272 Of the Checks to Population Bk. ii. 



timber sufficient for their houses, repairs, and 

 firing. 



A piece of ground round a houseman's dwelling 

 cannot be enclosed for cultivation, without an 

 application, first, to the proprietors of the woods, 

 declaring, that the spot is not fit for timber; and 

 afterwards to a magistrate of the district, whose 

 leave on this occasion is also necessary, probably 

 for the purpose of ascertaining, whether the leave 

 of the proprietor had been duly obtained. 



In addition to these obstacles to improved cul- 

 tivation, which may be considered as artificial, 

 the nature of the country presents an insuperable 

 obstacle to a cultivation and population in any 

 respect proportioned to the surface of the soil. 

 The Norwegians, though not in a nomadic state, 

 are still in a considerable degree in the pastoral 

 state, and depend very much upon their cattle. 

 The high grounds that border on the mountains, 

 are absolutely unfit to bear corn; and the only 

 use, to which they can be put, is to pasture cattle 

 upon them for three or four months during the 

 summer. The farmers accordingly send all their 

 cattle to these grounds at this time of the year, 

 under the care of a part of their families ; and it 

 is here, that they make all their butter and cheese 

 lor sale, or for their own consumption. The 

 great difficulty is to support their cattle during 

 the long winter, and for this purpose it is neces- 

 sary, that a considerable proportion of the most 

 fertile land in the vallies should be mowed for 

 hay. If too much of it were taken into tillage, 



