Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1944, Qupperneq 207
FARMING IN ICELAND
185
the goal has been reached, but the toughness and endurance that
has always characterized the Icelandic peasantry promise well
for the future.
Just under 40 per cent. of the Icelandic population are oc-
cupied in agriculture, which mainly consists in keeping of cattle
and sheep and breeding of horses. Keeping of sheep is incompar-
ably the most important branch. Keeping of cattle, which pre-
viously covered only the farmers’ own consumption, during re-
cent years has increased enormously, in particular near the towns,
where the milk has a good sale. Keeping of swine and poultry
is of little importance, even though during recent years much
has been done for expansion in this direction. But for the breed-
ing of fur-bearing animals started in the 1920’es prospects seem
exceedingly promising. The climate is highly suitable, and the
cheap home foodstuffs, fish, whale-meat, etc., for the animals
yield good conditions for this kind of farming, so that the pro-
duction recently started opens up wide perspectives of working
on a large scale. The stock of animals, arctic foxes, silver foxes,
mink, coypu (nutria), racoon, etc., has been multiplied during
recent years, and the production yields very satisfactory economic
results.
The crop chiefly consists of hay from the meadows and the
cultivated fields(í4n)round the farms. The first settlers introduced
agriculture in Iceland. Grain cultivation was the commonest
branch of farming and was fairly extensive considering the con-
ditions of the time. However, this form of cultivation disappeared
in the course of time. Only the sagas told of “pale fields,” but
the dream of grain cultivation in Iceland was maintained. To-
wards the end of the 20’es the farmers began to grow corn again,
and with better results than might have been expected. Several
farms now grow oats, barley, and rye, and the experience ob-
tained gives hopes that some time in future Iceland will be able
to support herself. Hitherto gardening has practically only com-
prised potatoes and turnips. Icelandic farmers formerly displayed
little interest in this kind of crop and had to introduce the
greater part of their consumption of potatoes, but now the pic-
ture has changed. Through a rational extension of the potato
fields the country has become self-supporting in this respect.
The exploitation of the hot springs is beginning. Many green-
houses have been built which through systems of piping utilize
the water from the hot springs. Few hectares have been covered
Le Nord, 1944, 3-4
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