SMALL-HOLDING OWNERSHIP 217 



As I do not think I have mentioned it before, I 

 will take this opportunity to explain that "hartkorn" 

 is the Danish land-tax standard. In the richest parts 

 of Denmark one tonde hartkorn equals from 7 to 10 

 tondeland of ground. But on the heaths, in Jutland 

 for instance, one tonde hartkorn may correspond to as 

 much as 1000 tondeland. 



It is therefore clear that in the absence of a special 

 will to the contrary, the Danish custom is that on the 

 death of their owner lands must be divided among 

 children subject to the rights of the widow, who is, I 

 believe, the particular care of the Danish law. It will 

 be observed, also, that even if such a special will is 

 made and the land is appointed to one heir, that heir 

 must reasonably compensate those who would have 

 been his co-heirs in the absence of such a will, in 

 proportion to the value of the real estate which he 

 inherits. 



In short it comes to this, in Denmark the pro- 

 visions of our law are practically reversed. Here, in 

 the absence of a will or of special dispositions to the 

 contrary, the eldest son takes the real property with- 

 out being called upon to compensate the other children 

 in money. In Denmark such right of primogeniture 

 does not seem to exist, save perhaps in the instance of 

 certain ancient "privileged manors" called " Saede- 

 gaarde." 



As a result of all this long-continued custom and 

 legislation, over 90 per cent, of the Danish farmers now 

 own the land they farm. Indeed I believe that but 

 one-fifteenth of the agricultural population is to-day in 

 the position of tenants. Therefore, broadly speaking, 

 in Denmark to be an owner of land means to be a 

 farmer of land, whereas in Great Britain to be a 



