DANISH METHODS AND SUCCESS.

Shannon News, 13 January 1925, Page 4

DANISH METHODS AND SUCCESS.

A. TRIUMPH FOR CO-OPERATIGN. 211,871,000 LBS. OF BUTTER. 247,000,000 ÜBS. OF BACON. 727,u00,000 EGGS. Such are the annual exports in figures for this wonderful little country, in size only about onethird of our North island. In a serieg of short articles, we will show how such remarkable results have been achieved. There is probably no other country in any part of the world, the people of which, with their methods and achievements, are of greater interest to the producers of New Zealand, or fiom whom they could learn more as to the production and marketing of the main products of the primary industry. Yet it is remarkable how little real knowledge exists among the producers of the Dominion as to the great achievements and tremendous progress made by the people of this

wonderful little country in the north. Denmark and New Zealand, both as countries and as peoples, have very much in common. Denmark, as a peninsula, is situated in the Northern Hemisphere, very much the same as New Zealand is in the South. The Jutland Peninsula, which represents the largest portion of this northern country, is sea-nound except for a nar. row neck m the south, and is s oiae " what in shape like the South Island of New Zealand. Within an area of 16,608 square miles, or a little more than one-third of our North Island, are living over 34 millions, well-to-do contented and progressive people. No Secondary Industries.

Denmark, like New Zealand poscsses no secondary industries worth mentioning, and in a like manner over 00 per cent of her total exports'are agricultural products. The soil of this little peninsula can by no means be called rich, and is hardly comparable to the average soil used for dairying purposes in New Zealand. It is entirely due to intensive cultivation, based on scientific experiments and the heavy application of barnyard manure and commercial fertilisers, that the ultimate results have been made possible. In spite of the fact that Denmark possesses extensive areas of waste lands, such as heath and moorlands, as well as large tracts of light sandy soil 78 per cent of the whole of the country is to-day used for agricultural purposes. Although greatly favoured by her geographical position and being situated within close proximity of two densely populated industrial countries —Great Britain and Germany—• the results achieved during the past thirty years, speak volumes for the tenacity and perseverance of the Danish people. Perseverance and Co-operation.

Indeed, the progress made by the primary producers of this little country, can clearly be traced to two main factors, viz: Perseverance and Cooperation. The proof of perseverance is fully demonstrated by the statistical figures of 1922, which themselves have been improved upon in 1924. Here is a country somewhat about the size of the Wellington province, exporting, and supporting over 3,000,000 people in the face of climatic drawbacks, and difficulties of the soil, practically 211 million pounds of butter, 247 million pounds of bacon and 727 million eggs annually. The spirit of co-operation prevailing throughout this little nation and the ways and means adapted in furtherance of tlieir industry will form the main subject of these articles.

Agriculture in Denmark as carried on to-day, is the result of forty years of sound and progressive methods, assisted by much scientific research and investigation. Relative crop production, or as we term it, rotation of crops and use and application of fertilisers are owing to the intensive cultivation —more highly developed in Den. mark than in any other country—while the almost universal application of democratic co-operative principles has made this country famous the world over. Co-operative Creamery and Bacon Factory. The -first co-operative creamery in Denmark was formed in 1882, while the first co-operative bacon factory followed in 1887. Although co-operation credit associations and co-operative stores had been formed prior to this, the formation ot dairy and bacon factories represents the real beginning of the cooperative movement in Denmark. Co-operative organisations represent two types: The Agricultural Societies, comprising about 20 per cent of the Danish farmers, and promoting the scientific and educational interests of agriculture, and the Co-operative Associations, dealing with the manufacturing and marketing of the pro., duce. The principal ‘Co-operative' Associations comprise the dairy and bacon industries, and more than 85 per cent of the farmers are members of these associations. From the small beginning, made in the eighties, there are now over 500 Co-operative Associations in Denmark with a volume of business amounting to £70,000,000 annually. A Country of Small Holdings.

j Denmark is a country of small and j middle size farms and the 200,000 inI dividual farmers are contented and ( well-to-do people, over 90 per cent. . owning the land they are farming, ! According to recent statistics there I are 205,925 farms in Denmark each ' comprising an area over 1.36 acres, 1 9.7 per cent, or 1,335 farms have an acreage of 296 acres and over 4.039 farms range between 148 and 296 acres, while 66 per cent, of the total' agricultural land (91.410 farms) comprises farms ranging from 24.7 to 148 acres. The largest number is, however, to be found in the small holdings ranging in size from 1.36 to 24.7 acres. These farms number 109,145 ' and comprise 52.9 per cent of the total number of farms although representing only 13.6 per cent, of the total land in agricultural use. The small holder (called Husmand)

is a man living on a piece of land varying from 8 to 18 acres, where, he is able to make an independent living for his family with his cows, pigs and chickens, supplemented whenever possible by casual labour on adjoining farms or townships. During the last few years, the Danish Government has made special efforts to make the small holdings of sufficient size .to maintain a family without outside work, Facilities have been provided, both by private and State enterprise, whereby desirable farm-labourers can borrow money at a low rate of interest and on a long term basis for the' purchase of land. It is principally owing to this assistance that at least 92 per cent, of farmers in Denmark are the actual owners of the land they cultivate to-day.