VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OF NORWAY. 239 



com land, which surround the low log-built houses of 

 the peasants ; while the mountain slopes on either side 

 are clothed with luxuriant forest tracts, in which the 

 white stems of the birch trees form a pleasing relief to 

 the sombre uniformity of the Scotch and spruce fir. 



The observing traveUer, who for the first time visits 

 one of the valleys in the south-western, and more 

 especially the western, parts of the country, cannot fail 

 to have his attention arrested by the immense quantities 

 of water which he meets with. He sees it trickling 

 down in silvery stripes from the fjeld tops, hundreds of 

 feet above his head on both sides of him, and, where it 

 has a perpendicular fall of any distance, assuming beau- 

 tiful feathery wreaths, till it at last finds its way into 

 the watercourse below. Well may he think, " Where 

 on earth can all this water come from ?" A little con- 

 sideration will, however, explain the phenomenon. 



The warm south-westerly winds blowing over the 

 sea, the temperature of which is considerably increased 

 owing to the Gulf Stream, are laden with moisture. 

 But when they come in contact with the lofty, snow- 

 clad mountain ranges on the western coast, a continuous 

 condensation is the result. Thus, when these winds 

 have prevailed for any time, the. upper regions are con- 

 stantly enveloped hi clouds and fog. The rounded 

 form which the mountains assume, moreover, prevents 

 the moisture from being so rapidly dispersed as would 



