78 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



to 10 ore per 100 lbs., and in one case it was 25 ore per 100 lbs. 

 These charges, of course, include the taking back of the separated 

 milk. At one typical creamery it was found that the price realised 

 for butter worked out at an average of Is. Ofd. per lb., and the 

 working expenses at 775 per cent, on the total turnover. 



Periodical Conferences and Exhibitions 



As already mentioned, the State takes a very practical interest 

 in all co-operative organisations. The country is divided up into 

 districts, and in each of these districts conferences of members are 

 held at regular intervals. These conferences are invariably attended 

 by some State official, and all questions of public policy affecting 

 agriculture are framed in accordance with the opinions gathered at 

 the deliberations. Government experts are in constant touch with 

 the different societies, and are always available to give technical 

 advice regarding any particular industry. In the butter industry 

 exhibitions take place fortnightly at the Government laboratories 

 in Copenhagen. Creamery managers, on receipt of a telegram, 

 forward samples to be adjudicated by experts. Usually 107 cream- 

 eries are invited to send samples for each competition, and thus 

 three times in each year the products of the different creameries are 

 placed side by side for comparison. The samples are numbered 

 and catalogued, and great care is taken that the judges, usually 

 nine in number, should have no means of identifying the creameries 

 from which the samples have been drawn. The judges in their 

 notes point out where one butter excels another, and where in some 

 cases there may be a distinct defect. The laboratory officials com- 

 municate the result to the creamery managers, and give advice 

 where such may be called for, and suggest experiments which 

 enable the managers to determine for themselves how weak points 

 may be remedied, and obstacles overcome. 



Quickness of Communication 



Electricity plays an important part in Denmark, a telephone 

 installation in Jutland costing only £2, 15s. per annum, and in the 

 islands £3, 5s. Nearly every creamery has its telephone system, 

 and indeed it may be said that every large farmer and tradesman 

 of any consequence has a telephone service, and the telegraph 

 service is thus little used. Creamery managers are thus kept in 

 constant touch, not only with each other, but with the official 

 experts in Copenhagen. In this way the latest advices as to 

 market fluctuations and other matters affecting them is at once 

 known. There is no such thing in Denmark as that of one 

 creamery underselling another, but rather there is a general under- 

 standing to assist each other in raising the standard of quality and 

 of price. In consequence of receiving regular monthly payments 

 for their agricultural products, the Danish farmers seldom owe any 

 debts to merchants, for they in turn settle their accounts monthly, 

 thus securing to themselves a position of independence, which has 



