VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OF NORWAY. 267 



wild in low lands in the south up to lat. 63 on the western coast. 

 It was formerly much more common, but on account of the 

 excellence of its wood, it has been much sought after. 



HOLLY ( Ilex aquifolium, L. " Benved " or " Christtom "). 

 Grows wild on the south and western coasts up to lat. 02. It 

 thrives especially on the numerous islands off the western coast. 

 On Stordo, an island a few miles south of Bergen, there is a tree 

 47 feet high, the trunk measuring 2 feet 9 inches in diameter. 



HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera Peridymenum, L. " Vedvendel "). 

 Grows wild near the coast, up to lat. 62J. 



HORSE CHESTNUT (jEsculus hippocastanum, L. " Hestecasta- 

 nie"). Is very common in avenues and gardens near the coast 

 up to Throndhjem. Trees 60 feet high may be seen in the 

 south of Norway. 



IVY (Hedera hdix, " Bergfletta "). Grows wild near the coast 

 up to lat. 60. At Mandal, about 20 years ago, two young plants 

 were placed in the ground 4 feet apart under a perpendicular 

 cliff. In 1862, the branches covered an area of 49 feet by 33 feet. 



JUNIPER (Junipcrus communis, L. "Ener"). Grows wild 

 over the whole country up to Finmark ; its altitude is the same 

 as that of the birch. It often grows like the cypress, in a pyra- 

 midal form. The largest juniper-tree in Norway grows in Haabel 

 parish near Christiania ; it is 20 feet high. In many parts of the 

 country a weak decoction of the fresh juniper is used instead of 

 water in brewing beer, on account of the flavour thereby im- 

 parted. 



LARCH (Pinus Larix, L. " Lserketras "). Does not grow wild, 

 but thrives admirably when planted. An experiment was made 

 near Mandal 20 years ago of planting 5,000 two-years old larches. 

 In 20 years they had attained such a height that a ladder 50 feet 

 long was made from two of them. 



LIME (Tilia Europcea, L. " Lind"). Grows wild hi low lands 

 up to lat. 62. It seldom attains a respectable size, as the shoots, 

 &c., are much sought after as fodder. In the parish of Gjerrcstad 

 there is a very remarkable specimen known by the name of 

 " Melaas Linde." It is about 50 feet high, and stands on the 

 extreme summit of a lofty hill. Its shadow towards sunset 

 extends nearly 5 miles. There are many traditions current with 

 respect to this tree ; it is in all probability one of the Druidical 

 trees. 



