The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-12-29
NORSKE FARMS.
Difficulties Encountered in Tilling
Farms in Norway.
Something of the Farmer and His Eco
nOnic MethOds-Every Square Foot of
Land Utilized-An Ingenious Hay
Telegraph.

Whlle traVellng IN Norway recently,
the writer had an opportunity of OBJ
tanning some practical information in
connection with farming in that
country, and the following remarks
are intended to illustrate the typical
condition of the peasantry. In certain
portions of the south, principally in
the Christiania district, comparatively
large farming operations are carried
on. The contrast between Norwegian
farms and those he has left behind at
home, must strike the least ob5ervant
tourist. Yet, though he sees much
that seems to him rude and antiquated,
one soon finds there are not a few les
sons awaiting the agriculturist in the
land of the vikings. So adverse are
the conditions under which the Norske
farmer struggles, that the latter must
be almost after the manner born"
And it is not too much to add that, to
an average farmer, certain bankruptcy
would result where Norwegian can
make his bread and prosper.
The first impression of any ordinary
Norwegian farm-steading is not very
favorable. A cluster of houses, small
and aged, crowd around large dwell
ing-house, which generally looks
somewhat dilapidated. But this APP
pearance is deceptive; for the walls
being Of wood, they look old in a few
years, and become blotched and scared
by the weather. The roof is Of the
same material, or, in the case of the
principal building, either of red tile or
slab. Sometimes the Westinghouse
is painted white when the affect is to
relieve the sombre aspect Of the group.
The walls are usually stout and thor
Oughly weather-proof, planlzs about
four inches thick being used in their
construction. These planks are placed
cdgowise on one another, crossed and
countersunk at the angles, and calked
in the seams with dry moss. A skin
OF thin wood is placed over the outside,
while the interior is lined smoothly
with boards. Inside there is an air Of
comfort and cleanliness. A table
stands in the center of the chief room;
and along the wall bench runs, which
serves for chairs, OF which there is
usually a deficiency. From pots on
the floor, ivy is sometimes trained up
wards to the roof, giving the room a
festive and refreshing look. Not I'M
frequently, the worthy farmer is proud
to have the dresses of his daughters
hung in conspicuous positions, in order
that swains who call may see that the
damsels are well provided with gar
meuts in case of matrimonial al
lance.
The cowhOuses are generally an i'm
provement on those usually seen in En-
gland and Scotland. The building is
larger, and more space is allotted to
each animal, while clean wooden
floor is ordinarily beneath the cattle
Little or no bedding is given. The
level OF the cowhouses is in most cases
raised high enough to allow Of a space
beneath. into which the refuse is regu-
larly swept through an opening in the
floor.
ask: But where is the farm? Look
about you. Mountains hem us in on
all sides, there is no room for fields as
we know them at home; but grass
grows luXuriously among the rocks.
with occasionally patch as large as
an ordinary villa-garden. There, the
farmer cuts a portion OF his hay-crop,
on which his horses and cattle are
mainly dependent during the eight
winter months. But his bayfield, is
yet wider spread. Glance upward some
fifteen hundred feet, there. where an
opening occurs in the dwarf-birch, and
you observe the diminished form OF a
man busy at work. This is the farmer,
a thorough mountaineer cutting the
grass which grows on yonder mar
row ledge OF rock. He has been
up since early morn and will
probably not descend Till evening.
Not u tuft of grass will be left I'M
gathered; not foot Of level ground on