The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-30

DANISH BUTTER.MAKING.

Methods by Which tho Danes Have Dis
tanced All Competitors.
A recently published report on dairy
farming in Denmark gives full ac-
count of the working of the system
under which the Danish butter-rnakers
ore gradually driving all their COM
petitors from the English market 1t
is only during the last few years that
Denmark is becoming . butter-making
country. Up to 1889 II exported on an
average only 1887 900 pounds; while
In 1891 it sent to England alone 9s, $685.
900 pounds; and in 1899 considerably
more. The rapid development of the
butter trade in Denmark is due, in a
great measure, to the fact that the
farmers have adopted the cooperative
system of production. By working col
iectively they are able to turn out but
ter Of a better quality, and at less cost,
than would be possible if they worked
separately.
At the present time there are in Den
mark more than ono thousand cooper
Rtive dairy societies Some of these
have only perhaps half a dozen mem
bers; others have as many as one hun
hred They are all worked on the same
lines. In any district where the farm
ers wish to establish one of these diaries
they form themselves into an associa-
ton and appoint an executive commit
tee to organize the undertaking. The
money for the initial expenses of the
dairy is then borrowed On the joint Sc
eurity of the members of the associa
ton; the necessary buildings are erect
ed or rented and a general manager is
engaged. When the society is once con-
stituted no member is allowed to leave
until it is free of debt, unless he gives
up his farm; nor may q new member be
admitted without the consent of two
Thirds of the original members
The full responsibility for the work
ing of the dairy rests on the executive
committee, which consists of a chair
man, q treasurer, a secretary, an audit
Or and an indefinite number of direct
ors. They are elected at the annual
meeting of the society, the members"of
which have as many votes as they have
cows. The executive committee visit
the dairy constantly, keep the manager
up to his work test the quality and
quantity of butter. and see that it is
made according to the most economical
method. They must also be on the
alert to keep down the working expen
ses of the dairy, to discover the best
and cheapest kinds of fodder, and to
find out new markets for their produce.
They receive no salaries, but they are
paid their expenses when engaged on
the work of the society. The manager
Is their representative, and is response
BILE to them for all that takes place at
the dairy.
Upon tho managers fitness for his
work depends the success of the dairy.
His position is a most difficult one. Not
Only must he superintend the making
of the butter, but he must keep a close
watch on the proceedings of the mem
bers of the society. He must inspect
their farms; examine their cows to see
they are in healthy condition, and in
sist upon the COW houses and the YES
sells in which the milk is transported
being kept perfectly clean. All who
foin the society agree to observe GER
tain rules with regard to the feed
Ing of their cows. They undertake,
for instance, to give to each COW
Mt least one pound of rape cake
per day during the winter; also never
TO use cabbages or turnip tops as fod-
der, and to give notice at the dairy
when they are using potatoes, vetches,
beans, etc. 1t is the duty of the man.
Ager to see that these rules are rigidly
observed. Any farmer who infringes
them is in the first instance, warned;
and. if he repeat his offense, he is fined.
Under certain circumstances he may be
expelled from the society. The man
ager is provided with a house and gar
den, and is paid small salary and 4
commission on every one hundred
bounds of butter sold at satisfactory
rate.
The dairy officials collect the milk
from the various farms, weigh 1.-THE
Danes have no faith in measuring
test it, and hand it over to the butter
makers, who have been specially
trained for their work. The place is
6tted up with centrifugal separa tors,
and all the best butter-malling APP
pliances, many of which are too costly
to be bought by any one small pro-
Queer. Thus the work is carried on
there under much more favora BILE con-
ditions than in any ordinary farm
house dairy, with the result that the
Sutter made is uniformly of better
quality. 1t is produced, too, at less
cost; for In a cooperative dairy, owing
TO the extensive scale OF the operations,
many economies are made which would
be impossible in a small one.
The farmers are paid monthly, at
rate fixed by the executive committee,
fer the milk they send to the dairy.
And they are required to buy back
from the dairy, also at a fixed rate,
certain quantity of separated milk or
churn-milk cheese. Every February
the accounts of the dairy are carefully
balanced, and statement of the re-
ceipts and expenditures is drawn I'D by
the executive and presented at general
meeting What money remains after
defraying current expenses goes to
paving off the debt for the initial cost
of the buildings, etc. AS soon as the
dairy has cleared itself, an inventory of
the society's assets is made, and their
value is divided into shares which are
allotted to the members in proportion
TO the quantity of milk they have sup
piled Since the opening of the dairy.
From that time the annual profits of
the society are devoted TO paving inter
- Il.
IF any balance remains when this is
done, it is divided among the members,
each of whom receives bonus proper