Мертвые души
Chapter 3
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HerePlatonsethimselftogiveSelifansomedirectionsastotheway,anecessaryproceedinginviewofthefactthatSelifancouldhardlymaintainhisseatonthebox.TwicePetrushka,too,hadfallenheadlong,andthisnecessitatedbeingtiedtohisperchwithapieceofrope.“Whataclown!”hadbeenChichikov’sonlycomment.
“Thisiswheremybrother-in-law’slandbegins,”saidPlaton.
“Theygiveoneachangeofview.”
And,indeed,fromthispointthecountrysidebecameplantedwithtimber;therowsoftreesrunningasstraightaspistol-shots,andhavingbeyondthem,andonhigherground,asecondexpanseofforest,newlyplantedlikethefirst;whilebeyondit,again,loomedathirdplantationofoldertrees.Nexttheresucceededaflatpieceofthesamenature.
“Allthistimber,”saidPlaton,“hasgrownupwithineightortenyearsatthemost;whereasonanotherman’slanditwouldhavetakentwentytoattainthesamegrowth.”
“Andhowhasyourbrother-in-laweffectedthis?”
“Youmustaskhimyourself.Heissoexcellentahusbandmanthatnothingeverfailswithhim.Yousee,heknowsthesoil,andalsoknowswhatoughttobeplantedbesidewhat,andwhatkindsoftimberarethebestneighbourhoodforgrain.Again,everythingonhisestateismadetoperformatleastthreeorfourdifferentfunctions.Forinstance,hemakeshistimbernotonlyserveastimber,butalsoserveasaproviderofmoistureandshadetoagivenstretchofland,andthenasafertiliserwithitsfallenleaves.
