45 



be applied exclusively to this mode of forest clearing with a view to 

 temporary agriculture. In the recent cases of this all the trees 

 growing on a piece of ground are cut down, allowed to dry, and 

 burned. The field is then ploughed, or rather scratched with a rude 

 harrow, whereby it is loosened and intermixed with the ashes. It is 

 next sown with rye, barley, or other seed. If the earth proves 

 somewhat fertile, it is sown next year with oats, and it may be after- 

 wards with buckwheat. After this last crop has been reaped, the 

 ground is abandoned and left to rest till it be again overgrown with 

 trees. 



Ofttimes it is the case that through the culture and removal of 

 these crops the soil becomes so exhausted that for many years no 

 trees are produced, and being used for pasturage, the cattle not only 

 grazing on the selfsame grass, but browsing on seedling trees as they 

 may make their appearance, the growth of these is entirely prevented. 

 The forests have thus been greatly diminished, and the products of the 

 forest being of great importance to Finland, the Government has 

 endeavoured to limit as much as possible this mode of culture. In 

 consequence of this, and the introduction of improved agriculture, 

 Svedja has been greatly diminished. It is practised now to a very 

 limited extent in the Ian or district of Nyland, in which Helsingfors is 

 situated, and that of Abo, and throughout the greater part of Tavastehuis 

 Ian to the north-east and north of these districts, and of Wasa, on the 

 coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, and the greater portion of the Uleaborg 

 Ian. It may be said to be in these districts practised only occasionally, 

 as on the uprooting of clumps of trees growing in the middle of a field 

 or meadow, or with a view to preparing pasture land for cattle. Con- 

 sequently the product of Svedja in these districts is small, very 

 small in comparison with that obtained by the usual mode of agricul- 

 ture, kvedja is not practised now in the eastern lans, except in those 

 la'ns near the coast and in the south, where, for example, in the south- 

 west of Wyborg Ian it is only occasionally practised ; and at Borga, Wy- 

 borg, and Nykyrka it has been altogether abandoned. On the shores 

 of Lake Ladoga it, is strictly prohibited, in consequence of the scarcity, 

 of wood. In most other parts of the Ian where it is still practised 

 this is done as a necessary and at present unavoidable means of 

 support. The produce of it in Sackjarvi is in proportion to that 

 otherwise obtained as 1 to 3. In other places it is as 1 to 2. In St. 

 Michael's further to the west it begins to be limited. The poverty of 

 the land and the limited produce yielded by regular agriculture lead 

 to the greater use of Svedja. 



It is in consequence of the injurious effects of the practice that it 

 has been thus limited. 



