50 REPORT OB^ THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



which embraces tlie whole of Denmark, and all with one object — 

 to encourage industries suitable for the labourers' gardens and 

 allotments. Besides these, there are many federations in the 

 islands of Denmark. The reason for this is obvious. It would 

 be inconvenient for a society in one island to be affiliated with a 

 central institution in another island. The result is that the co- 

 operative societies on an island are generally affiliated with a 

 central institution also on the island, and this, to some extent, 

 accounts for the perplexing number of societies and federations. 

 There is, for example. The Fyen Co-operative Feeding Stuff 

 Society, composed of forty-seven co-operative dairies, with a yearly 

 turnover of £83,000 ; The Laaland Creamery Members Co- 

 operative Federation, consisting of thirty-five creameries, with a 

 turnover of more than £50,000 in feeding stuffs, seeds, manure, and 

 coals ; The Falster Co-operative Purchase Society, being a federa- 

 tion of local societies for the purchase of their agricultural 

 requirements, and having a membership of 1250, with a turnover 

 of £14,000; The Samso Co-operative Supply Federation, which 

 includes the whole of the island, and deals in manure, seeds, 

 feeding stuffs, and coals — its turn-over in 1902 was over £10,500 ; 

 The Bornholm Co-operative Manure Society, a federation of the 

 agricultural societies in the Island of Bornholm. 



Agricultural Societies 



All these Societies and Federations, however, do not ex- 

 haust the list of societies that are run on co-operative lines 

 in Denmark. They are too many for enumeration. Suffice it 

 to mention one other class, namely, the agricultural societies, 

 because they are different from any of those yet referred to. 

 There are more than 100 of them. They do not confine 

 their energies to any one branch of agriculture, they take a 

 general supervision — general enough when their work includes 

 organisations of cattle, sheep, and swine shows, distribution of 

 prizes to labourers in connexion with the management of their 

 allotments, excursions of farmers to different places, both in and 

 out of Denmark, establishment of field experiments, assisting 

 Government experts in different parts of the country, improvement 

 of live stock, and the like. All these societies and federations 

 are encouraged by Government, and many of them are materially 

 helped. But there is no doubt of this, the Dane has materially 

 helped himself. Self-help is a foreword in his vocabulary, and he 

 may himself take credit for much of his prosperity, and for the 

 marvellous co-operative organisation which has made that prosperity 

 possible. 



