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peculiar to them. The Romans and Teutons used the
“aratrum” or turning-plough, supposed to have been
introduced into Finland by the Swedes. Another very
primitive implement is the branch-harrow, formed by
a bundle of branches or fir-tops, the stumps of the
branches being left on and used as harrow teeth. The
fork-plough and branch-harrow are still used by the
peasants of the east. Side by side with these ancient
implements in many parts of the country we now find
the newest models. Every sort of machine is now
in use, up to steam ploughs and an electric
thrashing-machine. Many implements are imported from
England, Sweden, and the United States, but many
more are now manufactured in the country. In
1885, when the Customs tariff was revised owing to
some antagonism between Russia and Germany, a
small duty was put on farming implements and
machinery; the duty was trifling, but it was a
hindrance to the importation of certain kinds of heavy
machinery. The variable amount of such imports,
which at one time showed an actual decrease, is due
chiefly to the establishment of machine manufactories
in Finland. Recently machinery has once more been
imported from other countries in comparatively large
quantities.
No animal is more beloved by the Finnish peasant
than his horse. The horse deserves it, being strong,
speedy, and patient. When the question arose of
improving the stock by foreign blood, the stallions
from the Norwegian Gudbrandsdal were preferred;
but the well-built though not very large Finnish
horses, usually roan, bay, or brown, compare most
favourably with the best Norwegian horses. They
number about 300,000, and though the number is not
increasing, as could hardly be expected in these days
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