The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-03-09
COOPERATIVE FARMING
PRACTICED IN DENMARK

Copenhagen, March 9-Dr. Maurice
Egan, the United States Minister tc
Denmark, has been invited by the
Southern Commercial Society to make
a series of talks on Danish Agricul
tural Cooperation and Conservation
before the Southern Chambers of Com
merce 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
Denmark leader in cooperative agri-
culture, especially the effect of the
plan on the cost Of living. This fea-
ture will be considered at length by
The lecturer in America.
When questioned in regard to the
invitation to speak on this subject in
the United States, Dr. Egan declared
that such a request had been made.
lie said that he belieevd 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 provisional govern
ments.
I'm effecting this" he said. 1T was
necessary to insure the success of a
cooperative agriculture 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 has the valuable aid of
the Danish high schools. They include
both summer and winter sessions for
students of mature years of both sex
es. These schools, by encouraging
national and provincial pride, are at
the very root of the feeling which in
duces the Dane to make every sacri-
lice to remain at home on his own land
rather than emigrate. The emigra.
ton which takes place from some
western States to Canada would be
regarded as very unpatriotic by Dan
ISL people. In the Southern United
States what might be called pro-
Vncial love OF ones own home exists
to larger extent than elsewhere in
the country and therefore the South
seems to be the place where modi
fed form of the Danish system would
meet with the most encouaragement.
The Danish national government
keeps a jealous eye upon the quality Of
farm exports. Recently Denmark was
much aroused on account Of a COM
plant as to the standard of butter
sent to England. The government
ordered an immediate examination
and assisted by the pride of the farm
crs the authorities had little difficulty |
in restoring the usual standard.
In 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 is compensated for any loss
by the government. In the present
state OF public opinion in the United
States such a close relationship be.
.ween the government and the indi-
'idual would perhaps be impossible.
n Denmark this feeling is at the bot
ON OF the present agriculture pros
lerity. The Danes make butter dur
ns the winter. Through the scientific
application of rotation of crops, the
,attle are as we'll fed in the winter as
1t may be said that while
'ggs in Denmark are we'll controlled
md carefully numbered, the system of
eeding fowls is not as perfect as it isl
n some of the American States; but
he quality is standardized and cold
forage eggs are unknown. The quail
y of the butter is the best in the
world"
Mr.. Egan added that the more he
tudied the agricultural problems in
Denmark, the more he was convinced
hat nothing but a concerted effort
thoroughly drilled, among agricultur-
SITS could produce the remedy-for the
resent shortage in the food crop and
lduce constant prosperity.
The financiers interested in the plan
make a great port of St. Thomas in
ne Danish West Indies are much .
lated over the submission of the
cheme to Parliament by the Minister
Finance. The syndicate, which will {
e given the rights to the port for
inety-nine years, plans the expendi-
ire of many millions in an effort to