Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-19
Danish Agriculture
Derives Much Benlfit
From Control System
Farmers Have Organized OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Providing
). Audit Of Their Business from Day to Day.

varies according to each society, but
the minimum Is l. Krone (abouf ~
cents) per COW per year, and the
maximum is 2 kroner. This money
i goes toward the payment Of the salary
of the controller who is furnished by
the state.
THE value to the farmer of this
form of control is enormous, as by
Joining a control society he is able to
possess an exact knowledge of his
economic position. 1t might be urged
that this form Of assistance would
tend to make the farmer rely less up
on himself. but this is by no means
the case. The man is in better COM
mand Of his position when he knows
how he stands, and the visits Of the
expert do for the farmers what the
auditor does for the business man. In
short, the farmer. by means of his
society obtains at small cost the bene-
fit of an expert audit Of the business
Of his own farm -
This control system is, then, the
real guarantee of the quality Of tho
produce Of the farms; It not only
maintains a certain standard, but at
all times seeks to enable the farmer to
make further improvements. !.
saves Much Money. =
Considering the fact that co-opera.
tive farming produces the very best
goods desired at home and abroad. it
is but natural that they command the
highest market prices, and, by way Of
AN incidental illustration, it may be
mentioned that Denmark has .546 CO.
operative savings banks with total de-
posits OF. more, than three hundred
million dollars.
1t will DO impossible for any
observer to find . trace Of Social. :,
ism-or of any kind Of politics. !
In this development. It is an
obvious O~utgroWth' of intelligent j..
farming and marketing, system.
attzed by experts and aided by the
state government.
1t has been feared that the hieh
standard attained could not be sus.
tanned for any length Of time because
Of the rural exodus to Copenhagen
and the other larger cities OF the
ton to America y
As far as the latter item is concern.
ed, 1t may be said that emigration has
been very materially reduced, and
that only a small percentage of Danes
enigrate nowadays, the majority al
the emigrants being skilled laborere
and young men and women who have
received a commercial education.
Dangers of the Cities. .
But the exodus to the cities haa
lPeen a real menace-in Denmark ~
an most other countries. Life in n
city like Copenhagen looked allurfn9
TO the farmer, and he was often ~.
lclined to think that it would ia mnch
easier to make his living there than
by. hard and persistent work IN
farm. 80. -" u
Naturally. the problem then v.sSAa
devise methods by which farm Work
could be made moro attractive M
fascinating, ana the s-useestions IN
thls direction came from tha farrn.
ers themselves, resulting In nraSficai
legislatSon. :" Ss-Nrss :
Before this--phase Of Danish aeri.
cultural life is discussed. II NAV he ~
interest to mention that certain an.
pArently, radical reform. vara c.yr;eA
through under the auspices ~ 3 ~
eminent notorious for ~ ccn.Asve
tism. Tho particulaF ,s-sisset;o.
which has been of such ( rrsat hsi.
to Danish farmers. and mn 4. ~ ~
bodied In the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
g treeholders' act)ywas enacted
~ 1879 Wniie The conservative party
still reiened; the liberal parties ala
Mot-altalna power In the cabinet until
= summer on1S01, SO we. see now
phenomenon OF unprecedented
!awmakang along u1trted paths beins
accomplished durinf the regime 81 =
conservative goyernwentkwhose tend,
encles were. n graft many other ~
spects, rather reactionary.