VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OP NORWAY. 275 



is about the average crop per acre in the south, exclusive of about 

 5 tons of leaves. Under favourable circumstances, however, this 

 is occasionally doubled. 



TAKE ( Vicia sativa, L. " Foderwikke "). Is very generally 

 cultivated up to the polar circle. Many varieties are grown. 

 The seed of the " white -seeded tare " is much used in soups, as 

 the flavour is remarkably fine. 



TOBACCO (Nicotiana Tabacum, L. " Tobak "). At the begin- 

 ning of the present century, during the wars between England 

 and Denmark, when the Norwegian coast was closely blockaded 

 by English vessels, and it was next to impossible to import any- 

 thing into the country, the tobacco plant was not uncommonly 

 cultivated in the southern districts of the country. It is occa- 

 sionally grown, but generally as an ornamental plant. Tobacco 

 was first introduced into Norway about the year 1616 ; but its 

 importation was forbidden in 1632 by an order of Christian IV., 

 who considered its use injurious to his subjects ! 



The consumption of the weed in Norway is rather extensive 

 judging from the following statistics. In 1855 the population 

 amounted to 1,490,047 souls ; and during the five years that 

 elapsed, to 1859, the imports of tobacco amounted to about 

 3,300,000 Ibs. per annum ! 



TURNIP, " Na?pe." Is undoubtedly the most popular and the 

 most generally cultivated of all vegetables in Norway. In fact, 

 there is scarcely an inhabited spot in the country where turnips 

 are not grown. It is found up to the Russian frontier. On the 

 Dovre Fjeld, lat. 62i, at an altitude of 3,000 feet above the sea, 

 this plant will attain a size equal to twice a clenched fist. At 

 Vardb'huus, a little fortress, lat. 70 22', which lies exposed to 

 the fierce storms of the Arctic Ocean, and to very severe weather, 

 a crop of 8 tons to the acre is raised one year with another. In 

 the south the average crop per acre is estimated at about 

 17 tons, with rather more than 5 tons of leaves per acre. Occa- 

 sionally, 22 to 25 tons per acre may be heard of, and even double 

 this quantity has been known. Turnips up to 2u 11 is. wc'mht are 

 tolerably common in the south, and have been heard of up to 

 nearly 30 Ibs. in weight. 



