Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
AGRICULTURE IN NORWAY.
And on the Borders of the Cold Arc
tic Circle.

Taken as a whole the agriculture of
Norway is not very in. --Ortant. The
cultivated land occupies the insignifi-
cant area of 1000 square miles. But
there are many things of interest to be
observed. Perhaps the chief interest
lies in the faithful industry by which
very small patches of land are cult
vated. They do not despise small
things here, and they have learned the
important truth that "faithfulness in
little things is something great" We
have seen thousands of patches Of pota-
toes, oats, barley or rye in valleys or
upon mountain sides that would not
average more than 1000 square feet,
while many patches of potatoes were
not mere than 100 each
Grass is not the important product
of the country. 1t is remarkably rich
and of very high feeding value 1t
grows very thiclIly upon the ground,
and thus turns off i gotd yield, re-
sembling that Of England
The annual rainfall is very favor
able. Along the west coast it averages
over 20 inches, and elsewhere some
thing over 40. UuOn the mountain
farms the grasses are usually of native
varieties, numbers of which closely re-
sembe our Rhode Island bent-grass.
In the valleys excellent crops of timo-
thy are seen. The native grasses are
often SO intergrOwn with wild flowers
and aromatic plants as to give them
the appearance of flower gardens and
fO no haN to no auI-o ,ioIo
in sweet perfumes.
1t naturally follows that upon s,.cn
small areas the cutting of the grass and
the gathering of the hay is all per
formed by hand labor Upon a few
farms near Christiania, and upon a
greater number near Trondhjem, and
few elsewhere moving machines
were seen. These were nearly all Of
American manufacture, and the leading
American machines seem quite at home
here. One establishment in Christiania
has made some mowers in exact imita-
ton of the American type. Not more
than a dozen horse rakes have been
seen in driving two or three hundred
miles with horses through the country
and travelling considerable distances
by rail. Perhaps this number would
include all those seen at the places of
business of the dealers in the towns.
The hay-making is very picturesque
and interesting. The scythes are %
inches in length and very narrow and
attached to straight snaths, on which
are peculiarly shaped handles. A lit
tie practice enables one to use this odd
imlemcnt quite effectively. 1t requires
short, quick stroke. Many OF the
grass patches upon the mountains are
SC rough that SO large an implement
cannot be used. The blade is about Is
inches in length and the handles about
as long and very peculiarly shaped. |
purchased one Of these from a noun
tain mower for one krone-say % cents
to take home as a curiosity The
blade was made by a blacksmith in the
reighborhOOd and the handle by the
farmer.
As soon as mOwn, the grass is placed
upon racks to cure. These racks are
made by placing stakes in the ground,
some 10 or Il feet apart, and to these
light poles are fastened horizontally by
withes, foot apart, and as high as can
be readily reached. Often a stout cord
is used instead of the poles. The grass
is loosely shaken, and then placed upon
the racks so as to fill them nearly full.
The air readily passes through it, while
the top layer sheds the rain from all
beneath. The process is laborous, bat
effective in curing the hay in the best
&c q
by men, the raking and curing by wo-
men. The hay is carried to the barns
in bundles upon the backs of men or
women, or is drawn upon diminutive,
low carts. From the mountain patches
the bundles of hay are frequently run
down to the valley upon wires with a
pully. These are sometimes several
hundred feet long
Some 80 or more years ago variety
of oats was introduced to America,
called Norway oats. 1t had very strong
straw ana yielded heavily a gray-black
grain. The hull was hard and seriously
detracted from the value Of the grain.
Upon inquiry it was found that this
variety is considerably grown through
days longer season than the white var
ieties, and the season here is very
short, it is not 50 generally grown as
the white. The grain l saw was very
heavy, with a much less Objectionable
hull than the American grown.
The best potato culture l have seen
was within the Arctic circle, notably
upon the LRofoden islands. There the
drills were straight and far enough
apart to allow of the proper develop
meIt of the plants and tubes. Else
where the ground is literally sown with
the seed, and the plants are crowded
most unreasonably. With such e
meager agriculture, It may be asked
how is Norway's population Of over
two million people supported? The
nations greatest interest is her com
mercial marine. Since the days of the
vikings this has been maritime PEG.
pie and to-day Norway has more ships
than any other nation except Grea'
Britain. Her fishing industry is enor.
nous, directly supporting over 1O0
900 people, and bringing great wealth
from the exports to other countries
The fisheries greatly aid the agricul