INTENSIVE FARMING.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 696, 3 January 1922, Page 4

INTENSIVE FARMING.

’ While New Zealand leads the world in certain directions, and is recognised as one of the best farming districts on the globe, it has much to learn in some branches of farmjing, and one way in which she might well ■take a lesson is from Denmark- Denmark is an‘exceedingly small country. Its total area is only 14,829 square miles —just about one-s6venth that of New Zealand, which has an area of 103,581 square miles, yet it maintains a population of about three times that of New Zealand, According to reliable authorities, two-fifths of the entire population of Denmark is employed directly "in agricultural land. Denmark, of course, has the advantage of having the best markets in the world for dairy produce at her very doors, but she is handicapped largely by her rigorous climate which necessitates cattle being stalled for practically eight months of the year. The average dairy farm in Denmark comprises from ten !to fifteen acres, and if Danes can make a living off that small area under the climatic conditions existing there,, surely there is hope for better things in New Zealand!, where we have the advantage of the best climate in the world. With land at its present very high rate in this country, intensive farming must necessarily he resorted to, if farmers are to make a living, and we will have to copy the sturdy, shrewdi and careful Danes’ methods of cropping and feeding, culling our herds, etc., if we are to keep pace with the march of progress in other agricultural countries.