THE ELABORATING COMMERCIAL COUNTRIES 119 



the imports of animal foodstuffs, those of meat and meat products 

 for example, fell from 133 million Ibs. in 1907 to 33 million Ibs. in 

 1912. 2 



The home consumption of animal foodstuffs in Denmark accounts 

 for a considerable part of the total production probably more than 

 half. The per capita meat consumption appears to be compari- 

 tively small, having been estimated at 76 Ibs for 1902, but the 

 per capita consumption of dairy produce, including margarine, is 

 very high ; the butter consumption has been estimated at 20 Ibs. 

 per capita, and that of margarine at about 12 Ibs., while the whole 

 milk consumption has been set down at no less than 40 gallons per 

 capita, as compared with 23 gallons in the United Kingdom. The 

 per capital consumption of poultry and eggs is probably consider- 

 able also, owing to the extensive production of these articles in 

 the country. The figures given above are the estimates for the- 

 year 1902, and since that time there has in all likelihood been some 

 general increase consequent upon the rising prosperity of the 

 country. 



With regard to future surplus production, its extent depends 

 upon the ease with which supplies of animal feedstuff s can be im- 

 ported from other countries. It is interesting to note in this con- 

 nection that the per capita production of barley, the only kind of 

 concentrated feedstuffs produced to any extent within the country, 

 has fallen slowly since the year 1900. The agricultural population 

 is dense and the system of animal husbandry represents almost a 

 maximum of intensification under the existing conditions. On 

 the other hand, manufacturing industries are neither very con- 

 considerable, nor are they likely to expand rapidly owing to the 

 comparative absence of raw materials and the lack of coal. No 

 great increase in the population is therefore likely ; moreover, it 

 is probable that the natural increase will be checked somewhat by 

 emigration in the future, as has been the case in the past. Since 

 the country depends for its prosperity almost entirely upon exports 

 of animal foodstuffs, and since animal industries are more highly 

 developed in Denmark than in any other country, it seems prob- 

 able that it will provide a considerable, and, under favourable 

 conditions, possibly an increasing surplus of animal foodstuffs for 

 export to neighbouring countries. 



(b) HOLLAND. 



Holland belongs also essentially to the elaborating-commercial 

 group of countries with regard to its agricultural industries. As 

 compared with Denmark, however, the population is much greater 

 and manufacturing industries and commerce are more extensively 

 developed. In view of its comparatively small area and of the 



This remarkable decline is due probably in the main to the substitution 

 of vegetable oils for animal fats in the manufacture of margarine for home 

 consumption. A large part of the Danish imports of meat and meat products 

 consists of animal fats and oils. 



