4 FORESTRY OF NORWAY. 
a timber merchant, who had that day completed the 
purchase of a ship-load of wood which was still 
growing in the forest; and who courteously and frankly 
informed me in regard to the transaction. The farmer, a 
small landed proprietor, had engaged, on terms agreed 
to, to fell, prune, and deliver in the river the quantity of 
wood required, in logs of a specified average length and 
girth. All the débris remained his property, and might 
be cut up for firewood and used or sold, or otherwise 
disposed of as he might please. And the logs would be, 
when delivered and accepted, floated down to Christian- 
sand, and shipped by the purchaser. 
I have used the expression farmer or small landed 
proprietor, for such is the character of most of the inhabi- 
tants of this district. The banks of the Topptal river are 
dotted with houses, and with mansions, which speak of 
greater wealth or more extensive possessions ; and many of 
the farmers are dependent on the cutting and sale of wood 
to enable them to pay their rent. The logs I found to be of 
but limited dimensions, and I asked the timber merchant 
if the exploitation adopted did not tend to devastate the 
woods. ‘Look,’ said he in reply, ‘there are young trees 
growing in every corner down to the water’s edge on both 
sides of the river, throughout the whole course of our 
voyage. And so is it for miles inland. As fast as we fell 
others grow.’ I called his attention to the small size of 
the logs, and told him of what was being done in Sweden 
and: elsewhere for the conservation and improvement of 
forests ; but he only laughed, as if that were a thing alto- 
gether unnecessary here, and one which it would be ridicu- 
lous to propose, and he called my attention to the floats 
of timber we were constantly passing. 
At one mill at Christiansand it is said 70,000 trees are 
thus floated down and sawn up every year, and there are 
several other saw-mills in the town. At Vigelund, about 
ten miles above the town on the Torristal river, a little way 
above the rapids of the river to which the steamer goes, 
