346 Sweden. 



em, Gotaland, is richest in low lands and agricultural 

 soUs, and, with a favorable maritime climate, farming is 

 the main industry. Here a population of 50 to 60, and 

 in parts up to 190 per square mile is found. Beech and 

 oak are here the principal trees with spruce occasionally 

 intermixed. 



In the central part, Svealand or Sweden proper, the 

 forest region begins, with pine and spruce covering the 

 granite hills and plateau; birch and other hardwoods, 

 oak, beech, elm, basswood and poplar being found in the 

 river valleys. 



The third division, Forrland with the northernmost 

 part called Lapland, where Laps and Fins form a not in- 

 considerable part of the population, is a vast, almost im- 

 broken forest country, with hardly more than 3 people 

 to the square mile. Although the northeastern part is a 

 level coast plain, the climate is too severe for successful 

 agriculture and the forest growth also is only short and 

 of inferior quality. 



Pine and Spruce with White Birch intermixed, is the 

 timber. Towards the northern boundary the latter 

 species increases, together with aspen, and finally the 

 treeless tundra appears. A treeless alpine region occu- 

 pies the northwestern frontier territory, fringed at lower 

 elevations by a belt of birch. 



The forest, nearly 10 acres per capita, plays an impor- 

 tant economic r61e in the economy of Sweden not only 

 because it c6vers such a large area (50% of the whole 

 and in some parts over 60%), but because it has long 

 been a prominent source of income. Especially after 

 the abolition of the English import duties in 1866 a 

 rapid increase in wood exports took place, until in 1900 



