The Norwegian Fjords

FJORD (c

of pine and fir clothe the steep sides of the mountains here, and modern

k and Ramb?ren, both over 5,000 feet h

mountains of Lyster were faintly visible beneath the arc, through a misty veil of rain-gauze. As the steamer proceeded the rainbow appeared to retire, so that we were not to sail under the beautiful arc-en-ciel on that occasion. Instead, we were presently envelo

ur all was again in brilliant, almost dazzling, sunshine, the rocks and trees on

ly wooded than almost any other part of Sogn, many of the mountains bei

h. These trees grow all over the country, sometimes in unmixed, continuous forests covering larg

leys up to a height of some 2,500 feet above sea-level; at this elevation they are succeeded by hardy forests of

we must go farther inland, and to the heads of the larger fjords, before we can come across any large extent of forest-cove

ark coniferous forests with its silver bark and delicate foliage. There are two species of birch-the lowland or white birch, with graceful drooping branches, and the hardy mountain birch, which is rather darker in colour and more stunted in form. It is only in the most northern countries that the "lady of the

whose wood is used in the manufacture of matches, the alder, the rowan and hazel, along with the u

hardy and strong men. As the larger forests lie often at a considerable distance from the inhabited districts, ma

y deep, it is then hauled to the nearest river, where it is stacked to await the melting of the snow and ice, when it is flo

ted the commerce of the country. They cut down the forests nearest the coast, also farther inland around the fjord districts, and export

kless felling on the farm lands, have been the means of denuding the west country of the larger

ers. A commercial system has been devised by which these forests are kept up to their original size and value, State nurseries for the rearing of young trees having been established at several places in the country, the two la