The reader will see from the above presentation that only a small part of the total land area of Norway is cultivated or cultivable; and yet despite its extremely northern position, Norway is essenti- ally a farming country. Cattle rearing and forestry are carried on as far north as Finmark. North of the Arctic Circle, in the provinces of Nordland and Troms, agriculture is in some districts a highly developed industry, particularly in respect of the production of milk and meat; but also corn and potatoes are grown with considerable success. All Norwegian farmers are freeholders. The ancient cottar system is now disappearing, and a deter- mined effort is being made to turn those cottars who still exist into freeholders. Schemes are also in execution for providing land for intending settlers. : Norwegian farms are small, many of them being of such limited acreage that the holders have to eke out their livelihood either with fishing (in coastal districts) or with other work. In 1929 the total number of farms in Norway was 298,360. Of these 165,800 were of less than 20 decares, 74,662 from 20 to 50 decares, 52,730 from 50 to 200 decares, 4,844 from 200 to 500 decares, 292 from 500 to 1000 decares, and only 32 above 1000 decares. These figures comprise only cultivated land, and not forest and outlying areas, 134