Farther north is the !Alums, whose most remote branches originate on the southern declivity of Mount Sylfiellen. Its upper course is in the elevated valley of Herjedalen, and Is very rapid. East of 15° E. long. it descends Into the lower country, forming numerous small cataracts. In the lower country it often extends to the width of 2 or 3 miles, so as to resemble a lake. This river falls into the Gulf of Bothnia south of the town of Soderhamn, after having run about 250 miles. Farther north the Gulf of Bothnia receives the Liungan, the Indals, and the Angerman, which are described under ANOERMAN. LAND; farther north tho Umea, the Skelleftea, the l'itea, the Lulea, the Cali:, and the Tomes, all of which are noticed under BOTEINIA.
Climate.—The difference in the climate of various places in Sweden is chiefly to be attributed to the differences of latitude and elevation above the sea-level. The most northern point of the country lies 2i degrees beyond the polar circle; the most southern is situated nearly 11 degrees to the south of it A small portion of the country is so elevated that it Is always covered with snow, and large tracts along the sea-coast are only a few feet above the sea. The elevation at which perpetual snow occurs is lees as we proceed farther north. Near 60° N. lat. it is about 5600 feet, at 61° N. lit 5400 feet, at 62° N. lat. 5100 feet, at 64° N. lat. 4650 feet, and at N. lat. 2300 feet above the sea. The inclined plane in the most northern district of Sweden rises near the boundary of Norway to 2000 feet above the sea. The fol lowing table gives the mean temperatures of five places in Sweden, south of 60' N. tat, and of Edinburgh and London :— On comparing the climate of Edinburgh and Loudon with the climates of five towns in Sweden, it appears that the mean temperature of the summer is greater in three of the Swedish towns than at London, and in all five greater than at Edinburgh. It is remarkable that the moan temperature of the summer of Wexio exceeds that of Edinburgh by more than 6 degrees, though WexiO is 500 feet above the sea, and nearly a degree farther north than Edinburgh ; but the difference of the mean temperature of winter is 10 degrees in favour of Edinburgh. The above table shows the result of several years' observations, and proves that the climate of Southern Sweden is not so cold ae is com monly supposed. At times however the maximum cold in winter is extremely intense. On the 20th of January, 1814, the thermometer at Stockholm sunk to below zero, whilst at London and Edin burgh it never sinks to zero. On the 3rd of July, 1814, the thermo meter at Stockholm rose to 96.8• in the shade, a degree of heat never experienced iu the British Islands; but such extremes of cold and heat never last more than a few days.
Of five places north of 60• N. lat the mean temperatures, dednced
from observations made during a series of years, are as follows :— The difference in the mean temperature of the summer in these five place. lies within four degrees, though tho most southern and the most northern are nearly eight degrees of latitude distant from one another, and tho most northern is more than 1000 feet more elevated above the sea-level. This fact is to be attributed to the long stay of the sun above the horizon in that season, which at Enontekis lasts more thau three weeks. This circumstance enables the inhabitants of these northern countries to oultivate a few plants which require a suddeu boat, as barley, which is sown and reaped within seven weeks. The winters however are extremely cold : north of 61° N. lat. quick silver frequently freezes, a fact which indicates that the thermometer descends at least 40• below zero. Hot summer almost immediately follows cold winter, and the winter almost immediately follows summer, spring and autumn being extremely short, The annual quantity of rain is not known for the northern provinces, nor for the interior. In the low country bordering on the Baltic it amounts to between 21 and 22 inches ; the snow is probably not included in this account At Enontekis only barley and turnips succeed, but only one crop out of three is worth the labour. Rye cannot be grown with advantage north of 06° N. lat, and so far also tho cultivation of hemp extends. Oats do not ripen north of 64° N. lat., and up to this latitude wheat is cultivated in a few spots, but in general it cannot be grown north of 62° N. lat. Flax does not ripen to seed north of 63° N. lat. Tobacco rarely succeeds north of 61° N. lat. Potatoes are cultivated as far as 66° N. tat, but cabbages only to 64° N. lat. Hops grow as far as 62° N. lat. Cherry-trees are met with as far north as 63° N. lat., but other fruit-trees rarely beyond 60° N. lat. In the plain of Scania mulberry-trees, chestnut-trees, and walnut-trees are planted, and the fruit ripens. The pine, fir, and birch extend to the most northern parts of Sweden. Alders are found up to 63° N. tat, ash and willows to 62° N. hit, and elm-, oak-, and lime-trees to 61° N. let Beech grows iu the forests up to 57° N. lat. Pine-trees cease to grow at an elevation of 3000 feet below the snow-line. Bears are not met with above 3000 feet, and at that height barley ceases to ripen. Firs are only found at 2600 feet under the snow-line, but full-grown birch within 1800 feet In the lakes which occur at such an elevation only the Salmo alpinus ie found. Some bushes and the dwarf-birch grow at 1200 feet below the snow-line, and so far the Arctic Bramble (Raba, ar•clicua) is found ; but above them trees and bushes cease to grow, and the mountains are covered with brown plants and lichens.