The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-02-14
NQRSKE FARMS.
Difficulties Encountered in Tilling
Farms in Norway.
somethinH. of the Farmer and His Eco
nomic Methods-Every Square Foot of
Lend UtiIized-An Ingenious Hay
Telegraph.

While travelling in Norway recently,
the writer had an opportunity of OBJ
taining 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 observant
tourist. Yet, though he sees much
that seems to him rude and antiquated,
one soon finds there are not 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 latter the manner born -
And it is not too much to add that, to
an average farmer, certain bankruptcy
would result where a 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
lng-house. which generally looks
somewhat dilapidated. But this APP
pearance is deceptive; for the walls
being of wood, they look old in 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 dwelling-house
ls painted white, when the affect is to
relieve the sombre aspect of the group.
The walls are usually stout and thor
oughly weather-proof. planks about
four inches thick being used in their
construction. These planks are placed
edgewise on one another, crossed and
countersunk at the angles, and calked
IN the seams with dry moss. A skin
oi 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 a bench runs, which
serves for chairs, of which there is
usually deficiency. From pots on
the floor, ivy is sometimes trained up
wards to the roof, giving the room
festive and refreshing look. Not un-
frequently, the worthy farmer is proud
p have the dresses of his daughters
hung in conspicuous positions, in order
mat swains who call may see that the
damsels are well provided with gar
ments in case of matrimonial al
lance.
he cowhouses are generally an inn
proyement on those usually seen in En-
gland and Scotland. The building is
mrger, and more space is allotted to
each animal, while clean wooden
aoor is ordinarily beneath the cattle.
Little or no bedding is given. The
aesel OF the cowhouses is in most cases
raised high enough to allow of space
oeneath, into which the refuse is regu-
aarly swept through an opening in the
aoor
outside the buildings, one is apt to
ask; But where is the farm? Look
scout you. Mountains hem us in on
~ sides, there is no room for fields as
= know them at home; but grass
ssoNs uxuriously among the rocks,
sun occasionally patch as large as
q ordinary villa-garden. There, the
.a1aner cnts portion of his hay-crop,
g which his horses and cattle are
manly dependent during the eight
inter months But his bayfield, is
sss WIDER spread. Glance upward some
a.'een hundred feet, there, where an
spening occurs in the dwarf-hirch, and