I l l
B O O K favourable to Denmark, as it was contrary to the intereftg of
'-----— i Sweden : it was upheld by the vigour and abilities of Margaret*
but, under her weak and unwarlike fucceflors, entailed upon
Sweden a feries of convullions and troubles, until it was finally
diffolved by the valour and prudence of Guflavus Vafa.
About half a mile from the town is the caflle, Handing on an
eminence, the only remains of the antient magnificence of Cal-
mar. The building has been conflrudted at different intervals,
and contains a motley mixture of Gothic and Grecian architecture.
I obferved over one of the doors an infcription,
John III. 1568. Parts of the manfion, however, are much
older, as the apartment in which the deputies of the three
kingdoms ufed to affemble ftill fubfifls : It is 94 feet long, and
30 broad. This palace, once the refidence of the celebrated
Margaret, and fo remarkable in the hiftory of this country, is
now converted into a diflillery.
Inftead of proceeding by the diredt road from Calmar to Stockholm,
we made a circuit through the interior parts of Sweden,
the provinces of Smoland and Eaft Gothland, and palfed through
Jonkioping, Wadflena, Medvi, Linkioping, and Nordkioping.
In traverfing Smoland, it was curious to obferve the immenfe
traits of forefts of pine and fir; the approach to the villages, announced
by groves of oak, beech, and birch; and the numerous
plots or parterres of arable land among paftures and rocks. I
I > have frequently obferved an acre of ground laid out with alternative
flips o f rye, barley, flax, hemp, the intervals between and
around
around fown with grafs. I paffed many fpots in which the trees
were cut down and burning in order to manure the foil, and render
it fit for pafture or corn.
An intelligent traveller *, fpeaking of the agriculture of Smoland,
fays, “ I found a tolerable foil in Smoland, without fand or
heath; but the large detached flones and mafles of granite with
which it is overfpread, render the greatefl part unfit for the
plough. In the crevices of thefe flones, and between the pines
and fir, underwood grows rapidly.
“ The peafants feledt a fpot of ground in the midfl of the forefl,
cut down the trees, flrew them over the ground, and bum them
when dry. They then dig the earth between the flones with a
fpade, fow and harrow it with rakes, and obtain a good crop
of corn for two fucceffive years. The ground is then converted
into paflure, and is chiefly employed in feeding cattle,
which, both in this province and Halland, thrive well, make
a good appearance, and form an advantageous article of export.
Thefe fpots of land thus converted are called Swedja Land, or
burnt land, and in the fpace of fifteen years are again covered
with wood. This mode of culture has been ufually cenfured by
many travellers, as very unprofitable and detrimental, but without
fufficient reafon; for many of thefe fpots cannot be ufed
to any other purpofe, being too flony, and the trees of little
value.”
* Profeflbr Buefcb, o f Hamburgh.
V o l . III. L Veils