88 CO-OPEKATION IN DANISH AGEICULTUBE 



except what they use at home ; all are jointly and severally 

 liable ; the proceeds are divided in proportion to the amount 

 of milk dehverod by each ; all milk producers can be members 

 without any contribution in cash. The way this dairy was 

 started has been described as follows : during the winter 

 1881-82 a young man came to the inn in the village and made it 

 known to the farmers of the district that on a certain afternoon 

 he would demonstrate how to make the best and the most 

 butter from milk. Many farmers met, and he then explained to 

 them the advantages to be gained by forming a society for the 

 purpose of engaging an experienced butter-maker who should 

 improve the butter-making on the different farms, and get it 

 of uniform quahty, and who should then collect the butter at 

 one place, grade it and work it together, and pack it for export. 

 The farmers were interested, and a further meeting was con- 

 vened. At this meeting the general opinion was, that it was 

 better to collect the milk to be worked at one place, and a young 

 dairyman. Stilling Andersen, warmly recommended this course. 

 It was decided to form a society and to build a dairy, if farmers 

 having between them 400 cows would come forward. At a 

 subsequent meeting it was found that the farmers willing to 

 join the society represented only 300 cows, but that Stilling 

 Andersen had arranged to buy the milk from another 100 cows 

 and to enter as a co-operator as well as to take the situation as 

 dairyman at a modest salary. The rules were drafted on the 

 very night after the meeting, and so ably were they drawn up 

 that they have served as model for many other co-operative 

 dairy societies. 



Hjedding Co-operative Dairy started operations on the 10th 

 June, 1882, and at once reaUsed a good price for its butter. 

 This was of importance for the success of the movement. The 

 dairy at Hjedding created a sensation, and many came to see it. 

 The next year similar dairies were built in the neighbourhood, 

 and in the following years many were built in all parts of the 

 country. It was truly said, *' A wave had risen from the sea 

 in the west, nothing can stem it, it will sweep over the whole 

 country." These co-operative dairies had this advantage over 

 those under private ownership, that the people who deliveitd 

 milk to the former were interested in the result ; therefore iliey 



