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interspersed in the narrative many little sketches of woodland scenery, 

 and of the woodland population. 



From any one of these publications some definite idea of the physical 

 geography and woodland scenery of Norway may be obtained. 



From conversations with Mr. Charles S. Inglis, of Edinburgh a 

 gentleman who travelled extensively in the country, roughing it, and 

 rambling in regions and districts out of the ordinary route of tourists, 

 and who has published his observations under a nom de plume, I first 

 learned that in the northern portion of Norway the land presents the ap- 

 pearance of table-lands, or comparatively level plateaus, cut up by what 

 may be called ravines rather than valleys, which are sometimes more than 

 a thousand feet in depth ; these can only be crossed by zigzag tracks 

 or roads, descending the precipitous declivity on one side, crossing a 

 streamlet at the bottom, and ascending in a similar zigzag way a 

 corresponding precipitous ascent on the other; and in other places, that 

 of isolated hills and mountains, scattered about in what looks like 

 studied confusion, sometimes standing apart and alone, but as fre- 

 quently in groups of more or less irregularity, and of greater or less 

 extent, and sometimes, but that rarely, taking a form not unlike a 

 mountain range. Towards the south the country assumes gradually a 

 more level aspect, but it does so without losing altogether its hilly 

 character. The result of the whole is that about two-thirds of the 

 country is at an elevation of upwards of 2,000 feet above the level of 

 the sea, which is considerably above the range of forests trees in that 

 land. 



The forests in Norway are by no means so extensive as the frequent 

 mention made in England of Norway timber may lead those who have 

 never visited the country to imagine. They are generally found along 

 river courses. They extend from half a mile to three or four miles 

 from the banks of the river, and up the precipitous hill-sides beyond. 

 Sometimes the continuity is broken abruptly on the river-bed by 

 perpendicular cliffs ; but the forest extends on the table-land above, 

 like a dislocated geological stratum, or the further side of a dyke or 

 fault. 



Many of the forests are private property ; others belong to com- 

 mercial proprietors. In both classes of forests the right to fell timber 

 is generally let to contractors possessed of large capital, by whom 

 arrangements for felling wood upon an extensive scale are made. 



Previous to the introduction, of late years, of an improved forest 

 economy, the system of exploitation or working usually adopted was 

 one intermediate between that known in France as Jardinage, felling 

 only such trees as were desired, and that known as a tire et aire, in 

 which the forest is divided into as many sections as periods required 



