POLTA'VA, or PULTAVA, a government in European Russia, lying between 48' and 51' 4' N. lat., 30° 25' and 36° E. long., is bounded N. by Tschernigov, E. by Kursk and Charkov, S. by Ekaterinoslav )(hereon, and W. by Kiew. The area ie about 18,973 square miles. The population in 1846 was 1,783,800.
The surface is one continuous plain, with the exception of some elevations along the elevated banks of the Dnieper and some other rivers. The soil consists of a thick layer of black mould on a basis of clay and land; it is either arable land or rich meadows; the forests are few and inconsiderable. The heaths are covered with nutritious ruts; those where furze and broom predominate are common only in the south-east part of the government. The principal river, towards which the whole country slopes, is the Dnieper, which forms the western boundary, and is everywhere navigable. Its chief tributaries are the Trubesch and the Sula, with the Udai coming from Tschernigov, the Psiol and the Worekla from the Ukraine, and the Orel, which forms for some distance the southern boundary. The Sula and Psiol are navigable in the spring, are free from rocks, and flow through a rich country. There is no considerable lake in this government. The climate is mild ; in winter however, when the cold north winds sweep over the open plains, the cold is severe. The summer is very hot. Little rain falls in the summer.
Of all the provinces of Little Russia, Poltava is the most fertile and the best cultivated. The grains chiefly cultivated are rye, barley, and oats, then wheat, buckwheat, Egyptian barley, and millet. Peas, lentils, rapeseed, linseed, and tobacco are also cultivated. All kinds of vegetables known in Russia thrive ; fruits abound; from cherries, plums, melons, and berries of various kinds, liqueurs are manufactured, and excellent preserves made. On the Dnieper the inhabitants use the reeds growing on its banks for thatch and for fuel ; in the interior they burn cow-dung and straw.
The steppes are covered with rich pastures, and it is said that the climate is so favourable that the cattle remain in the open air all the year round. In these steppes the magnificent ox of the Ukraine attains its extraordinary size ; horses are bred in great numbers; and the Russian sheep appear in large flocks. The breed of sheep has been greatly improved by tho importation of Merinos. The breeding of swine is not much attended to; bees are common, and many farmers have above 100 hives. Common poultry is abundant; there are like wise blue Caspian or Chinese geese and Persian ducks. hares and partridges are abundant. The Dnieper and other rivers abound in fish. The Dnieper furnishes the Varna Mani*, of the bladders of' which glue is made, and the dried skin is used as a substitute for window-glass. Tho country is periodically infested by immense swarms of' locusts ; gad-flies and a kind of musqulto are very trouble some. Potters'-clay, brick.clay, lime, chalk, and saltpetre are found
hi the government. The inhabitants manufacture articles of various kinds for domestic use; it is only of their fine liqueurs and preserved fruits that there is a surplus for exportation. The (Beth leries of brandy are considerable. Large quantities of corn are exported to Odessa. Tho chief articles of export are corn, flour, groats, brandy, linseed oil, hemp, flax, tobacco, honey, wax, wool, tallow, butter, horses, oxen, preserved fruit, and liqueurs.
The most important trading towns are Poltava and Krementschuk. There are not more than seven or eight towns in this government, in addition to the capitals of the fifteen circles ; but the number of villages is very large, and though, for want of' timber, the buildings are mostly of clay, they are kept very clean, both within and without ; and the villages, being surrounded with orchards and gardens, have a cheerful appearance.
Poltava, the capital of the government, is situated in 49° 30' N. let, 34° 15' E. long., near the confluence of the rivers Poltawka and Worskla. The population in 1842 was 16,000. The town is built of wood, but the streets are wide and straight, and in the ceutre there is a good square surrounded with stone houses, and in the middle of it a handsome monument, of' granite, in honour of Peter the Great. It is surrounded by a rampart. This town made a vigorous resistance to Charles XII., which led to the battle of Poltava, in which the Swedes were totally defeated, and Charles obliged to seek refuge in Turkey. A fine obelisk is erected on the field of battle, near which divine service is performed annually in commemoration of' this victory. Poltava has 10 churches (including the cathedral), a convent, a gymna sium, and a school. The inhabitants have considerable distilleries and tanneries, and carry on an extensive trade iu the produce of the country. The town is surrounded with vast cherry-orchards, from the fruit of which a very strong ardent spirit is distilled. There are four annual fairs. In the vicinity there are extensive saltpetre works.
Among the chief towns are the following :—Mirgored, on the Khorol, which has about 7500 inhabitants, and great horse-fairs. Lubny and Lokkwiza, both on the Sula, have each a population of about 6000. Pereaslawl, at the confluence of the Alta and the Trubesch, has a great trade in cattle and corn, and 8000 inhabitants. Krernen &Auk, a well-built town, at the confiueuce of the Kaganlik and the Dnieper, has a considerable trade and a wool-fair, and 18,000 inhabit ants. Its liqueurs and preserved fruits are very excellent, and there arc manufactures of nitre, soap, and refined sugar. The Dnieper is here crossed by a bridge of boats. Kobiljaki, on the Worskla, has a population of 7000. Part of the former fortified lines of the Ukraine traverses the south-east of the government of Poltava.