1921.] 



Agriculture Abroad. 



1073 



realised good prices at the sale. There appears to be no doubt 

 that if in future British breeders wish to take advantage of 

 the increasing interest which is shown in the Argentine for 

 pedigree dairy cattle, they will have to be prepared to face an 

 energetic competition from North America. 



Denmark, in common with most European countries, felt the 

 pressure of war conditions in the matter of the home production 

 Ex orts of A ri °^ ^ 00 ^' w ith serious consequences to her 

 u , -n j export trade. The factors which contri- 

 cultural Produce \ v , • » . . • 



• _ , bated to this decline are brienv set out m 



from Denmark. ^ , _ , _ , _ J . , 



a Report on the Post-war Economic and 



Industrial Situation in Denmark, issued some months ago.* 



It is pointed out that during the last generation and a half, 

 Denmark has devoted herself principally to food production 

 on scientific lines. A high stage of development has been 

 reached in this direction by the assistance of the State in 

 establishing agricultural schools and associations, and by the 

 growth of the co-operative movement, which has been such a 

 distinctive feature in Danish agriculture. 



Before the War, Danish exports of agricultural produce to 

 Great Britain in the form of animal substances were of con- 

 siderable importance. The magnitude of this trade will be 

 realised from the imports into the United Kingdom of butter, 

 bacon and eggs in 1914, which were respectively 44 per cent., 

 55 per cent., and 24 per cent, of the total quantities imported. 

 During the early part of the War, Denmark increased her 

 export trade to Great Britain, but a decline afterwards set in, 

 largely owing to the more attractive prices offered by Germany, 

 who was beginning to feel the effects of war conditions. 



As time went on, however, Denmark w T as compelled 

 materially to reduce her exports. In normal times it had 

 been her practice to consume margarine to a large extent 

 instead of butter, which was a profitable item of export. The 

 available supplies of margarine, however, were much reduced 

 during the War. Moreover, the restrictions on the importa- 

 tion of feeding stuffs and fertilisers made the production of 

 meat and dairy produce on a pre-war scale impossible. Every 

 effort was made to meet the situation by increasing the area 

 under crops, but bad harvests in 1916 and 1917 accentuated the 

 difficulties, and a drastic reduction in the number of live stock 



* C.M.D.955, 1920. Obtainable from H.M. Stationery Office, Imperial 

 House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, price 4d. net. 



