y28 juhi,ix-])Ax.\fj:i,'i' 



of the forests to the huaucial return. Tlie Government has encouraged the 

 increase of small farms by a system of financial facilities. Loans are granted 

 up to the amount of 5/6ths of the value of the land and buildings, at 3 

 per cent interest with repayment over a long period. Between 1905 and 

 1913, about 8 900 loans were granted representing a total slighth' above 

 25 million kroner. 



For a quarter of a century the small farmer has also been provided for 

 in other respects by the public authorities, having been the chief one to 

 profit by the subsidies granted for the reclamation of waste land and the 

 development of stock rearing, and also by the assistance furnished bj' scien- 

 tific agriculturists in the service of the State or rural economy Societies. 



The Government furthermore allocates every year a certain sum (now 

 400 000 kroner) for the encouragement of the small farmer in the followinp 

 waj^s : 



(i) Premiums for the clearing of small areas of brushland etc. 



(2) Competitions between small farms with premiums and conditional 

 loans (totalling about 50 000 kroner per year) for works of improvement ; 

 if the work has been carried out satisfactorily within the time fixed, the re- 

 payment of the loan is postponed. 



(3) Subsidies to Inspection Societies and Societies for the proper 

 keeping of books of account on farms. 



(4) Educational courses (in 1913, 264 courses at a total expenditure 

 of 71 000 kroner) and excursions for agriculturists, male and female (in 

 1913, 810 persons took part), with subsidies totalling 61 000 kroner. 



Crops. — The types of crop grown differ greatly according to climatic 

 and soil conditions, and general farming standard. The simplest methods 

 of cultivation are practised in the north. Grain growing is very limited 

 there owing to the short summer ; it only extends over 10 to 30 per cent. 

 of cultivated land, and m.ostly comprises spring cereals; chiefly 4-rowed 

 barley which is the earliest, while winter wheats, which occupy the land 

 for 2 summers, are less suitable. Fallowing is only applied before the 

 winter wheat. Towards the south, oats gain the upper hand. Artificial 

 grass-lands cover a wide area (averaging 60 per cent, of the ciiltivated area) 

 in the northern provinces, and are left uncleared for a longer or shorter pe- 

 riod of time (up to 20 years) in the more northerly parts. 



In the central and southern portions of the country there is greater 

 equality of distribution of the different cultivations. In proportion as 

 the general farming level improves, fallowing and laying down to grass 

 decreases, while on the other hand grain crops and pulse crops for green 

 or dry forage increase ; above all there is a large increase in root crops or 

 forage. 



In those parts of the country where farming practice is on a lower plane 

 the most usual rotations are as follows : i) fallow ; 2) winter cereal (rye 

 and wheat) ; 3-5) artificial grass-lands; 6-7) spring cereals (oats and bar- 

 ley), pulses (peas and vetches) and mixed crops. An almost equal propor- 

 tion (about -j-O %) of the land in this part of the country is under grain and 



