Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-09-14
important Events In Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North, Sc
iected for Seandinavians and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. ODLAND.
Denmark.

DIR. Mis- Juell, the well-known Dan
ish American. who has just returned
from visit to Denmark, where he
made careful study Of industrial con-
ditions, has published an interesting
article on his observations in his ma
tive land, and gives very good idea
Of the development of cooperation
among farmers of the country. 1t has
played wonderful part In the build
Ing up Of the dairy industry, the prin-
clpal industry In Denmark, and also
In the building up Of agriculture In
general. "About So per cent Of the
small farms" says Doctor Juell, ARE
affiliated with the cooperative cream
cries and about the same percentage
of cattle In registered under this CO.
operative monument The 100 cream
cries of Denmark are centrally located
at railway stations and the co-opera-
tors or owners elect a head and choose
manager. The value of the milk de-
ponds on It's fatty content percentage.
Denmark has 100000 mich cows.
The co-operators employ trained man
W tIufsi HUH w anu tNSI
the milk and find out the per cent OF
fat and suggest change Of breed to
increase the fat contents. For the pur-
chase Of good bulls there are associa-
lions known as cattle breeding unions.
There are almost 1000 Of these with
more than 10000 cows. The govern
ment contributed $4,000 in 1915 to
this association. There are half doz-
en- butter export unions and butter
| worth 1900 900 was exported through
them in 1914. Danish butter Is sold
on the English market under a stand
ardiZed mark, The hur mark which
Is protected by law, and If n Danish
creamery does not conform with the
standard prescribed by the state the
right to carry the mark upon It's butter
is taken away. There are also 46 CO.
operative slaughterhouses to which
$4,000 farmers belong in Denmark.
The government spends annually $780,
600 for meat inspection. Fourteen CO
operative Danish slaughterhouses own
the Danish Bacon company Of Lon
don, and, in 1915, $4,000 pigs were
| sold by this firm for $50. 0O0,0 900. Den
marks egg output Is largely In the
hands of the Danish cooperative egg
export and of slaughterhouses. 1t Is
| required by law to have the date of
| laying Of the egg stamped on each egg
| together with the name OF the egg pro-
Queer Ten million dollars worth Of
"a
cooperative company concerns itself
| with insuring other cooperative con
Germs. Sickness, accident insurance
and banking are on the same plan. The
| trust formed this year to control the
| Importation Of fertilizlng agents was
| quickly and effectively killed by the
| Danish Cooperative Manure society
| TO which % per cent of the Danish
| farmers belong. A seed supply union
Is another Danish innovation. The
union of Denmark's cooperative
stores needs no explanation. Great
prosperity has come to the Danish
farmer through cooperation and we
can really say that they stick together
The great honesty of the Danish peo-
pie perhaps makes this cooperation
practical and profitable. When. In
conclusion. now mention the farmers
cooperative fence and cement industry
think the field Is covered. My next
letter will deal with the easy low
loans by the government to the Danish
farmer and Of the old peoples home
here"