110 



SCANDINAVIA. 



temperate Europe. But the sJwcj, or wild forest, with its chaos of rocks and dense 

 thickets of trees and shrubs, presents quite a special character. The granite or 

 porphyry blocks heaped up in confusion are nearly everywhere covered with a 

 thick mossy carpet, elder and raspberry bushes spring from their interstices, 

 while the roots of tall pines, firs, alders, and birches creep snake-like amidst 

 the fragments. The pathway is soon lost in this labyrinth of rocks and trees, 

 the dreaded wilderness formerly haunted by the troll, or " evil one," Avhere the 

 benighted wayfarer met the terrible skogfrau, or " woman of the thicket." 



The Swedish woodlands occupy about two-fifths of the country, while Norway, 

 owing to its greater mean elevation, is far less rich in forests, which here cover 



Fig. 57.— Store-houses in the Hitterdal 



no more than one-fifth of the whole area. The pines of Gefle, on the banks of 

 the Dal, have long been in demand, as furnishing the best material for masts. 

 But the very extent of the forests has hitherto caused a reckless consumption for 

 fuel, building, and manufacturing purposes, which, combined with the export 

 trade, has already cleared vast spaces. Along the line of railway between Malmo 

 and Stockholm woods are still everywhere met, interrupted by lakes and cultivated 

 tracts. But the magnificent beech and oak forests of the sagas have disappeared. 

 In South Norway also forests worthy of the name occur only in the more inacces- 

 sible districts, and many iron-smelting works have already been abandoned for 



