Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1391

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DEFENCE—PRODUCTION AND INDUSTRY
1035

vessels, 16; torpedo boats of 65 to 90 tons, 4; of 34 to 40 tons, 9; vedettes 8, and school and other ships of various types, 12.

The following is a list of the principal armonr-clad ships:—

Description Name Launched Displacement
tons
Extreme
armouring
inches
Armament Torpedo
ejectors
Indicated
horse
power
Nominal
speed
knots
t John Ericsson 1865 1,500 10.8 2.5.9 in. 380 7.5
t Thordön 1866 1,500 10.4 2.9.4 in. 380 6.7
t Tirfing 1867 1,500 10.4 ,, 380 6.8
t Loke 1871 1,600 17.8 ,, 430 8.5
t Svea 1886 2,900 11.8 2 10 in. 44.7 in. 14 Q.F.
guns of smaller calibre
1 3,640 14.7
t Göta 1891 3,100 11.7 2 10 in. 45.7 in. 13 Q.F.
guns of smaller calibre
3 4,750 16.0
t Thule 1893 3,150 11.7 2 10 in. 45.9 in. 13 Q.F.
guns of smaller calibre
2 4,740 16.2
t Oden 1896 3,300 10.0 2 10 in. 44.7 in. 14 Q.F.
guns of smaller calibre
1 5,330 16.8
t Niord 1898 3,300 10.0 Do. do. 1 5,330 16.8
t Thor 1898 3,300 10.0 Do. do. 1 5,330 16.8

It is proposed to lay down three first-class coast defence armourclads in 1900. Some of the Armoured gunboats are receiving quick-firing guns, and several torpedo cruisers are nearly ready. A committee has reported upon the question of fixed defences, and a plan has been laid down to complete, within ten years, the defences of Karlskrona, Karlsburg, and the Island of Gothland, to erect new works at Waxholm and Oscar-Frederiksberg for the defence of Stockholm, and to fortify Boden and Gothenborg.

The personnel of the Royal Navy is divided into three classes, viz.: 1, The Active List; 2. The Reserve; 3. The Beväring. On the active list are 5 flag-officers, 6 captains, 24 commanders, and about 140 lieutenants and sub-lieutenants, while about 140 commissioned officers belong to the Reserve.

Production and Industry.

I. Agriculture.

The number of farms in cultivation in 1896 was 333,073; of these there were of 2 hectares and under, 72,020; 2 to 20 hectares, 216,650; 20 to 100 hectares, 32,463; 100 and above, 3,211. Of the total land area of Sweden 8.4 per cent. is under cultivation, 3.6 per cent. under natural meadows, and 47.5 per cent. under forests, the products of which form a staple export.

The following table shows, in thousands of hectares, the area under the chief crops in 1896, and, in thousands of hectolitres, the yield in 1897:—

Wheat Rye Barley Oats Mixed Grain Pulse Potatoes
71.3
1,611.2
407.7
8,316.4
218.0
5,040.5
818.7
20,605.9
121.8
3,356.2
50.7
848.3
157.7
19,772.5

The value of all cereal crops in 1897 was estimated at 265.2 million kronor. At the end of 1896 Sweden had 512,406 horses, 2,554,577 head of cattle. 1,298,732 sheep and lambs, 788,736 pigs. In 1880 34,000 head of cattle and 29,000 sheep were exported, in 1896 respectively, 25,146 and 12,793.