It is hardly to be advised that one visit a 
foreign country without at least some knowl- 
edge of the language, but in Norway as far 
as getting about goes, the English speaking 
traveler has but little diffculty. The trouble 
comes when he starts in hopefully on the dis- 
cussion of some technical matter that the 
phrase books wot not of. But notwithstand- 
ing the differences in customs and the foreign 
tongue, an American feels very much at home 
ia Norway. They have a standing joke that 
there are more Norwegians in the United 
States than there are at home. This naturally 
is not strictly accurate, but it shows that 
there are many close ties between the two 
countries which it is to be hoped may be 
strengthened and increased. Certainly the 
writer has reason to think pleasantly of Nor- 
way because of the courteous treatment that 
‘he everywhere received, but especially on ac- 
count of the hospitality shown him by the Nor- 
wegian foresters. 
AREA, POPULATION 
AND INDUSTRIES OF NORWAY 
The population of Norway in 1920 is given 
as about 2,649,000. The total area is 322,909 
square kilometers (124,643 square miles), made 
the country, especially in the fjord districts, 
every bit of agricultural land is tilled, even if 
it is but a tiny patch lying high up on a steep 
mountain side. Here, too, the short growing 
season and humid climate make it necessary to 
hang the grass on fences in order to cure it. 
The small farmers would seem to have a hard 
fight to wrest a living from the soil, but as one 
sees the people they appear to be well nour- 
ished. Thrift is the key note. 
The export of forest products ranks high in 
the business of the nation, being 25 percent of 
the total, in value, in 1915. Great Britain is 
the largest single customer. As compared 
with Sweden, Norway sends out less rough 
lumber, so that there is comparatively little 
active cempetition. Further the exporters in 
the two countries co-operate, at least to some 
extent. The official handbooks in Norway give 
long lists of firms that deal in pulp and paper. 
The lumber industry is well organized also, per- 
haps the special feature being the _ river 
driving and timber rafting associations (Foel- 
leshdtnings foreningen) and the organizations 
of the scalers (T6mmermaalere) in the sever- 
al main timber producing districts. 
Another industry in Norway, that is still in 
A LOG SHOOT 
ON ONE OF 
THE CANALS 
IN NORWAY 
up approximately as follows: agricultural area 
4.45 percent, water 3.21, forest 22.31, mcuntain- 
ous and infertile 70.3. The productive forest 
area. amounts to about 48,000 square kilomet- 
ers (18,528 square miles), of which about 45,000 
square kilometers (16,374 square miles) con- 
sists cf conifers. 
The main industries of Norway are its mer- 
chant marine, its fisheries and sea food can- 
neries, and the products of its forests, includ- 
ing both lumber and pulp and paper. Agri- 
culture plays but a small part, although there 
are productive and fertile farms along the 
lower reaches ot the Glommen river on the 
eastern side of Norway. In the central part of 
its infancy, is the development of electrical 
power from the mountain streams. So far only 
a small percentage of the potential power has 
been harnessed. Developments will follow im- 
provements in methods of long distance trans- 
mission. It is now even being suggested that 
through the co-operation of the Norwegian and 
Swedish electric companies, power may in time 
be transmitted by cable, under the channel, to 
Denmark. But the details of industrial devel- 
opmert are not within the scope of this letter. 
THE FORESTS 
OF NORWAY 
The productive forests of Norway lie in the 
(27) 
