146 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



Feuwick Farmers' Society. In this competition the milk yield and 

 percentage of butter-fat is a factor in awarding the prizes, and it 

 is pleasing to note that these competitions are creating consider- 

 able interest in the district. Of the many object-lessons brought 

 under the notice of the Scotch party in Denmark, there was none 

 more worthy of imitation than the most admirable and enlightened 

 system pursued in the breeding of dairy cattle, and much good 

 it is hoped may result from the diffusion of information on this 

 subject. 



Railway Service and Rates 



While recognising the disparity of condition springing from the 

 State ownership of Danish railways, the Commission are not con- 

 tent to think the British railway companies are performing their 

 full duty to the agricultural interests. The broad effect is that the 

 produce of the Danish farmer is being carried at something like 

 one-half the cost the produce of the British farmer must bear. 

 This, however explained, is a handicap not to be accepted with 

 resignation. It is an important public concern, reaching beyond 

 both the railway interest and the farming interest, to bring the 

 terms of competition nearer a level. On this head three things 

 may be said : (1) The British railway companies are too much 

 disposed to think their part fulfilled in quoting lower rates after 

 the traffic has been created, too httle disposed to assist in creating 

 the traffic at its critical stages ; (2) their services are not always 

 adapted to actual needs, otherwise farmers would not now be 

 employing traction engines to convey manures and other materials 

 from towns to their farms, though the farms are in the vicinity of 

 railway stations ; (3) they do not intimate that considerable con- 

 signments will be accepted at rates approximating to those of 

 continental countries, and consequently fail to stimulate a practice 

 of making up the goods in large lots. 



State Aid 



The Commission have been much impressed by the extent to 

 which not only the various educational institutions, but all other 

 organisations in Denmark, formed for the promotion of agriculture 

 in its varying branches, are assisted and encouraged by Grants in 

 Aid contributed from the National Exchequer; and they are of 

 opinion that lasting benefits would accrue to British agriculture 

 were the present small grants to colleges, dairy schools and ex- 

 periment stations largely increased, and were the formation of 

 Associations for the promotion of rural industries in any practical 

 and efficient manner also stimulated by assistance fi'om the State. 



Co-operation 



Although one great principle runs through all co-operative 

 societies, the operations of that principle vary with the particular 

 objects. There is much information to be gathered from Denmark, 

 as well as from other European countries, which will be found 



