21 



requires sowing, but expect it to grow of itself. The grass grown 

 in this way forms thechiefpart of the vegetation; it embraces several 

 species, but all alike are of low and slender growth, so the hay 

 which they produce is fine, short meadow hay. Unfortunately its 

 quality is not as good as it ought to be, partly because it is the 

 custom to let the grass stand until it has done flowering — it 

 often turns yellow before they begin to cut it; this of course allows 

 of the grass growing as long as possible, but on the other hånd 

 it would contain more nourishment if it were cut when it began 

 to llower. It is a common saying that grass must not be cut until 



Fig". 13. Sydero. Trang isvcuKj fjord in winter; the whole country snow covered, with the stone wall 

 .•iround the village of Tværaa distinctly visible. (After a photograph by O. Effersoe). 



»Olaidag« (July 29th). Another reason why the quality of the hay 

 is poor is the perpetual rain which drenches the hay before there 

 is any dry weather to make it possible to carry it. Thus it is not 

 unusual to see hay standing in the fieids as late as September or 

 October. This latter cause of the inferiority of the hay seems to 

 be beyond the power of man to prevent, but something could be 

 done by cutting the grass somewhat earlier, as the latter part of 

 the summer is more rainy than the earlier part. 



The c ulti vation of corn and potatoes. When these 

 pasture-lands are to be utilized for the cultivation of corn and 

 potatoes, the earth is »turned<^<, i. e. the turf is cut or sliced off with 

 a spade and laid with the grassy side downwards; the soil thus 

 laid bare is hacked with a spade and then the corn is sown. Only 

 very little barley is grown, and sometimes a little oats and it is 



