288 Sweden. 



many rivers (called elfs), furnishing means of trans- 

 portation, expanding frequently into lakes (sjo) in the 

 upper reaches, and falling with cataracts into the 

 lower plain, giving rise to fine water powers. Eight 

 per cent, of the total area is in lakes. Only 12 per 

 cent, of the land area is in farms. The forest area, 

 with nearly 50 million acres, occupies nearly 48 per 

 cent., leaving 40 per cent, waste land or otherwise 

 occupied. 



Half of the population of over 5 million pursues 

 agriculture, while iron manufacture and the lumber 

 industry occupy one-quarter. 



Of the three main divisions of the country, the 

 southern, Gotaland, is richest in lowlands and agricul- 

 tural soils, and, as it has also a favorable maritime 

 climate, farming is the main industry. Here, a popu- 

 lation of 50 to 60, and in parts up to 190 per square 

 mile is found. Beech and oak are here the principal 

 trees, with spruce occasionally intermixed. 



In the central part, Svealand or Sweden proper, 

 the forest region begins, with pine and spruce, pure or 

 in mixture, covering the granite hills and plateau; 

 birch and other hardwoods, oak, beech, elm, basswood 

 and aspen being found in the river valleys; but the 

 third division, Norrland, is the forest region of com- 

 mercial importance, the seat of the extensive export 

 trade. It is a vast, almost unbroken forest country, 

 with hardly more than 3 people to the square mile, 

 in the northernmost part, called Lapland, Laps and 

 Finns forming a not inconsiderable part of the popu- 

 lation. Pine and spruce are the timber trees, with White 

 Birch intermixed. Towards the northern boundary 



