SOME FALSTER ISLAND FARMS 



After leaving that agricultural Mecca, Ourupgaard, 

 I set out to visit some farms in the neighbourhood 

 of Nykjobing. The first gentleman I called upon 

 was Mr. Paul Rasmussen, who owns 50 tonde- 

 land of good land and 35 tondeland of ground 

 reclaimed from a neighbouring swamp. This re- 

 clamation has been undertaken by a company, and 

 is paid for by a mortgage given over the regained 

 area. The land when reclaimed consists of sand 

 over clay. On this grass is sown, and after the 

 grass oats. Then comes grass again for three or 

 four years, which, after manuring with farmyard muck 

 and artificials, is once more put under oats, and so 

 falls into a regular course of cultivation. 



Mr. Rasmussen inherited this property, on which, 

 for a wonder, there was no mortgage. A little while 

 before I visited him he had met with a misfortune 

 in the shape of a fire which burnt down the whole 

 place. He was insured for 20,000 kroner (^1108, 

 6s. 8d.) ; but the rebuilding of the house and premises, 

 which were in course of completion at the time I saw 

 them, had cost him 30,000 kroner (^1662, 10s.). 



Of their sort these premises were excellent. The 



house was just what such a house should be, and near 



by were a big barn with a cement floor, a cow-shed 



with accommodation for twenty-five cows and having 



a fireproof roof of reinforced concrete, a stable for six 



horses with tiled roof, bedroom for man, and loft 



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