136 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



make it keep himself and his family. Indeed, he seldom seeks 

 labour on the larger farms. 



The holidays of the farm servants amount to about sixty-one 

 days per annum. This includes the Sundays, which are openly 

 spent as holidays, and are marked by gatherings of the people for 

 amusement and social intercourse. At recognised centres all classes, 

 men, women, and children, meet and thoroughly enjoy themselves ; 

 and although drinking-saloons and places of amusement are open, 

 the conduct of the people is orderly and praiseworthy. Lecture- 

 rooms and libraries also exist at convenient places ; and the 

 Government has arranged a cheap rate of postage by which daily 

 newspapers are delivered for about 6|d. a month. 



In a country where small holdings predominate, it is a matter 

 of no surprise to find that there is not the same class distinction 

 and gulf between the social condition of master and servant that 

 we find nowadays in this country. 



The system of fanning, and the co-operative methods of dis- 

 posing of thQ produce, render markets, and attendance at them, 

 unnecessary, with the result that the farmers stay more at home 

 than they do in this country, and closely supervise their business 

 there. In this they usually find able seconders in their wives. 

 On one of the largest farms visited, although it was the property 

 of the holder, the mistress made it pretty apparent that she was 

 really chief poultry and dairy maid. This good lady lost nothing 

 in the estimation of the party when, after showing off her scrupul- 

 ously clean poultry houses with patent nests which only allow the 

 hens to enjoy the freedom of the farmyard after paying the toll 

 of an egg, her chickens, ducklings, incubators, and young calves, 

 she invited them to inspect her splendidly equipped house, and 

 refresh themselves with her choice home-brewed w^ine. Thus we 

 have evidence that the large as well as the small holders are simple 

 and thrifty in their habits, and closely attentive to their business. 



In all the complicated arrangements of the co-operative system 

 it is remarkable how faithfully the members carry out the terms of 

 their bargains. The price obtained is, as a rule, accepted without 

 question. All disputes seem to be settled with the minimum of 

 friction. There is no difficulty in obtaining able and honest 

 managers. The central boards at Copenhagen and elsewhere 

 appear to maintain excellent relations with the local factories. It 

 is a striking testimony to the business capacity of these boards, 

 and to the truthful; honourable understanding among the people, 

 that the operations of the trading confederations have worked so 

 harmoniously that there has been no revolt, and outside trades and 

 rings have quite failed to break up the co-operative union. 



In visiting numerous small holdings we had many side-lights 

 revealing the secret of the conspicuous success of this distinctive 

 feature of Danish agriculture. The system everywhere was the same ; 

 cows, pigs, and a few poultry, the milk all going to the local creamery, 

 and about 90 per cent, of the skim milk coming back to rear the 

 calves and fatten the pigs. The position of the wells, and the 

 spaces in which the cows were housed might, in some instances. 



