1076 



Land Settlement in Denmark. [feb., 



peat has developed into an important industry in Jutland. 

 Herning is entirely dependent on peat for its fuel, and large 

 quantities have been transported to the principal centres of 

 population in Denmark, where peat fuel was unknown 

 before the War, at a cost of 33s. ^d. to 40s. per ton delivered. 

 The peat is sold on its analysis : a good sample will contain 

 25 per cent, of water and 2 to 3 per cent, of ash. 



One typical small holding, about i mile from Herning, was 

 visited. This consisted of 9 acres and cost £23 4s. zd. per acre 

 before the War. Buildings consisting of cow-house, stable, 

 piggery, and dwelling-house — all in one block — -cost £135. 

 The soil is black peaty sand, deeper and richer than typical 

 heath soil, and is cropped as follows : — 



Roots, 

 Oats, 

 Grass, 

 Grass, 



Cereal and legume mixture (ripened), 

 Rye. 



There is, also, a small, well-managed garden from which some 

 produce is sold. The stock at present consists of two horses 

 and two cows. Both crops and stock are only moderate. 

 The land is in need of lime and will be dressed with clay marl 

 obtainable locally (pre-war price = is. 4^d. a load). Normally 

 a few pigs and other stock are kept, and the holding is said to 

 be entirely self-supporting. Latterly, however, the occupier 

 has had to engage in carting and other outside work in order 

 to make ends meet. For carting peat, for example, a man and 

 two horses will earn from 50s. to 55s. a day. On poorer heath 

 soil — farther from Herning — about 40 acres is considered 

 necessary for a living. 



West of Herning many of the holdings range between 60 and 

 100 acres. Except roots and rye, crops generally were poor. 

 Some of the best crops in the district were to be seen on the 

 Government Experiment Station at Studsgaard. 



Here the soil is extremely Hght, black sand, on which experi- 

 ments are being conducted to determine the best crops and the 

 b st varieties of such crops to grow. Rye, oats, barley, roots, 

 potatoes, carrots, grasses, clover and miscellaneous forage 

 plants are included in the trials. Rye and potatoes are very 

 good ; carrots also do well ; and of the forage plants tall oat grass 

 and red clover seem to be about the best. Lucerne is poor 

 alone, but moderatel}^ good along with tall oat grass. 



