Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-10-06
FARMING IN DENMARK.
A Country In Which Agriculture is Taught
 as q Science.


 No people are more painstaking in respect to choice of seed than the Danes, and their government well fos- ters distinguishing care in this re- spect. Then although the days are swelteringly hot from eleven to two o'clock, the nights already get keen, the stars shine out with great bril- liancy, and early night frosts can not be altogether unlocked for-all this preventing kindly ripening. Where this cereal has already been cut, it is neatly sheaved and carefully set Up in shocks, with an inverted cap-sheaf to cast off the rain, and to keep all the rest snug and safe. Where extra care is taken long stake is placed upright, and firm center is thus obtained for all sorts of wind and weather.
 Happily the clover crop, on which they so greatly depend (for there is not ground enough to spare for permanent grass or pasture). was well got; and the second crop is all that can be desired, rich. luscious and good living indeed for the animals that appear to be all doing we'll upon it. Tethered every creature is that gets the advantage of so great mouthfnl; s'waste not. want not is the motto everywhere, and even the horses get used to this way of having their living provided. An eva ble thing it is to look on row of a score of red cows, all fastened in line and cropping just the portion of ground assigned to them. They are educated to it from calfhood, and are spared the waste of vital force that roaming about entails; the portion al- 1otted is fresh. sweet, clean, and the animals seem to have sense enough never to soil it. but to fall back as far as the rope allows. on the previously grazed portion. Still, when the weath- CT is thundery and the gadfy busy, it is no agreeable sight to notice some of the cows rushing around, as on Q cir cus course, but with tail aloft and other symptoms of discomfort. I have seen sheep also grazing thus, and they are most generally fastened in pairs, the rope being forked within a few feet of it's extremity. The economy in fences is apparent; but 1 need not add that the system is best adapted for good full crops and would be far less suitable for a poor region Milk, or rather it's products still forms one of the staple articles of Danish export, and the butter in particular holds a good place in the London markets no pains being spared to give uniformity of yield, fineness of finish and great speed in placing fresh on the consum- er's breakfast table.
 Socially, there is much to be noted here. In proportion to her population, Denmark is richer than any other country in Europe, with the sole ex- ception of England. Proportionately the circulation of newspapers is larger than in any other country in Europe. Her peasant class is among the best educated in the world. More than 150, GOO of her agricultural la borers own houses and land. In 1894 England inn ported from Denmark 1, 102, 493 cwt of butter and 1,473, 570 cwt from all other countries. Denmark was exporting most of her swine to Germany when that country prohibited the importa- tion of foreign swine. The Danes at once built cooperative curing es- tablishments, and in these half of the pigs reared in the country are ''cured" and exported to England in the shape of bacon. Denmark now supplies about one-fifth of the bacon imported by England, not to mention more than 100, 900 pigs, and as an exporter of ba- con is second only to the United States. Her yearly export of cattle is about 0O0 head. Last year she sent l6o, GOO eggs to England. When corn fell below a profitable price, the Danish agriculturist, prompt ly changed his whole system, and in- stead of planting unproftable crops as they still do in some parts of England, threw much of his energies into dairy farming, and made it pay. There are, comparatively speaking, no poor in Denmark. I mention these facts mere- 1y to show that the Danes are indus trious. thrifty and energetic, and that they always rise to an emergency, and that the greater the obstacle placed in their way the more determined they are to overcome it.
 Some quaint old customs abide in this part of Scandinavia. The Yule- sheaf is put by unthreshed at every farm house, and on Christmas Eve it is hung out on high pole near the farm er's door. for the famishing birds to make their Jul-Afton. If the Yule- sheaf were not seen there the people would believe the farmer would have bad season: they would think him hard man; and not like to help him And how do they manage for the beasts? They, too, get double food for their Christmas. Country Gentle man.
 Misfortune.
 lsla.n Isr.4 + dnaa 1 f..l 4l.a4 1,l.s..1s...