DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1401#0126
7;
THE ILLUSTRATED EXHIBITOR.
iron. The cause of the superiority of this iron has never yet been explained. Some chemists ascribe it to the presence
of manganese, others attribute it to the presence of the metal selicon, whilst others suppose it to arise from the nature
of the process employed in its manufacture. There can be no doubt that the general superiority of the Swedish and
Eussian iron arises from the circumstance that charcoal is the fuel employed in its manufacture—a fuel of too expensive a
nature to be employed in this country. The annual production^ of manufactured bar iron in Sweden is about 90,000
tons, of which 70,000 are exported. _TJr'e importation of Swedish iron into this country in 1849 amounted to 25',039
tons! The iron of Norway, though very generally diffused throughout the country, is inferior to that of Sweden,'and
does not, therefore, command so high a price. 351 tons of Norwegian iron were shipped to England in 1849. A few
tons of unwrought steel were also imported into this country both from Sweden and Norway ; in 1849 this amounted to
about eleven tons from each. Various specimens of iron and steel, and articles manufactured therefrom, are exhibited
in the department allotted to these two countries.
There are also exhibited specimens of chromate of iron, for our supplies of which we are indebted to Norway and
the United States of America. Of this ore 384 tons were imported from Norway in 1849. Its principal use is as a
source of chromate acid in the manufacture of the bi-chromate of potash, a beautiful red crystalline salt, specimens of
which are exhibited in this department, and also in the chemical section of British produce. This salt is extensively
used in dyeing and calico-printing, and in the formation of various pigments, which, under the name of chrome
yellows, form a considerable article of commerce. Specimens of these are exhibited in the British chemical section.
Bi-chromate of potash is also manufactured in Norway, and imported into this country. There are also specimens in
the glass case in the front of this department of silver ore, from the celebrated Konigsberg mine in Norway, which has
been worked for upwards of 200 years, and was at the end of the last century the richest mine in Europe. In 1768 it
produced ore to the value of £79,000, but has since very materially declined in the quantity produced.
The other mineral productions of this country exhibited are those of cobalt and nickel. The oxide of cobalt is
imported into this country from the mines of Norway under the name of zaffre, and is largely used by the manufac-
turers of porcelain and earthenware, the blue colour of all our earthenware being produced by this oxide of cobalt; 256
cwt. of zaffre were imported into this country from Norway in 1849. When fused with sand, cobalt forms a vitreous
substance, to which, when ground into fine powder, the term smalts is given: it is extensively applied to various
purposes in the arts ;—86,503 lbs. of smalts were imported from Sweden, and 30,450 lbs. from Norway, in 1849.
Usually associated with cobalt another metal is found, especially in Norway, of which but little use was made until
within comparatively few years. This is nickel, a white metal possessing the valuable property of not being oxidised
or tarnished by the air when exposed to its influence. This valuable property has led to its application to various
purposes in the arts, more especially to the manufacture of what is termed white metal, German silver, argentine,
British plate, albata, nickel silver, and other fanciful names, according to the pleasure of the manufacturer. These
substances are alloys of copper and nickel in various proportions ; and from the hardness of the compound, its colour,
and non-liability to tarnish on exposure to the ah', it is now much used as a substitute for silver.
As regards the vegetable productions of these countries, Sweden produces flax of excellent quality, which is
esteemed as next in value to that of Holland. In 1849 we imported 1,518 cwt. of Swedish flax. Sweden also supplied
us in the same year with 6,475 quarters of wheat, 10,543 quarters of barley, 193,794 quarters of oats, 329 quarters of
rye, 5,228 quarters of peas and beans ; and Norway with 2,149 quarters of oats. From Sweden we also received 870
quarters of flaxseed, and 265 quarters of rapeseed; and from Norway, 268 quarters of flaxseed. Also 725 lasts of tar
from Sweden, and 28 from Norway. Large quantities of bark frr tanning and dyeing purposes are exported from these
countries, Norway furnishing us with 12,784 cwts., and Sweden with 181 cwts. in 1849.
Of the productions of the animal kingdom Sweden supplied us in 184-9 with 224 cwt. of bristles; and Norway,
with 56 cwt. of hides; Sweden, with 539 lbs. of thrown silk; Norway, with 128 deer skins, 6,324 goat skins; and
Sweden, with 721, in addition to skins and furs in smaller quantities. In the same year we imported from Sweden
2,891 cwt. of tallow, and 15,277 lbs. of sheep's wool. Large quantities of bones are also annually imported from these
countries to the port of Hull.
The latest accounts of the manufactures of Sweden show a total of 2,391 manufacturing establishments of various
kinds, employing 17,275 persons, and producing to the value of £1,361,372. The manufactures of Norway are entirely
domestic, there being no manufacturing establishments of any note.
" There is something," says Longfellow, " patriarchal still lingering about rural life in Sweden, which renders it
a fit theme for song. Almost primeval simplicity reigns over that Northern land—almost primeval solitude and
stillness. You pass out from the gate of the city, and, as if by magic, the scene changes to a wild woodland landscape.
Around you are forests of fir ; over head hang the long, fan-like branches, trailing with moss, and heavy with red and
blue cones; under foot is a carpet of yellow leaves ; and the air is warm and balmy. On a wooden bridge you cross a
little silver stream, and anon come forth into a pleasant and sunny land of farms. Wooden fences divide the adjoining
fields ; across the road are gates, which are opened by troops of children. The peasants take off their hats as you pass;
you sneeze, and they cry, ' God bless you!' The houses in the villages and smaller towns are all built of hewn
timber, and for the most part painted red. The floors of the taverns are strewn with the fragrant tips of fir boughs.
In many villages there are no taverns, and the peasants take turns in receiving travellers. The thrifty housewife
shows you into the best chamber, the walls of which are hung round with rude pictures from the Bible, and brings you
her heavy silver spoons—an heirloom—to dip the curdled milk from the pan. You have oaten cakes, baked some
months before, or bread with aniseed and coriander in it, or perhaps a little pine bark.
Meanwhile, the sturdy husband has brought his horses from the plough, and harnessed them to your carriage.
Solitary travellers come and go in uncouth one-horse chaises. Most of them have pipes in then mouths ; and, hanging
around their necks in front, a leather wallet, in which they carry tobacco, and the great bank notes of the country, aa
THE ILLUSTRATED EXHIBITOR.
iron. The cause of the superiority of this iron has never yet been explained. Some chemists ascribe it to the presence
of manganese, others attribute it to the presence of the metal selicon, whilst others suppose it to arise from the nature
of the process employed in its manufacture. There can be no doubt that the general superiority of the Swedish and
Eussian iron arises from the circumstance that charcoal is the fuel employed in its manufacture—a fuel of too expensive a
nature to be employed in this country. The annual production^ of manufactured bar iron in Sweden is about 90,000
tons, of which 70,000 are exported. _TJr'e importation of Swedish iron into this country in 1849 amounted to 25',039
tons! The iron of Norway, though very generally diffused throughout the country, is inferior to that of Sweden,'and
does not, therefore, command so high a price. 351 tons of Norwegian iron were shipped to England in 1849. A few
tons of unwrought steel were also imported into this country both from Sweden and Norway ; in 1849 this amounted to
about eleven tons from each. Various specimens of iron and steel, and articles manufactured therefrom, are exhibited
in the department allotted to these two countries.
There are also exhibited specimens of chromate of iron, for our supplies of which we are indebted to Norway and
the United States of America. Of this ore 384 tons were imported from Norway in 1849. Its principal use is as a
source of chromate acid in the manufacture of the bi-chromate of potash, a beautiful red crystalline salt, specimens of
which are exhibited in this department, and also in the chemical section of British produce. This salt is extensively
used in dyeing and calico-printing, and in the formation of various pigments, which, under the name of chrome
yellows, form a considerable article of commerce. Specimens of these are exhibited in the British chemical section.
Bi-chromate of potash is also manufactured in Norway, and imported into this country. There are also specimens in
the glass case in the front of this department of silver ore, from the celebrated Konigsberg mine in Norway, which has
been worked for upwards of 200 years, and was at the end of the last century the richest mine in Europe. In 1768 it
produced ore to the value of £79,000, but has since very materially declined in the quantity produced.
The other mineral productions of this country exhibited are those of cobalt and nickel. The oxide of cobalt is
imported into this country from the mines of Norway under the name of zaffre, and is largely used by the manufac-
turers of porcelain and earthenware, the blue colour of all our earthenware being produced by this oxide of cobalt; 256
cwt. of zaffre were imported into this country from Norway in 1849. When fused with sand, cobalt forms a vitreous
substance, to which, when ground into fine powder, the term smalts is given: it is extensively applied to various
purposes in the arts ;—86,503 lbs. of smalts were imported from Sweden, and 30,450 lbs. from Norway, in 1849.
Usually associated with cobalt another metal is found, especially in Norway, of which but little use was made until
within comparatively few years. This is nickel, a white metal possessing the valuable property of not being oxidised
or tarnished by the air when exposed to its influence. This valuable property has led to its application to various
purposes in the arts, more especially to the manufacture of what is termed white metal, German silver, argentine,
British plate, albata, nickel silver, and other fanciful names, according to the pleasure of the manufacturer. These
substances are alloys of copper and nickel in various proportions ; and from the hardness of the compound, its colour,
and non-liability to tarnish on exposure to the ah', it is now much used as a substitute for silver.
As regards the vegetable productions of these countries, Sweden produces flax of excellent quality, which is
esteemed as next in value to that of Holland. In 1849 we imported 1,518 cwt. of Swedish flax. Sweden also supplied
us in the same year with 6,475 quarters of wheat, 10,543 quarters of barley, 193,794 quarters of oats, 329 quarters of
rye, 5,228 quarters of peas and beans ; and Norway with 2,149 quarters of oats. From Sweden we also received 870
quarters of flaxseed, and 265 quarters of rapeseed; and from Norway, 268 quarters of flaxseed. Also 725 lasts of tar
from Sweden, and 28 from Norway. Large quantities of bark frr tanning and dyeing purposes are exported from these
countries, Norway furnishing us with 12,784 cwts., and Sweden with 181 cwts. in 1849.
Of the productions of the animal kingdom Sweden supplied us in 184-9 with 224 cwt. of bristles; and Norway,
with 56 cwt. of hides; Sweden, with 539 lbs. of thrown silk; Norway, with 128 deer skins, 6,324 goat skins; and
Sweden, with 721, in addition to skins and furs in smaller quantities. In the same year we imported from Sweden
2,891 cwt. of tallow, and 15,277 lbs. of sheep's wool. Large quantities of bones are also annually imported from these
countries to the port of Hull.
The latest accounts of the manufactures of Sweden show a total of 2,391 manufacturing establishments of various
kinds, employing 17,275 persons, and producing to the value of £1,361,372. The manufactures of Norway are entirely
domestic, there being no manufacturing establishments of any note.
" There is something," says Longfellow, " patriarchal still lingering about rural life in Sweden, which renders it
a fit theme for song. Almost primeval simplicity reigns over that Northern land—almost primeval solitude and
stillness. You pass out from the gate of the city, and, as if by magic, the scene changes to a wild woodland landscape.
Around you are forests of fir ; over head hang the long, fan-like branches, trailing with moss, and heavy with red and
blue cones; under foot is a carpet of yellow leaves ; and the air is warm and balmy. On a wooden bridge you cross a
little silver stream, and anon come forth into a pleasant and sunny land of farms. Wooden fences divide the adjoining
fields ; across the road are gates, which are opened by troops of children. The peasants take off their hats as you pass;
you sneeze, and they cry, ' God bless you!' The houses in the villages and smaller towns are all built of hewn
timber, and for the most part painted red. The floors of the taverns are strewn with the fragrant tips of fir boughs.
In many villages there are no taverns, and the peasants take turns in receiving travellers. The thrifty housewife
shows you into the best chamber, the walls of which are hung round with rude pictures from the Bible, and brings you
her heavy silver spoons—an heirloom—to dip the curdled milk from the pan. You have oaten cakes, baked some
months before, or bread with aniseed and coriander in it, or perhaps a little pine bark.
Meanwhile, the sturdy husband has brought his horses from the plough, and harnessed them to your carriage.
Solitary travellers come and go in uncouth one-horse chaises. Most of them have pipes in then mouths ; and, hanging
around their necks in front, a leather wallet, in which they carry tobacco, and the great bank notes of the country, aa