BURN-BEATING IN VÄISÄLÄNMÄKI 

The original form of agriculture in the whole of Finland was burn-beating, which in Eastern Finland continued until the early 1900's. In burn-beating the trees of the area were burnt and the field was cultivated for some years. The burning of the trees increased the fertility of otherwise barren lands, but this increase was used in a couple of years. After that the used fields could be left as a pasture for the cattle or let it revert to forest again. The burn-beating cycle came to the same area in about 20 to 40 years. The burn-beating was suitable for both broad-leaved deciduous woods and coniferous forests. In eastern Finland the most common way was the burn-beating in coniferous forests which is called "huuhta". First , holes were made into the big trees and they were left to dry for a couple of years. The trees of the area were cut down usually the summer before the burn-beating. Next year the trees were pruned and spread evenly to the area to be burned. The first crop to be harvested was usually rye. Other plants were for instance turnip, oats and barley. Main page