Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/849

* SWEDEN. 7-il SWEDEN. under cultivation, of which about two-thirds were from 5 to 45 acres in extent. The preceding tahle shows the area (in acres) under the chief crops in 1900 and the yield (in Imshels). The largest and most productive area of farm lands is in East and West Ciotland and Scania, in the south uf the country. In spite of the im- provement iu farming in recent years, especially through the importation of modern farm ma- chinery and implements, the country cannot pro- duce ^vheat and rye enough for home consump- tion, and about 12,000 tons of breadstuH's more than the icingdom produces are brought in every year, chiefly from the Baltic countries. Nearly half the total grain raised is oats, which is an export crop. The siigar beet thrives in the ex- treme south, but the acreage given to it is not sufficient to supply the demand for sugar. Flax, tobacco, and hops are cultivated with much suc- cess. At the end of 1900 Sweden had 533.050 horses, 2.582,555 head of eattle, 1,261,436 sheep, and 805,805 hogs. Great quantities of butter are exported to Great Britain. The (iovernmeut has done much to improve agriculture by found- ing schools of agriculture and l)y the appoint- ment of peripatetic teachers. The fisheries are im- portant, though nuich inferior to those of Xor- way. They do not suffice for the needs of the country. On the other hand, the timber trade is of much greater value than that of Norway. JIakitactures. Although the manufacturing industries have been stimulated in every way by the Government and have made great progress, Sweden is still largely dependent upon foreign coiuitries for most of these commodities. The kint'dom lacks the coal, population, and capital for the most successful development in this re- spect. The industrial advance, however, has been most substantial, as is seen from the fol- lowing comparisons: From 1896 to the close of to $285,010,200. The sawmills in 1901 con- tributed 13.53 per cent, of the total value of product; Hour mills, 7.70 per cent.; textile mills, 5.22 per cent.; machine shops, 5.14 per cent.; and iron and steel luanulactuns and foundries, 5.01 per cent. The timber industry in all its branches, including wood pulp, is the leading manufac- turing industry. The puldic forests (area, 18,- 830.000 acres) yielded in 1899 timber valued at $20,085,050. In 1900 43,312 work ])eople in 1148 saw and ])laning mills produced lumber worth $43,589,544 ; furniture and other wood- work were also large products. Swedish matches, everywhere famous, are produced ehielly at Jonkiiping, where one factory em- ploys 1500 hands. There are woolen and cot- ton factories at Norrku])ing, Stockholm, and Giiteborg, but the numufacture of linen, a house- hold industry, is the on!}' branch of textile manufaeiure which meets the domestic demand. The most famous iron works are near PIskilstuna and the chief machine shops at Motala. Swedish bar iron, steel goods, blades, armor plates, cables, nails, and knives are highly esteemed. Commerce. The average annual trade (in million dollars) is as follows: Imports.. Exports.. 85.5 67.5 97.5 88.5 1838 122.0 92.1 1900 U3.3 101.8 The kingdom sells abroad the abundant product of its forests, iron and zinc mines, dairies, and oat fields. Its home supplies of textiles, wool, machin- ery, railroad iron, and many other tilings are in- adequate, and it mu.st supplement them by for- eign purchases. The following table gives the value in kronor of the leading imports and ex- ports for two years (a krona cqtuils in value 26 7-10 cents) : " Textile manufactures Grain and flour Groceries Raw textile material and .varn Minerals, of imports mostl.v coal Metal goods, macliinery. etc Live animals and animal food Hair, hides, and other animal products.. Metal.'^, raw and partly wrought Timber, wroujrht and unwroiight Paper and paper manufactures Other articles Total .104,788,683 Imports Imports, Exports, Exports, 1899 1900 1899 1900 Kronor Kronor Kronor Kronor 46.738,248 41.95S.659 1,679.218 1.544,852 49,.327.777 61.793.392 4.850.080 2.145.094 38,634.760 45,5«4.»93 135,289 336.180 47,818,471 46.165,793 1.252,071 1,502.842 82,388,362 104,0,52.262 21.421.309 22.518.863 74,605.197 65,009,836 22..585.064 25,316.543 23,542.296 29,195, 71.S 48,128,649 43,101,578 24.4.59.229 20,438.030 4,300,564 5,370,750 13,159.371 25,5,50,124 4:1,513.013 62,395,037 4,7.51,465 5,925,996 178.553.581 200,559,375 4.745,770 4.407.698 11,706,764 14,392,265 94,617,737 94.846,909 20,158,576 22,090,683 .504,788,683 634,935,110 358,184,767 391.333,962 1001 the number of manufacturing; establish- The trade of Sweden is chiefly with the coun- ments increased from 8812 to 10.004; the work- tries borderino; on the Baltic and North Seas, people in them from 202.203 to 202.229; and The value of its trade in two years with the lead- the total value of the product from $192,487,400 ing countries in its commerce was: Great Britain Germany Denmark Norway Russia (including Finland) France Spain Netherlands Belgium Imports from Imports from Exports to Exports to (1899) (1900) (1899) (1900) Kronor Kronor Kronor Kronor 154.,563,118 176..504.5.53 167.198.342 169,248,313 184.113.227 187.807,874 54.860.864 65,214. .540 60.llSI,189 62,525.129 43.208.276 47.6K2.ls;) 20,449.9.54 21.761.911 6.451.052 7.186.593 28,.502.131 34.3,58.984 15.861,424 14.027.846 8.992.214 9.692.566 29,066,668 29,807,333 1,707.701 1.736,294 2,851.295 3.649.8.32 10,390.719 11,184,842 25.666.540 29.941.211 16,804,527 13,166,401 13.783,461 14.a39.I85