120 



Co-operation in Denmark. [may, 1904.] 



Report on Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Conditions in 

 Denmark, by Members of a Deputation from the Irish 

 Department of Agriculture. \Bulletin No. 7. Miscellaneous 

 Series^ 



In a prefatory note to this Report it is observed that 

 Denmark is, of all Continental countries, the most akin to Ireland 

 in its general economic position. In the dairying industry, 

 it is its keenest and most successful rival in the markets of the 

 United Kingdom. It is consequently of interest to learn the 

 views of men, who, knowing the agricultural situation in Ireland, 

 have studied Danish methods on the spot, in the hope of 

 arriving at the chief causes of her continuous and growing 

 prosperity. How far these causes, supposing them to have 

 been accurately diagnosed, can be made to operate in Ireland to 

 the betterment of Irish agriculture is the problem before the 

 Department and the country. This question of the application 

 of Continental experience to the solution of Irish problems is 

 one of difficulty and complexity, and requires much prudence 

 and judgment. In a sense, it is true that the economic problem 

 of each country is unique, and must be worked out on national 

 lines by the people themselves, who are in direct touch with 

 their advantages and their drawbacks. On the other hand, it is 

 the part of wisdom — especially in these days of the world- 

 market — to observe the methods of successful competitors. 



The main object of the deputation sent by the Irish Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture was to inquire into the bacon-curing 

 industry of Denmark, and to endeavour to find out what 

 methods had been followed by the Danish farmers and 

 merchants in successfully establishing co-operative bacon 

 factories with an ever increasing trade. 



In inquiring into this subject many other matters of great 

 interest came under their observation, particularly in relation 

 to the dairying industry, people's high schools, egg-packing 

 centres, land tenure, and organisation affecting the management 

 of proprietary [holdings, and these subjects are exhaustively 

 dealt with in their Report. 



