NATURAL HISTORY of NO R WAY, 99 



For the caufe of fuch a great difference, in point of fertility, at 

 an equal diftance from the line, the reader muft be referred to 

 what I have faid in the firft Chapter, Seel:, vi. concerning the 

 difference of the cold and warmth, the fharp and mild air in the 

 diocefes of Aggerhuus and Bergen, which, tho' manifeftly in a 

 parallel latitude, differ as much in refpect of cold and heat, as if 

 they were fituate ten degrees from each other. This, as I have 

 before obferved, is to be attributed to the warm vapours of the 

 fea, which, fpreading themfelves over the weftern fide, moderate 

 the winters there, and have the fame effect in all the maritime di- 

 ftricts, to a hundred Norway miles north of Bergen ; fo that in 

 fruitfulnefs, Nordland furpafles even this diocefe, though with the 

 additional advantage of better vallies, and larger tracts for tillage *j 

 whereas, Swedifh Lapland, which lies in a direct line behind Nord-^ 

 land, is deprived of thefe warm vapours by the Koelen range of 

 mountains, which intercepts them, as Filefield does in the diocefe 

 of Bergen. 



Next to that of Nordland, the mofl fruitful provinces in the 

 diocefe of Drontheim, are Inderherre and Nummedal ; in that 

 of Bergen, Sognifiord and Vaas \ in that of Chriftianfand, Jed^ 

 deren, Ryefylk, Raabygdelag, and the lordfhip of Nedenes ; in 

 the diocefe of Aggerhuus, Hedemark ; all which are not in the 

 leaft inferior to the beft corn countries in Denmark ; and befides 

 thefe, are Hadeland, Toten, Romerige, Ringerige, and Gulbrand£- 

 dale. All thefe territories ufually yield grain enough, not only for 

 the fupport of their inhabitants, but a large furplus, which they 

 difpofe of among their neighbours, and even among the Swedes. 

 On the other hand, in many places, a third or fourth of the in- 

 habitants are not in a capacity of laying up a necefTary quantity; 

 which deficiency, however, is otherwife compenfated to them. 



SECT. II. 



It is moreover, remarkable, that the corn-grounds throughout Norwaymorc 

 the diocefe of Bergen, which, on account of the many mountains, $*&J^l. 



agine. 

 * Agreeable to this, is what Thomas Bartholin fays of the caufe of the mild win- 

 ters in Ferroe, which lies in the middle of the north-fea : rt Aqua infulas Ferroenfes 

 allabens, quanquam per fe frigida fit, falfedine tamen fua ex perpetuo motu ple- 

 rumque producit hyemem temperatam." Ada Med. Hafn. ad ann. 1677. Vol. in. 

 P- 37*- '* 



Part I. D d are 



