"Waller Ferry", John William Edy, 1800

No. Xxix. Waller. The roads in this part of the country are nearly impassable; water-carriage is therefore the most common mode of conveyance. The passage runs between islands and tremendous rocks, which nearly meet in some of the passes. In two hours the journey from krageröe to waller may be accomplished. The ferry-house of waller is conveniently situated, in a country which bore every appearance of supenor cultivation. The fields were covered with various kinds of corn, and a considerable quantity of flax. Much attention is paid in norway to the culture of commercial plants. Of flax and hemp the country, however, still requires importations. In the manufacture of linens, the norwegian peasantry are very industrious and skilful, and in some parts annually dispose of considerable quantities. Hops are cultivated nearly in all parts of norway, in the south as well as in the north. The districts of guldbrandsdale, hedemark, and hardanger in particular, contain a great number of hop gardens, from which a considerable part of the country is supplied. Von aphelen, in his translation of bomare's natural history, states, that on the shores of folden, a long firth about 120 miles to the northward of drontheim, most farms were provided with hop-gardens. Tobacco has been much cultivated, especially in latter times, in the vicinity of frederickshald and in other places. Cummin, caraway (in norwegian, karve) grows wild every where in great abundance. In some meadow scarcely anything but caraway is to be seen. In the districts of ringerige and hedemark, as well as in other places, a peasant is at times able to sell from 10 to 20 barrels annually. Great quantities of caraway are exported, particularly from christiania. Manna grass (festuca fluitans, linn. ) grows wild in great abundance, but the use of it is unknown. Herbs for feeding cattle, according to the practice of rural economists in latter times, are not found in norway. A small quantity of clover, produced in the vicinity of christiania is scarcely worth mentioning. But wild plants suited to the feeding of cattle and other branches of economy are, on the other hand, in great abundance; for instance, nettles, urtica dioica, used by poor people instead of cabbage. Some make very good and strong linen of nettles. Orobus tuberosus is chewed by some like tobacco. Its root, which is knotty, is gathered and strung on pieces of thread. It is sold by the ell. Pteris aquilina, an exellent herb for feeding cattle; when burnt to ashes it produces soap. Many other plants of the kind might be mentioned. Date: 1800. Waller Ferry (JW Edy plate 29)