The Red Cloud chief., 1888-12-28

Of hay are expeditiously sent without
labor. and then carried On sledResto
the steadings. Without such . methd.
many weary journeys would be necs-
sary ere all the hay required for Q louk
winter could be brought down. Il %
pears the Norwegiaa farmer borrower
the idea OF this hay-tslegraph from hi
brother hillsman Of the Tyrol sbou'
eight years ago. Tho hay crop IL th,
product Of natural grass. no seed bein,
sown. nor any admixture Of clover be
ing used.
The cereals IN generally oats and
barley; these are planted wherever
there 10 . likelihood OF their growing
Small patches from twenty feet TO q,
many yards square are common; while
not unfrequently the cornnelds an
but q name. for they meander like
stream In all directions among the
huge powders and bare rocky hillock,
which compose 30 great a psrt Of the
surface OF q farmland. The heads an
usually very light, and their appear.
ance would cause q painful smile on
the face OF q Western farmer. Still,
the people cheerfully sOw and thank
fully reap their scsnty harvest, con.
tented il Providence gives them sum.
cient for their few want
The method employed in drying the
hay and corn crops is different from
that which obtains in this country. In
the former case. poles are erected on or
near the patches. and between them
ropes or long sticks are laid till a sort
OF six-barred railing is made. On these
bars the hay is laid. and dried in q
most effective manner The corn. on
the other hand. is tied in small bundles
and impaled On poles placed at inter-
walls in the fields. These poles are
about nine feet high. and capable OF
holding ten shcaves each. The grain
Is thus elevated above the ground; and
should a rain storm set in before it a
be conveyed to the granary. little
results. for half an hours wind and
sunshine thoroughly dries the crop.
In the great valley Of Voss. the fields
are more extensive than those just de-
scribed. Indeed. q field Of two to three
acres a be seen on more than one
farm near fringe.
With regard to the potato crop. the
same kind OF miniature farming occurs,
only ''much more So" as Mark Twain
would say. Aseed is dropped here and
there wherever a possibilit exists Of its
root. In the NnrOdal, the
writer noticed potatoes growing on q
bOwlder. where a soil OF about eighteen
inches had gathered or been placed. |
The ''ield' was a triangle. whose sides
each about twelve feet in length!
Turnips would appear to be- outside
The economy Of a Norwegian farm.
Though a wide area was visited, en-
Bergens-Amt. Hardanger and
part Of the SOgne district. not a bulb
vas visible; a curious feature. cOnsid-
,ring the importance OF such a crop for
God.
The portion OF the farm given up to
rep and failow is styled the in.marken.
n inside fields; between that and the
leld arc tee ont-marken. Tho latter
re reserved. rs a rule. for the cattle
Turing winter; the lhy being allowed
o grow In the summer while the cows
ne at the s0tcrs on the mountains.
1anuring IL not resOrted to "a n regu-
part Of the routine; tho fields are
eft from time TO time for three or four +,
ears. BY rotation. In grass.
The farmers themselves are worthy /,
I more than the brief description
'hich can be given here. A life of I
onstant activity and mountain climb
q has bred q class Of men scarcely to
g excelled. They are tall and strongly I
ailt. with no excess Of flesh. for they {
always In training. Their athletic (
.ames are supplemented by good
llfnered. honest faces, always ready &
break into a laugh. A uniform suit \
pilOt-cl0th does not, however en- '
lnce their appearance. One does not {
'adfly Associate the Sunday clothes
q NAVY with the Norwegian farmer. I
heir former dress. which some OF the d
d men retain. Is more becoming. Aud c
We still find the true noun 8
costume in some Of the more q
Districts broad hat, short Il
cket OF homemade cloth. ornate with q
light buttons; leather knee-breeches. {
ID heelless shoes Of a soft tough hide. Il
ne never-absent knife hangs suggest Il
Mt the right side. Add limbs of q
rye proportions. = frank face. u back c
straight As . soldiers. and you see Il
e typical fjeldsman. The farms Of v
rho and SkjTgadals will be familiar p
amples to the tourist. n
In the summer months. female serv- n
lts. O the daughters of the farmer, c,
nd the cattle high up in the field. v
ing in s0ters or cabins. where they b
epare cheese and butter. eI
for such luxuries as coffee. p
gar and tobacco. the farmer in Nor.
" can be independent OF the outside
,rld. His fields and stock give him n
I'd and clothing; while from the tim |.
r on his hillsides he builds his houses.
d manufactures his furniture. There $,
no lack Of plate in those little farm II
uses; the hostess a muster quite a ca
play Of silver mugs, spoons and &C
in~king-cups. Some Of the spoons are 70
OF special notice. for the pat -
rs are delicate and chaste. A ia vi
rite kind il that with the thin twisted tn