138 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



redigerentur. Quod malum ne licentia nimia exitiofum regno 

 tandem foret, edicto ftatim vetitum, materiam quoquam, nifi in 

 Daniam evehi." Upon this, the Dutch made a heavy complaint 

 to the emperor, who at that time was their fovereign, and he ac- 

 cordingly fent remonftrances to the king, but received for an- 

 fwer, that the neceffary prefervation of the timber required fuch 

 reftraint, efpecially as the peafants totally neglected tillage and 

 hufbandry, for the more eafy way of maintaining themfelves by 

 felling of timber ; Deferente plebe ruftica agrorum cultum, pra 

 faciliore opera materia? casdendas, jacere pofleffiones fteriles et in- 

 frugiferas. 



Thefe complaints are heard in many places, for altho' the in- 

 creafe of tillage be at prefent double to what it was at that time 

 yet on the other hand, from the increafe of the inhabitants, and 

 divifion of eftates among feveral fons, the northern peafants ftill 

 chiefly give themfelves to timber-labour. This could not poffibly 

 long fubfift, without that remarkable fecundity in the foil for 

 producing trees in thofe places, where the young trees are per- 

 mitted to reach their full growth, by the prudence of the pro- 

 prietor, or by the fituation of the wood, rendering the ex- 

 portation of it difficult ; for it is my opinion, that more wood 

 rots in Norway, than is burnt in a whole year in Denmark. In- 

 deed the vaft and thick forefts feem to contradict any apprehen- 

 fions that ever the country can be in any want of common timber* 

 but as to the fir-trees, and oaks, it is to be feared that pofterity 

 will be at fome lofs for them, unlefs the foreft-laws are more 

 ftri&ly executed, particularly with refpecl to young trees, of which 

 the continual exportation muft be attended with very bad confe- 

 quences. The beft wood for timber (for of other wood there is 

 plenty every where) is in the following provinces ; Saltan, Helle- 

 land, Romfdale, Guldbrandfdale, Ofterdale, Soloe, Valders, Hal- 

 lingdal, Sognfiord, Tellemark, the lordfhip of Nedene, Bufkerud, 

 and in the counties. 



SECT. V. 



a catalogue ^ s to tne f evera l fpecies of trees, of which the woods in Nor- 



of the Nor- i ' 



way trees. wa y CO niift., the principal are the fir and the pine-tree. How- 

 ever I fhall endeavour to enumerate them all, according to the 

 i beft 



