44 FORESTRY OF NORWAY. 



stretch on all sides more than 10 metres, or 43 feet from 

 the trunk. Besides the wood being used in carpentry, and 

 as firewood, the external white bark is employed in the 

 manufacture of a great many articles, and for roofing, 

 being then covered with earth or turf. 



This tree, and especially the form with long pendant 

 branches, is the ornament of the valleys of Norway ; 

 certain specimens in isolated groups having acquired by 

 their beauty a widespread fame, and are protected not only 

 by the proprietors, but by the whole population of the 

 valley, who are proud of them. They have generally par- 

 ticular surnames, borrowed ordinarily from the property to 

 which they belong ; one famous specimen is the Holsbirk, 

 so called from the nature of the estate, Hols, Rennebu, in 

 Orkedal, in the prefect of Sondre-Drontheim, 62 58' N. ; 

 the height of it is 25 metres, 83 feet 4 inches ; the diameter 

 is T09 metres, or 3 feet 4 inches, at 1/5 metres, 5 feet from 

 the ground. 



The willow of Norway, Salix caprea, known in Britain 

 as the great round-leaved willow, is very much diffused 

 over the forest regions of Norway, and even beyond the 

 elevation above the level of the sea attained by the fir 

 and the pine ; and, as intimated, it may be seen to flourish 

 in higher latitudes, or at least as far north as either of 

 these trees. It grows at Hammerfest, 70 37' N., but only 

 as a shrub or bush ; and the allied tree, the aspen, Populus 

 tremula, is likewise spread over the whole of Norway. In 

 the south part of the country it may be met with, but in a 

 dwarfed condition, at an altitude of 900 metres above the 

 level of the sea. In the lower-lying country it attains a 

 height of 30 metres, and even at Atlen, 70 N., in Fin- 

 mark, it may attain to 18 metres, or 60 feet. Of Osiers, 

 there are in Norway about 20 wild species, the greater part 

 of them taking the form of bushes. They grow to a great 

 altitude on the mountains, principally on moist slopes. 

 In southern Norway, on spots a little sheltered, they may 

 be found 1 500 metres above the sea level. 



