A well-built farmstead. 



GENERAL SURVEY 



Agriculture, in the most extensive signification of the word in the 

 Norwegian language, embraces the utilisation of the surface of the 

 country, including not only the actual soil but also the forests, mountain 

 ranges and freshwater lakes and rivers. Thus, agriculture in Norway 

 comprises the working of the farms together with cattle-raising and 

 dairying, horticulture, forestry, the hunting of game and fishing, as well 

 as the breeding and keeping of reindeer. Of these pursuits the utilisation 

 of the soil itself and of the forests plays an altogether predominating 

 part from an economic point of view. 



In general, however, the term »agriculture« is employed only with 

 respect to the utilisation of the soil for farming and gardening operations, 

 while the expression » forestry* is used of everything pertaining to the 

 conservation and management of woods and forests. To forestry belongs 

 also the preservation and pursuit of game. 



Norwav lies very far to the north and extends from south to north 

 over a great number of degrees of latitude, namely, from 58 ° to 71 ° 

 north latitude. This situation of the country necessitates a great varia- 

 tion with respect to the utilisation of the soil. Whereas, south of the 

 polar circle there can be grown ordinary agricultural products and in the 

 more southerly parts of the country also the more sensitive plants, such 

 as wheat and garden produce, the most northerly part of the country is 

 mostly given over to the cultivation of grass.. It deserves to be mentio- 

 ned, however, that in spite of the northerly situation barleys ripens (down 

 by the sea-shore) in favourable years right up to abou't 70 ^ north latitude. 



