^CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY SOCIETIES 



From the time when the first Co-operative Distributive Society 

 was formed in 1866, until the co-operative movement sent 

 forth its next offshoot, when the first Co-operative Dairy was 

 built, a span of sixteen years passed. During these years 

 Danish agriculture began and almost completed the great 

 change caused by the altered conditions in the agricultural 

 world. This change had a great' influence on the co-operative 

 movement. 



After the long and severe crisis in the twenties of last 

 century, Danish agriculture began a steady if slow process of 

 recovery. It emerged' poor, but not exhausted, from the 

 catastrophe ; [^e agrarian reforms at the end of the eighteenth 

 century had stood the enormous strain, and the agricultural 

 classes had just reason to be proud of the development made 

 during the first fifty years after the emancipation of the peasanisj 

 The area grown under corn was increased and the marling, 

 draining, and fallowing of the land resulted in larger crops 

 being produced. The surnmer feeding of the cattle had been 

 improved by laying the fieFds of the last corn crop down in 

 clover and grass, thereby providing a green crop ready as soon 

 as the corn crop had been carried. A better rotation of crops 

 v/as introduced from North Germany, and there was progress 

 both technical and economical ; especially was this the case 

 after the first war with Germany, 1848-50. After the repeal 

 of the EngHsh Com Laws, Danish agricultural produce found 

 a market in Great Britain and realised higher prices ; many 

 farms hitherto held on lease were bought freehold; the free 

 constitution of 1849 with its extensive franchise imparted fresh 

 energy. The chief feature of agriculture at that time was 

 corn growing ; by physical means (as opposed to chemical and 

 biological means) the growth of the corn crops was stimulated, 



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