EXCURSION TO SWEDEN. 71 



exhausted, this timber is brought to the factories from Russia. 

 The special product of the factory visited is the sdkerhets- 

 tdndstickor, or safety match, which, as all the world knows, is 

 without sulphur or phosphorus. Jonkoping is, indeed, the birth- 

 place of the safety match, for it was there that LundstriJm 

 made the invention in 1855. The machinery that daily turns 

 out matches, to the enormous number of one million boxes, is 

 marvellously ingenious and effective. The slicing of the timber 

 into sheets, the forming of the " splints," the shaping of the 

 box, the affixing and printing of the labels, the "heading" of 

 the matches, — all the processes from first to last were seen by 

 the admiring party. It is a wonderful evolution, accomplished 

 with a speed and economy that surprise. The eight hundred 

 people who find employment in the works are well cared for ; 

 everything that can be done for their health and personal safety 

 receiving due attention. No harmful chemicals are used, and 

 the building being lined with zinc, floored with stone, and 

 having ceilings of concrete, is proof against fire. In case of 

 a conflagration, sections of the building can at once be filled 

 with steam to check destruction to stock. Every detail seems to 

 have received consideration. The match factory will long be 

 remembered. 



The Swedish town has always its tree-garden {tradgarden), that 

 is, an open-air restaurant where, under the light shelter of 

 broad-leaved trees, the people gather to listen to the band and 

 indulge the national weakness for "punsch." Owing to one of 

 these gardens being connected with the hotel, the evenings at 

 Jonkoping were not without their entertainment ; and the 

 ordinary programme was extended to include certain national 

 airs and ballads worthy the occasion. Never does a Scotsman 

 feel more Scotch than when he is abroad : to appreciate the full 

 meaning of "Auld Lang Syne," one must be far from Scotland. 



A sail of about an hour and a half's duration from Jonkoping 

 brings one to the little island of Visingso, in Lake Vettern. 

 The Crown woods there were gone over by the Society. They 

 are not of great extent : about 1 000 acres are under oak, and 

 450 acres under spruce and silver fir ; while a part of the area is 

 under pure crops of Scots pine. Systematic management has 

 been brought to bear on the woods. Oak, now seventy-five 

 years old, had been underplanted at thirty-four years with 

 spruce and silver fir. These latter have grown well, and are 



