60 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



the fringe of woods; another lake, the Tinga, with 

 marshy borders and a little stone jetty built out into 

 the deeper water, and rocky scenery to the left hand, 

 on the east. Had it but a mild winter climate, how 

 people would fight for this delightful land, thinks the 

 passing stranger from the south. 



Though in some parts the soil is still poor and 

 heather-covered, there is an appreciable difference in its 

 average value as compared with SmSland. There are 

 fine currants in blossom at Sosdala, and the church- 

 spire at Mallby is set in what looks like amazingly rich 

 land to Carl, and there are water-lilies in the meandering 

 rivulet below the rude but pretty little double stone 

 bridge. Here and there the land is fairly cleared for 

 crops, yet it is often impossible to clear away the 

 boulders so as to leave room to till the soil, notwith- 

 standing that they gather up all they can into lines of 

 rude stone fences.. The stones are, after all, too many 

 for the hands they have to lift them. ' Here they 

 should plant woods to shelter the clearer plains,' thinks 

 the young Linnaeus, ever ready to set the world to rights. 

 And there are woods hidden away behind the ridges of 

 rock. There is one particular forest at Sosdala where 

 the black stork builds her nest and hatches every year 

 a brood of young ones, who disappear none knows where. 

 That wheat is not yet sprouting here and barley is very 

 backward, is what a traveller from the south would notice. 

 But to Linnaaus Sk&ne's vegetation seemed in advance of 

 everything he knew, save that of Liatorp itself, his local 



