VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OF NORWAY. 239 
corn land, which surround the low log-built houses of 
the peasants; while the mountain slopes on either side 
are clothed with luxuriant forest tracts, in which the 
white stems of the birch trees form a pleasing relief to 
the sombre uniformity of the Scotch and spruce fir. 
The observing traveller, who for the first time visits 
one of the valleys in the south-western, and more 
especially the western, parts of the country, cannot fail 
to have his attention arrested by the immense quantities 
of water which he meets with. He sees it trickling 
down in silvery stripes from the fjeld tops, hundreds of 
feet above his head on both sides of him, and, where it 
has a perpendicular fall of any distance, assuming beau- 
tiful feathery wreaths, till it at last finds its way into 
the watercourse below. Well may he think, “ Where 
on earth can all this water come from?” A little con- 
sideration will, however, explain the phenomenon. 
The warm south-westerly winds blowing over the 
sea, the temperature of which is considerably increased 
owing to the Gulf Stream, are laden with moisture. 
But when they come in contact with the lofty, snow- 
clad mountain ranges on the western coast, a continuous 
condensation is the result, Thus, when these winds 
have prevailed for any time, the upper regions are con- 
stantly enveloped in clouds and fog. The rounded 
form which the mountains assume, moreover, prevents 
the moisture from being so rapidly dispersed as would 
