358 NORWAY. 



travel over this country either in summer 

 or autumn. 



There are numerous obstacles to the 

 cultivation of this alpine tract. The intense 

 cold of its winters, which exceeds that of 

 any other country. From the snow lying 

 so long on the ground, the parts exposed 

 to the nordi are incapable of any culture. 

 Frosts are frequent even in summer. The 

 days are dark in winter. The weather is 

 always moist. The soil is of a turfy kind, 

 composed of mosses decayed by frost, 

 impregnated with standing water. Good 

 black vegetable mould is not to be met 

 with. Lofty trees cannot be raised, on 

 account of the excessive violence of the 

 wind ; hence there is a great scarcity of 

 wood. 



It is customary for those in our part of 

 Sweden who fancy themselves indisposed, 

 to frequent watering-places, or mineral 

 springs, during the heat of summer. For 

 my own part, I have, thank God ! for 

 several years enjoyed tolerable health. 



