74: TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Omberg does not survive the frosts of spring. With the 

 exception of this wood, the estate has little to show the 

 forester, much of the ground being occupied by very open woods 

 of mature spruce. These have sprung from naturally sown seed, 

 and no effort appears to have been made to maintain a full 

 density of crop. A better example was afforded by a wood of 

 forty years old, planted in about equal numbers with silver lir 

 and spruce. It has been twice thinned — the first time when the 

 wood was twenty-five years old. It now contains about 3300 

 cubic feet per acre. The planting distance of some fresh, 

 recently planted areas was objected to by the Scotch foresters; 

 spruce and silver fir wei'e seen planted in rows 6 feet apart, 

 with 5 or 6 feet between the plants in the row. At such 

 distances, the young plants develop strong side branches, and 

 the annual rings are unduly wide. 



Near Alvastra station, at. Omberg, is a curious barn, which 

 excited some interest. It is built entirely of wood, and consists 

 of two storeys, with a platform or broad gangway in place of a 

 third storey. The approach to the gangway is outside the 

 building, and is arranged on an inclined plane. Loaded carts of 

 Straw and hay can be taken by horses right up to the highest 

 part of the building. From thence the fodder is easily emptied 

 into the hay-loft below, to be conveyed as it is required 

 through trap-doors into the stables and cattle courts situated on 

 the basement. 



From Alvastra to Norrkbping, the party proceeded by train 

 through an agricultural district, where the people were mainly 

 employed in securing their hay harvest. Diminutive drying- 

 racks are fixed up temporarily in the fields. They are made 

 from rails held in place by light crossed poles ; and the hay is 

 hung over the rails to get the full benefit of sun and air — a 

 useful plan on swampy ground. The plentifulness of timber in 

 the country districts is at once evident in the fences, slim 

 poles of spruce and pine, run up diagonally from the ground, 

 with upright posts of birch, holding them together. Such 

 fences are a characteristic feature of Swedish rural scenery. 



For two nights Norrkoping was the headquarters of the 

 Society ; and from thence was made the memorable visit to 

 the Finspong forests. The company that owns these forests 

 was one of the earliest to realise the necessity for forest con- 

 servancy, and the importance of systematic work. So long ago 



