Agriculture and Produclions.—The climate and soil are less favour able to the growth of grain in Sweden than iu most other parts of Europe. It is stated that in seven years one year occurs in which the crops entirely fail; that in three years the produce is indifferent, and in three rather plentiful. The principal objects of cultivation are wheat, rye, barley, oats, mixed grain, and peas. Since the introduc tion of the cultivation of the potatoe the produce is generally sufficient for home consumption. Other objects of cultivation are hemp, flax, tobacco, buckwheat, carrawayseed, hops, and madder. Common kitchen vegetables are grown in the southern provincee of Sweden. Cherries, apples, and pears are abundaut only in the southern districts ; cranberries and other berries abound in the northern districts.
The forests are very large, covering about 48,000 square miles, or more than a fourth of the surface. But a great portion of the northern provinces (north of 61° N. lat.) is destitute of trees. The woods however contain a comparatively small number of timber-trees. In most parts only small trees occur, and at the distance of many feet from each other, the intervals being bare or covered with underwood. Accordingly the export of timber, though considerable, is not in pro portion to the immense extent of the woods. But these forests supply charcoal and firewood, of which a great quantity is consumed, as Sweden has no coal. Tar and pitch are extracted from the roots of pine-trees, and are articles of export. Several kinds of coniferous trees and birch compose the greater part of these forests. There are small oak and beech forests in the southern districts. The immense tracts of country which are still uninhabitable, are generally used as pasture ground ; the domestic animals must be kept in stables from four to six or seven months, and their number is consequently limited by the extent of the meadows. Cattle and sheep are the most numerous, but the former are of small size, and the wool of the sheep is coarse. In the northern districts reindeer are kept by the Laplanders. Wild animals are very numerous, especially in the northern parts, hut some of the larger size begin to be scaroe, as bears and beavers. A few wild reindeer are still found in some planes. Wolves, lynxes, gluttons, foxes, hares, squirrels, marteus, and others are common. Lemmings sometimes come down in large numbers from the Millen 3fountaius, and lay waste the low country. Elk and deer are found in some of the forests. Among wild birds are eagles, capercailzies, and woodcocks. The seas of Sweden contain abundance of fish. It is stated that 88 different kinds of salt- and fresh-water fish are brought to the markets of Goteborg, among which turbot is common. There are also oysters and lobsters. The fishery in the Baltic gives sub sistenoe to a great number of families. A smaller kind of herrings, called atromings, is naught in the summer along the east coast. This
fish is very numerous. Salmon is caught abundantly in almost all the rivers and lakes.
Sweden is rich in minerals. Gold is found on the table-land of Smkland. Silver is worked at Sala, in 1Vesteras-Ltin, and at some other places, and in Falu-Lan ; bnt the produce hardly pays the expenses. Copper is more abundant. The richest mines are those at Falun, in Falu-Lan ; next to them are those of Otvidaberg, in Lin. kiiping-Liin. Other copper-mines are worked in Westerns, in Oresund near Mount Areskiata, and in Orebro, but their produce is small. Lead-mines also are worked in Westerns and in Fain. Iron-ore is found in nearly every district of Sweden, and there is no part where it is not worked more or less, with the exception of the plain of Scania, where it seems that no iron-ore exists. The richest iron-mines are worked in that part of Sweden which has been noticed under the name of the Region of the Mines. The mountains near Gellivare in Pitea-Liin, are composed entirely of iron-ore, containing from 70 to 80 per cent of metal; but they are far from the sea, in a country nearly uninhabited, and almost destitute of fuel Tho best iron is obtained from the mines of Dannemora in Upsala-Lan. Nearly the whole of the produce, amounting annually to more than 3000 tons, goes to England. But the largest qnantities of iron are produced in Carlstad, Orebro, Gefle, Falu, and Wester3s. In Orebro-Ltin are rich mines of cobalt ; others are found in Calmar and Nykoping-Lein, but their produce is not great. Other mineral products are alum and vitriol, which are found in small quantities; brown coal, which is worked near Cape Kullen in Scania : and marble.
Inhabitants.—The bulk of the population are Swedes, a nation of Teutonic origin. Besides the Swedes, there are Fins and Laplanders. The Fins are numerous on the banks of the Tornea Elf. Tho Lap landers were formerly in possession of all Lapland, but many Swedes and Fins have settled among them. They call themselves Semi, and their country Samilanda. Though their language proves that they are only a branch of the Finnish nations, they are distinguished from them by the form of their body and their mode of life. Their stature is short, varying in general between four and five feet. Their complexion is a dirty yellow; face generally broad, nose short; hair rather black ; eyes brown, narrow, and lengthened; and mouth small. The greater number live on the produce of their herds of reindeer, which supply the Laplanders with food, dress, and articles of exchange. They live on the milk and flesh of the reindeer, convert their skins into dresses, and sell their smoked flesh, and especially their tongues, which are considered a great dainty. These animals are also used in drawing the sledges. The Laplanders live only in the country north of 64' N. lat.; in winter they come with their herds to the lower country near the Gulf of Bothnia, and in summer they migrate to the Kiulen Mountains.