1007 



»Ager«, to form a small channel for leading oiT water; the later 

 cultivation consists in a simple operation, namely, at intervals of 

 a few years, to file the saw-teeth, if I may call it so ; in other words, 

 a few feet of soil are dug from the steep edge and spread over the 

 long slope of the iiext »Ager«.« 



The process may be illustrated by a diagram thus: 



The soil having been prepared, potatoes are planted generally for 

 two years in succession (occasionally their place is taken by turnips). 

 In the third year barley or bigg (exceptionally oats) is sown mixed 

 with a small quantily of grass-seeds. This »grass-seed« is simply 

 the sweepings from the floors of the hay-barns. It is quite excep- 

 tional to find any systematic sowing of pure grass-seeds, but at 

 Thorshavn and Kirkebo I have seen fieids sown with foreign grass- 

 seed: Dactylis glomerata, Festnca pratensis, Alopeciirns pratensis, Tri- 

 foliiim pratense and T. hybridiim. The general practice, however 

 is to harvest the first crop of corn and then leave the field alone. 

 Whether the so called »grass-seed« has been sown or not, some 

 weeds always grow among the corn, and these spread rapidly when 

 left in possession during the following year. At the same time 

 other piants are migrating in from Ihe neighbourhood, and although 

 the annual piants may dominate at first they are gradually ousted 

 by the perennial grasses and herbs; thus in the course of a few 

 years the »Bo« has developed into its typical form, that of a grass- 

 meadow generally with a wealth of flowering herbs. The »Bo« 

 remains in this condition for several years (often half a score), and 

 the only cultivation it receives during this period consists in keep- 

 ing the artificial drainage in repair, in mowing it every summer, 

 and in supplying some natural (farm-yard) manure (which was of 

 course given also during the earlier years). 



These are the main facts relating to the treatment of the culti- 

 vated land on the Færoes, and this is not the place to enter more 

 fully into the purely agricultural side of the malter or to offer any 

 criticism on the methods of cultivation. It is sufficient for our pur- 

 pose to describe the plant-associations, which are fostered in this 



