Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-14

Especial Correspondence OF The Argus.)
Copenhagen-Dr. Maurice Egan, the
United States minister to Denmark,
has been invited by the Southern Com
mercial society TO make a series Of
talks on Danish Agricultural Coopera-
ton and Conservation" before the
Southern Chambers Of Commerce of
the United States.
The position Of Denmark as a school
for the study Of scientific agriculture
is becoming more important every year.
and DR.. Egan has made a close study
Of the methods which have made Den
mark q leader in cooperative agricul-
ture. especially the effect Of the plan
on the cost of living. This feature
will be considered at length by the
lecturer n America,
When questioned In regard to the
invitation TO speak on this subject IN
the United States, DIT. Egan declared
that such q request had been made.
He said that he believed that the sue
cess Of the Danish farmers was not
only due to their perfect cooperation,
but also to the fact that they received
the hearty support and sympathy of
the national and provincial govern
ments.
I'm effecting this" he said, at was
necessary TO insure the success Of a
cooperative agricultural venture that
the state should have a certain power
of examination over the products sent
to market. In moulding the opinion
Of the farming population here the
government las the valuable aid Of
the Danish high schools. They in
clude both summer and winter ses-
sions for students Of mature years OF
both sexes. These schools, by encour-
aging national and provincial pride,
are at the very root Of the feeling
which induces the Dane to make every
sacrifice to remain at home on his own
land rather than emigrate. The emf
grafton which takes place from some
western states to Canada would be re-
garded as very unpatriotic by Danish
people. In the southern United States
what might be called a provincial love
Of ones own home exists to a larger
extent than elsewhere in the country
and therefore the south seems to be
the place where a modified form of
the Danish system would meet with
the most encouragement.
~rhe Danish national government
keeps a Jealous eye upon the quality
Of farm exports. Recently Denmark
was much aroused on account of a
complaint as TO the standard of butter
sent to England. The government or
dered an immediate examination and
assisted by the pride of the farmers
the authorities had little difficulty in
restoring the usual standard.
I'm no country are cattle diseases
better controlled than in Denmark. In
any case OF foot and mouth disease
the farm Is entirely closed until it can
be thoroughly disinfected, and the
farmer ig compensated for any loss by
the government. In the present state
Of public opinion in the United States
such a close relationship between the
government and the individual would
perhaps be impossible. In Denmark
this feeling IS az the bottom of the
present agricultural prosperity. The
Danes make butter during the winter
Through the scientific application Of
rotation of crops. the cattle are as vel
fed in the winter as summer. 1t may
be said that while eggs in Denmark
are well controlled and carefully mum
bered. the system Of feeding fowls i;
not as perfect as It is in Sc of tn,
American states; but the quality Il
unknown. The quality of the butte
is the best IA the world
Mr.. Egan added that the more h
studied the agricultural problems o
Denmark, the more he was convinced
that nothing but n concerted effor
thoroughly drilled. among agricultur
fists could produce the remedy fo- tn,