TRAVELS IN ICELAND, 



11 



is consequently not of so good a kind as elsewhere : the cattle 

 eat it with avidity , and fatten on it almost perceptibly, but they 

 lose their strength ; which happens, as experience has proved, in 

 every part of Iceland, where the soil produces a quantity of 

 horse tail. It is well known that this plant is vulnerary and 

 astringent. There is a law which enjoins the inclosure of 

 all pasturages and meadows, which has existed for three centu- 

 ries, but now is no longer adhered to. The people merely set 

 a child to watch their cattle, and who is not able to prevent them 

 from entering the meadows. The superficial stratum of the soil 

 gradually dries by the sea-winds ; and the snow does not suffici- 

 ently cover the ground in winter ; for though it sometimes falls 

 in great quantities, it is soon melted and absorbed by the thick 

 vapours from the sea. And lastly, their manure, at present, is 

 of little use. Many of these inconveniencies might be re- 

 medied by rendering the soil heavier by manure ; and if, every 

 time an excavation is formed in the ground, care were taken to 

 fill it with turf or fatty 7 matter, to prevent it from becoming larger 

 by the action of wind and rain. The principal cause of the bad 

 quality of the fodder is, doubtless, the little precaution used at 

 the time of hay-harvest, as the hay is seldom dry when they stack 

 it, by which it frequently heats and takes fire ; the stacks also 

 being much longer than in most countries, sink in the middle, 

 and form a reservoir for rain, which deprives the hay of its best 

 qualities. It is, however, worthy of remark, that, on advancing 

 towards the mountains, the land is richer, and the grass and 

 plants possess a more nutritive quality ; indeed our travellers, 

 when proceeding along the ridge of Keller-Heide, were surprised 

 at the beauty of the surrounding country, which produced abun- 

 dance of excellent grass and Hieracium or W iid Sorrel. 



PLANTS. 



The principal plants found in this district, and most of which 

 serve as food for cattle, are the following : Equiseta ; Humex ace- 

 tosa; Taraxacum; Hieracium; Ranunculus acris; LapathmnjG- 

 His oblongis crispatis; Thlaspi bursa pastoris ; Caltha palmtris ; 

 Carex Linnei, pinguicula ; Menianthes, trifolium jibrinum ; 

 Comarum palustre ; Alchymilla alpina; Spirea ulmaria ; Ga~ 

 Hum luteum; Galium boreale ; Trifolium pratense, Jiore albo ; 

 Potentilla argentea ; Statice armeria; Anthyllis yulneraria ; 

 Plant ago maritima. Linn. Foliis Unearibifs $ Planiago foliis 

 punctatis ; Cochlearia; Rodiola rosea ; Qucubalus Be/ten al- 

 buna; Sedum vermicular c ; Urttca urens ; A kla j mill a -tulga- 

 ris ; Geranium mohtanum ; Saxifraga auiumnalh, Jiore iuttj ; 

 JAclien Islandicus : Fuel mar ini. 



B 2 . 



