No. 4] DAIRYING. 45 



purchased in limited quantities, and schemes for securing 

 more productive cows were introduced. The increase in 

 production was an extremely important factor, and with very 

 little expense this was increased 60 per cent by a scientific, 

 systematic method of breeding and careful feeding. To-day, 

 after forty years' experience with the dairy cow, Denmark 

 oifers the best solution of the economical problem of any 

 country in the world. From a bankrupt country it has be- 

 come the richest country per capita, in the world, and this 

 has been accomplished chiefly through the instrumentality 

 of the dairy cow. 



Germany offers a similar example. Forty years ago it 

 was a nation that imported 50 per cent of its foodstuffs, but 

 by the introduction of dairy farming, notwithstanding an 

 increase of 30 per cent in population, Germany has ceased 

 to be a nation that imports its foodstuffs and has become a 

 self-sustaining nation, its exports equaling its imports in 

 value. Dairying would probably have been carried on to a 

 greater extent were it not for the fact that rich fields of 

 mineral fertilizers have been discovered within its territories. 

 They have been able to supply large quantities of potash. 

 Hence it has not become necessary to practice such intensive 

 lines of agriculture as in countries having no natural re- 

 sources. 



Switzerland, being extremely mountainous, has some very 

 fertile valleys, but these arc limited in area. It supports a 

 very dense population, and dairying plays a most important 

 part in its system of agricidture. Swiss cheese is kno^m 

 the world over. In this mountainous country we find a 

 striking example of individual labor, probably the best in 

 the world. The noted Swiss Avatches are made by piece- 

 Avork, chiefly by individuals in their homes, and the pieces 

 are sold to a central factory. Swiss lace is made in the homes 

 and sold to a company Avhich exports it to other countries. 

 Here dairying has made of the hillsides a veritable garden, 

 and by its means, chiefly, the SavIss people gain a livelihood. 



The same things might be said of France and Belgium. 

 Ireland is making great strides in dairying. They haA'e 



