VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OF NORWAY. 265 



beautiful, and surpass in point of size and picturesque effect those 

 found in more southern climes. 



Ancient trees, especially birches, are regarded with great reve- 

 rence and superstition in many parts of the country. It is often 

 believed, for instance, that a treasure lies concealed beneath the 

 roots of such a tree, under the protection of a dragon or monster. 

 No man carves his name on its trunk, as would be the case in our 

 country, nor is even a twig broken off, for fear that some misfor- 

 tune should happen to his cattle orjiis house. Indeed, on Christ- 

 mas Eve, in some parts of the country, the peasants offer a liba- 

 tion of beer or mead on its roots.* Dr. Schubeler relates that 

 he has been himself informed by peasants who have such a tree 

 on their property, that they yearly place round the trunk loads of 

 manure at a distance of several yards from it, as an offering. 

 This is probably the remains of Druidical superstition ; and is 

 the more probable when it is mentioned that even within the 

 memory of some now living, a man, who resided in a lonely dis- 

 trict, had a stone image in his possession (Thors ?) to which in 

 secret he used to pay devotion. It had been preserved in his 

 family as a precious relic of bygone days. For even till long 

 after the introduction of Christianity into the country, heathenish 

 customs were retained. 



A magnificent specimen of the weeping birch is to be seen at 

 Slinde, on the north shore of the Sogne Fjord, lat. 61 ; it is 

 about 60 feet high. It is regarded with great reverence and 

 superstition. A few miles south of Throndhjem, in lat. 63, there 

 is a still finer specimen ; it is 80 feet high, and the trunk is 

 16 feet in girth. 



The uses to which the birch-tree is put are numerous. Not 

 only is it most valued as fuel, but it is used largely for articles of 

 household furniture. The twigs are carefully collected as fodder 

 for the cattle during winter, and the bark (Norsk " Naever ") is 

 used for making baskets, &c., and roofing houses. The method 

 of employing it for this latter purpose is as follows : Pieces 

 1 1J foot square are placed on the framework of the roof in 

 layers, as is the case with tiles or slates. A thin coating of 

 earth is then spread over it, over which again turf is laid, so that 

 the whole roof is about 1 foot in thickness. 



* Miss Martineau, in ' Feats on the Fjord,' alludes to this custom. 



