plow the soil deeper than three or four inches, and in covering it with a dressing so shallow the dampness might escape with greater facility, and thus injure the crop. Notwithstanding, it has been observed that where the cattle graze there is an advantage to the crop. It is, however, but little probable that an amelioration will be made in the agriculture of the Provinces; and the greatest reason for this is the system of serfage in them. The serf being obliged to work a certain portion of land for his master the Bayard, he wishes to get through it as quickly and as easy as possible, without caring whether his work is well done or not. Another cause which prevents this is the custom of leasing lands only for three years, which prevents the farmer from introducing improvements. Yet it is proper to observe, that, latterly, some Bayards have introduced machinery from England for beating out grain. The usual method as used in the Provinces, for separating the grain from the chaff, is to place a quantity of grain in the straw in an inclosure, which from ten to fifteen horses are turned and driven round, until all the grain on the ground is damp; and if the season is a wet one during the harvest all the grain will be so. The machine for beating out the grain produces 20 per cent more of the same quality of straw, besides the facility of working under cover, and that also of having dry grain. The system of cultivation is nearly the same in Wallachia, only that it is This is doubtless owing to the winds. If strong from the east it rises, or descends, if westerly, The same occurs in the Bosphorus, and the current, which is generally into the Marmora, is turned into the Black Sea, by southerly winds. less advanced. The quantity of the grain in both the Provinces is not increased; and on a calculation of different seasons, not half of the grain of Moldavia can be sent to England; the remainder being of too inferior a quality, or in too bad a condition; and for the same reason not more than a fourth of the grain of Wallachia can be shipped to England. Formerly the inferior grain of Moldavia and Wallachia found an easy sale in Constantinople, but since 1842, when the exportation of Turkish grain was permitted by the government, the quantity produced in Turkey has so much increased, that Constantinople is now abundantly supplied from its own vicinity, and the cultivators of Wallachia and Moldavia must find means of improving the grains or they will soon find it difficult to dispose of it. In neither Province is it now customary to put the grain in holes in the ground, as formerly, for safe keeping, and consequently it has not the smell which in former times did so much injury to its sale. It is surprising that though the quality of wheat and barley is generally very inferior, the Indian corn (maize) of Moldavia is considered to be the very best in the world. The quantity produced has greatly increased in the last few years, and if it were needed for England, at the price of 24 shillings, or more, delivered in England, the production would be greatly augmented. The following table will serve to show the quantity of grain, of different kinds, exported from the two chief ports of Moldavia and Wallachia, in the last 12 years:— Year. 1837 1838 Indian Indian Wheat. Corn. Barley. Total. Total. 75,792 24,313 28,142 128,247 229,984 61,524 37,200 106,230 204,954 435,141 1839 148,117 133,762 281,871 143,184 57,172 42,822 243,178 525,057 1840 230,568 189,037 419,605 132,596 68,586 80,145 281,227 700,832 1841 100,845 35,394 136,239 84,692 26,818 20,954 132,464 268,703 1842 154,675 93,531 248,206 160,121 10,221 73,892 244,234 492,440 1843 107,634 140,662 248,206 322,343 121,309 168,669 612,321 864,208 1844 166,535 174,023 340,558 347,888 128,221 211,972 688,081 1,031,508 1845 180,032 157,101 337,133 314,940 1846 110,902 336,627 447,529 327,526 1847 180,860 318,605 499,465 390,818 619,115 300,552 1,310,485 1,836,647 1848 113,605 143,727 257,332 159,484 292,115 193,435 645,034 980,812 Grand 124,714 175,802 615,456 966,393 163,145 177,843 668,014 1,191,649 The quantity of rye and of barley exported from Galatz being of little importance it is not stated in the above; nor is the rye and millet of Ibraila. The preceding table indicates the progress of the exportation of grains in the last twelve years from the two ports mentioned in it; but the increase is rendered more evident by dividing that period into two portions, of six years each, when the following results are shown: The increase in the six last years is 5 per cent, in imperial quarters. Indian Corn, 1837 to 1842.... 44,212 .imperial quarters 597,062 The increase in 6 years, 110 per cent, or, imperial quarters....... 673,683 ..quarters 717,395 This table shows an increase in the last six years' exportation of some 50 Increase in last 6 years 180 per cent, or, imperial quarters...... 1,195,090 Indian Corn, 1837 to 1842...... .imperial quarters 224,310 1843 to 1848.. 1,448,619 Increase in 6 years, 545 per cent, or, imperial quarters..... 1,224,309 769,688 3,189,087 Increase in the last 6 six years, 215 per cent, or, imperial quarters.. In the last six years, the exportation has increased 255 per cent, upon that of the preceding six years three-and-a-half times. In drawing a comparison between the exportation of Galatz and Ibraila, we find that during the six first years Galatz exported Grain Imperial quarters.. And Ibraila. 1,412,918 1,250,304 Which shows that the amount of exportation of Galatz exceeds that of Ibraila one-seventh, or, imperial quarters, 161,614. During the second period of six years it is seen that Galatz exported grain to the amount of The following table shows the value of the articles exported from Galatz Besides grain, the only article of any importance exported is suet, of which the following is a table for the last twelve years. There is also an establishment at Galatz for the preservation, in hermetically sealed tin boxes, of fresh beef, from which about 500 tons of meat is sent annually to England. The following table shows the number of vessels loaded at Galatz and Ibraila from 1837 to 1848: Total...... 879 968 1,208 1,306 468 720 1,099 1,384 1,296 1,555 2,215 1,123 A comparison of the first six years of this period with the six last years, I find the following results: Having an increase during the last six years of 3,130 vessels. It may be remarked that the vessels which visited the Danube during the latter period were of a larger size, and of a better class, than those of the preceding term. During the first, 5,539 were loaded with 2,663,222 imperial quarters, whilst during the second, 8,669 vessels were loaded with 6,536,632 quarters, and in deducting from the above stated number of vessels those loaded with planks, staves, &c., the medium cargoes of grain of each ship during the first period were about 550 quarters, whilst in those of the second the medium cargo was at least 850 quarters. There are many small vessels under Turkish and Greek colors which frequent the Danube, and which never go further than Constantinople. The following table will show the number of vessels which have loaded at Galatz and Ibraila during the past twelve years: 1837. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. '44. '45. '46. '47. '48. 272 259 320 477 196 329 457 561 587 645 589 432 282 358 377 412 87 133 216 367 317 500 629 247 53 61 89 103 77 19 15 9 7 8 17 15 Ionian. 38 40 53 36 Roman 1 6 Belgian. The following also states the number of vessels which took in cargo at Galatz and Ibraila for England, from 1837 to 1848: and the following, of those which loaded there direct for England, from 1843 to 1848: It is necessary to remark that, for some time past, half of the grain loaded directly for England, is generally sent to Constantinople and Malta, expressly for the purpose of being there reembarked for England; and this too besides what is sent to these ports for sale, and then purchased for the same destination. The change made in the navigation laws of Great Britain will not probably make much difference in the number of vessels seeking freight in the Danube for England. Besides English vessels, the Austrians may, by treaty, load directly for England-also the Greeks, but the latter must touch at a port in Greece fore proceeding on to England,-which, however, occasions them but little day or extra expense. All vessels are now equally favored. The only flag which frequents the Danube in large numbers is the Sardinian; but as there is a high protection for the trade of their country, it is not probable that it will come into much competition with the English flag for the transportation of grain to Great Britain. The change in the navigation laws of Great Britain will not cause, but for a short time, a reduction in the freights. It is known that it suits English vessels to come out from England in ballast, and to load them with wheat and Indian corn at eleven shillings per quarter, and making two voyages to England, without any difficulty, each year; but Austrian and Greek vessels do not seek after cargoes for England under fourteen shillings per quarter. It is true that during the present year, 1849, several Austrian vessels loaded at Galatz and Ibraila at 10s. 6d. and 11s. 6d., but the position of Austria explains sufficiently the reason which made her merchant vessels to accept freights at a rate lower than usual,-and at present English vessels do not obtain more than 9s. 6d. the quarter; no Austrian ship will accept such a freight. There are a few Greek vessels of a size suitable for a voyage to England; and as the risk is greater with Greek ships than English, the latter always have the preference, and a freight of one shilling per quarter greater. Greek vessels do not seek for freight to England under thirteen. shillings per quarter. The exportation from Bulgarian Turkey, by the Danube, does not increase, as will be seen from the following note of the exports during the first months of the present year. The greater portion of the grain is loaded from the Bulgarian ports in the Black Sea: Wheat.. Barley.. ..imperial quarters 25,422 40,670 12,976 |