NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 141 



Sweden beyond Eaft and Weft Gothland, confequently not very 

 far north. 



Eeg, oak, the ftrongeft and moft durable of all trees, was here- 

 tofore in great abundance in this diocefe of Bergen, as well as 

 elfewhere, but is of late become fcarce. The beft oak-forefts 

 are in the diocefe of Chriftianfand, particularly in the lordfhip of 

 Nedene, from whence great quantities are every year carried to 

 Arendal and Chriftiandfand, for (hip-building, and many mips 

 are loaded with it every year for Holland, tho' the exportation be 

 prohibited. Norway-oak excels that of all other countries, ex- 

 cept the Danifh, which is preferred to it. A decodion of oak- 

 leaves in beer is ufed by the peafants in Norway, as a cure for 

 the gout or rheumatifm, by dipping a cloth in the decodion, 

 and applying it warm to the part affeded. 



Elle, which is likewife called older and oor, the alder-tree, is 

 of two kinds; viz. the roedoor, or red alder, this is the moft com- 

 mon, and the leaves of it are fomewhat rough; and Svartoor, 

 black alder, whole leaves are fmooth and mining; the latter grows 

 chiefly in marmes and other fwampy grounds. The twigs of it 

 are judged wholfom food for the fheep in fpring, as it expels the 

 water, which is apt to lie in their bodies, and to caufe a kind of 

 dropfy. The bark is ufed for a black dye. If it happens to fnow 

 after this tree has put out its leaves, then the leaves turn blown, 

 dry and wither, together with the trunk, which is occafioned by 

 a fpecies of fmall worms, which are faid to be in the fnow, and 

 afled no other tree. But if it be cut down immediately, the root 

 will moot again. 



Enebaer-tree, (which is here commonly called fprake, and in 

 other parts of the country, brifk and brufe) the juniper-tree, grows 

 in abundance almoft every where, and by the fpreading of its 

 branches over the ground, ferves to cover and cherifh the young 

 moots of firs and other trees, but at the fame time kills the grafs. 

 The body of this tree, which feldom exceeds fix or feven ells in 

 length % is ufed for poles and hedge-ftakes, as alfo for paling, it 



* In the church of Trover, in the province of Nordland, and diftritf: of Senjen, 

 there are, according to common report, two pillars of juniper-tree eighteen ells high 

 from the ground, which, if true, and if the pillars are not compofed of feveral pieces, 

 is very extraordinary. It is more notorious, that the trunk of a juniper-tree is fome' 

 times thick enough to be fawed into fmall boards, which are ufed for chefts and cup- 

 boards, and always give an agreeable fmell in a room. 



1 being: 



