VORONETZ, or WORONESC1T, a government of Russia in Europe, is situated between 48° 35' and 52° 50' N. 1st., 37° 45' and 43° E. long. It is bounded N. by Tambov, N.B. by Saratov, E. and S.E. by the country of the Don Cossaks, S.W. by Ekaterinoslav, and W. by Chsrkow. Its area is 25,691 square miles, and it is divided into twelve circles The face of the country is an undulating plain traversed by low ridges and chalk-hills. The soil consists partly of clay, partly of sand, for the most part covered with a pretty thick layer of vegetable mould, which is so fertile that it requires only a periodical fallow.
The principal river is the Dos, which comes from Tambov, and, traversing the government from north to south, receives most of the other rivers, such as the Voronetz, which is navigable by large barges, the Soma, the lkoretz, the Doucz, and some others. The climate is temperate and healthy. The inhabitants live to a great age, and the productions of temperate climates flourish. Melons are raised in large numbers, and are sent to Moscow and St. I'etersburg. The rivers freeze about December, and thaw in the beginning of March.
Voroaetz is one of the great corn provinces of the empire. The farmers grow wheat of different kinds, barley, oats, buckwheat, millet, and maize—the last only in gardens ; poppies, lentils, peas, flax, and hemp are grown in the fields. Horticulture is very carefully attended to; the gardens produce all the kinds of vegetables that are grown in Germany. Hope are grown in small quantities. The most common fruits are cherries and plums. Vines grow in sheltered situations, and the grape ripens in warm seasons. The forests are very nearly thinned. Pines are rare ; but there are remarkably fine oaks. The rich pastures on the banks of the rivers and tho extensive commons are favourable to the breeding of cattle, which is a very general occu pation of the inhabitants. There are numerous flocks of sheep and herds of swine; oxen suffice only for the home consumption. There are many small etude of horses of the Russian race. The most com mon domestic poultry are geese and barn-door fowls; bees are very generally kept. The minerals are iron (but no other metal), chalk, limestone, freestone, and saltpetre.
The manufactures of the province are not of great importance.
The exports are the natural productions of the country—corn, cattle, bides, timber, bristles, some coarse cloth, saltpetre, honey, and wax. The chief commercial cities are Voronetz and Ostrogohsk ; but there is great want of good water-carriage, the Don being navigable only in the spring, when the water is high. The Donez merely touches the frontier, and has not one town on its banks.
The population of this government was 1,057,900 in 1846. The Inhabitants are in the northern part Great Russians, and in the southern Little ltusaians. Among the latter are included the Cossaks, or Tacherkassians, as they are here called, after their ancient capital; there are also some gipeies and Germans.
remade, the capital of the government, the residence of the governor and of the Bishop of Voronetz, is situated in 51° 40' N. lat., 39' 23' E. long., on the river Voronetz, which falls into the Don two miles below the city. Voronetz is built on a very steep rock, and possesses strong natural defences. It is one of the oldest cities in the empire, and is mentioned in 1177. Peter the Great had a dockyard here for building ships, with which be intended to descend the Don to the sea. He often resided here, and built himself a palace, no vestige of which now remains. The city consists of three parts, the upper town, the lower town, and the suburbs. The upper town con tains the residence of the governor and the public offices, the bishop'. palace, the cathedral, the bazaar, and the town-hall. In the city are 18 stone churches, 2 convents, a poor-house a gymnasium, an eccle siastical seminary, an arsenal, and several schools. The population is probably over 20,000. The streets are very broad, but not paved. The manufactures are cloth for the army, leather, soap, and vitrioL There aro some breweries and brandy-distilleries. The merchants of Voronetz trade with all parts of the empire.
Ostrophsk, about 60 miles S. from Voronetz, is a small commercial town with several churches. The population is about 4500, who carry on an extensive trade. The three annual fairs are visited by merchants from the most distant parts, and even by Greeks, who bring many Turkish goods. At a distance of about 10 miles there is a small colony of Germans, whose chief occupation is agriculture.