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116 A History of Sweden
watch over his officials. He audited their accounts,
and if he found any errors, he was unsparing in his
reproofs. He would at times reprove his bailiffs for
mixing up matters till they could not understand their
own accounts, but to "wallow and welter in the na-
tion’s wealth," that they well understood how to do.
They soon learned to turn to the king for direction in
everything. If supplies were needed, if repairs were
to fre made, or some construction work undertaken,
they would always consult the king. But Gustavus
also expected that his governors and bailiffs would in
turn remember him with some little gift of "good
things" from their respective regions.
The King’s Interest in Agriculture. Gustavus had a
very intimate knowledge of agriculture. He had a
large number of farms and stock-stations in various
parts of the country, which served as models for the
peasantry. On his many journeys throughout the
country he was untiring in admonishing the peasants
to clear the ground, dig ditches, and harvest their crops
in proper time. Where such warnings were not heeded
he threatened punishment. He ordered his bailiffs to
procure workmen for neglected farms and to require
the owners to pay not only for the labor, but to pay a
fine as well. Where peasants would not work their
farms in a proper way he threatened confiscation of
their farms. These were severe measures, but they
were needed, for the Swedish peasant was inclined to
be slow and sluggish.
His Improvements in the Mining Industry. For im-
provements in the mining industry he invited skilled
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