The Raymer enterprise., 1911-01-19
BEST RETURNS For PRODUCE
To Denmark Belongs Credit for First
stsps In Establishing System Of
Farm Cooperation.

Farm Cooperation.
In these days the problem which pre-.
sents itself to all producers is that Of
securing markets for whatever they
have to sell. In all Industrial countries
there are vast agrregations Of people
who cannot be REACHED by producers
without some intermediary. There has
thus grown up great army Of mid
dlemen"-traders who have organized
the supplies to meet the ends Of the
consuming population. writes Edward
Brown In the Country Gentleman.
Without them the situation would have
been very serious. For instance, in
England we draw eggs from every
part OF Europe, even as far as Russia
and Turkey, from North Africa, and re.
Gently poultry have been sent to us
from China. while from time to time
supplies cross the Atlantic, and also
from Australia.
AS Is usually the case, however, the
middlemen have become to large ex.
tent dominant factor, and the result
has been that both producers and con.
sumers are dependent on them-the
one to find an outlet for the produce
and the other to supply the daily needs.
So long as the trade Is organized on
proper lines, and nothing more than
legitimate profits are taken by these
servants Of the public, no complaint
can be made. Difficulties, however,
have arisen because the work Of con-
veying from the producer to the con.
sumer became too complicated, and as
result expense increased, while there
were great delays. In America. so
far as l know 1t, this is specially the
case by reason Of the long distances
which your supplies have to be
brought. From Kansas to New York
Is as far from the center of Russia to
London.
So long as production was on a mod.
est scale, and, in the case Of eggs espe-
cially, mere side issue, the matter
was not so serious; but as soon as pro-
duction became part Of the life work Of
the people concerned. they must neces.
sarily inquire how they could secure
the best returns, and the question Of
marketing became essentially one for
producers. Unfortunately In a great
number OF cases isolation and depend.
ence on traders for finding market
has meant that producers have not re.
ceived an adequate return. This Is seen
In every country. and 1t will continue
until those to whom 1t is matter OF
bread and butter realize that on their
shoulders rests the solution OF the prob
lem. We owe to the little country Of
Denmark the first steps In what is
proving to be, at any rate In some
parts of Western Europe. a great eff.
fort for placing this side Of farming
on a proper basis.
After the war with Prussia in 1864,
Denmark was faced with a serious
state of affairs. She Is a small coun.
try, with no great manufactures, and
her interest was purely agricultural.
If development were to take place
1t must be In the producti,n of food,
and as she had not the population to
consume great quantities she must
look out for markets to which her sup.
plies could be rapidly and easily sent,
and which would yield prices that
would pay for her labor. That Den.
mark has succeeded In this Is mani.
fest to all who know anything as to
her condition. and 1t is an interesting
fact that. pro rata to the population,
she Is now the second wealthiest coun.
try In Europe, simply owing to the
development Of her dairying, pig keep.
ing and egg production. 1t was real.
lied that In order to accomplish the
purpose In view 1t was necessary that
the produce should be placed on the
markets In Great Britain not only OF
the finest quality and packed in the
best manner, but also as rapidly as
possible. Denmark. therefore, com.
menced that remarkable form OF CO.
operation which has been the largest
single factor In the creation of her
wealth.