highly fpoken of, though they would be reckoned but very
middling, or rather mean, in feveral other countries. I was fur-
prized to find that there was no ftraw or other bedding for the
horfes. T he animals ftand or lie on perforated boards, like fiddlers
in barracks. This praélice I found to be univcrfal throughout
all Scandinavia. It occurred to me that it might have had its-
origin in the oeconomy o f faving ftraw for the cattle in a country
where winter provender is fo much wanted: and, perhaps,
this may be really the cafe; though even in Denmark, where
ftraw and other provender are abundant, the fame praélice is followed.
It has been approved by the Veterinary Colleges o f both
Stockholm and Copenhagen, and univerfally adopted by the
royal and other great families, on account o f its falutary effeét
on the foot o f the horfe. In countries where the horfes Hand
in a hot-bed produced by their own litter, their feet become tender
and fubjeét to divers difordets; but you very feldom foe a
lame'or foundered horfe in Sweden or Denmark, which, i f it is not
to be aforibed to the fkill o f the licenfod farriers, who aré (at
leaft in the Danifh dominions) all brought Up in the Veterinary
College, may, to a certain degree, be owing to the manner o f
keeping the horfo on boards inftead o f ftraw. In moil countries
wood is dear and fcárce: but i f any other fubftitute could be
found for ftraw in the bedding o f horfes, the reduction it would
bring about in the price o f hay and corn muft be very great. It
is well known that, in many places, ftraw is the only food that is
afforded during the winter months, for cattle and even horfes.
The
The Daniih and Swedifh mode o f lodging the horfes has, I
have been informed, fo far attracted the notice o f his Royal
Highnefs the Duke o f York, who keeps a fteady eye on whatever
may contribute to the improvement o f the army, that he has given
orders for the erection o f fome barracks on that plan-, by way o f
experiment. The refult will be o f great importance, if this bedding
on boards, i f I may fay fo, lhall be found to preferye the foot
o f the horfe, even though its expenfivenels ihould prevent its general
adoption.
T h e grain in the country from Gothenburgh to Stockholm, and
I was informed throughout almoft all Sweden, is rye, oats, peas,
beans, arid fome barley. There is fome wheat in Scania, and alfo
in the environs o f Upfala. This place was the refidence o f Odin,
and ancient capital o f Scandinavia; and in its vicinity there are
many traces o f cultivation, and remains o f former fplendour. . In
Sweden the ftate o f agriculture is greatly behind that o f moil
other countries ; the ridges are neither levelled nor evened, nor
regularly divided. T he foil is raifed very , confiderably in the
middle, while both fides are more and more deprived o f it, fo that
the edges are almoft bare rock. Their winding form at both
ends prevents the paffage o f the waters, to drain off which in fuch
a dimate, Ihould be one o f the principal objeds. T he freih
ground to be employed in agriculture is cleared o f wood by fire,
which fpreads fometimes too far, and leaves around the cultivated
fpot a wide and inhofpitable wafte, inimical to vegetation. The
deftrudipn o f the woods is undoubtedly the caufo why certain dif-
iil’V trids