NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. %\ 



particularly at Hedemark, and alio in the manor of Nordland, 

 there are many farmers that every year fell feveral tuns of corn, 

 of their own growth, not only to their neighbours, but alfo ex- 

 port it to Sweden. But on the contrary, there are found many 

 more that are obliged to buy above half the corn they ufe, efpeci- 

 ally on the weft fide of Norway; there he is counted a good farmer 

 that can fupply his own family with corn. This in a great rnea- 

 fure proceeds from the peafants negligence in many places, who 

 choofe to work in die woods, or at their fimeries, rather than em- 

 ploy themfelves in cultivating their lands ; but now they begin, 

 more than ever, to improve wafte grounds. Thefe peaceable 

 times occafion a great increafe of people, and the ground belong- 

 ing to one houfe, is often divided into three, four, or five parts, 

 among as many families; which makes thefe new inhabitants fee 

 the neceffity of being induftrious in cultivating the ground in 

 order to fupport their families. However, in moil places their 

 induftry is not fo great as it might, and ought to be in draining 

 the marfhy grounds, and turning them into good pafture,- or 

 arable land, which in other countries has improved many wafte 

 places, and rendered them populous in a fhort time, according to 

 the words of the poet. 



Sterilifque diu palus aptaque remis, 



Vicinas urbes alit et grave fentit aratrum. 

 As for the reft, the Lord of nature has diftributed various diffi- 

 rniiar means of living among different nations, that one may have 

 need of the other; and that one country may difpofe of its fuper- 

 fluities to another, and import other 'things which it wants at 

 home. Thus if Norway was to produce a fufficient quantity fo 

 as not to want foreign corn, I do not know where Denmark 

 would difpofe of its fuperfluity in that commodity. Grazing Graz > E 

 and breeding cattle is the chief part of the farmer's employment,' 

 by which he not only fupplies his own wants, but gets a conft- 

 derable profit by fending to market their flefh, fkins and hides 

 In the mountains the peafants make grazing almoft their only 

 occupation, and, as has been obferved before, fend their cattle at 

 a great diftance to grafs, in feters, or fruitful fpots on the tops of 

 the mountains, or in the fmall -valleys, and alona the rivulets that 

 run between the hills. They generally fend good dogs with them 

 and women fervants to look after the cows, to take care of the 

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