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.