144 



Farms in Denmark. 



[JUNE, 



FARMS IN DENMARK. 



Before 1792 the land in Denmark was principally held by a 

 few large proprietors, and since that time it has been gradually 

 passing into the hands of the tenants, and is now held chiefly 

 by peasants themselves as proprietors. The distribution of the 

 land at present, according to the latest returns available, is as 

 follows : — Estates from \ to 6 acres, 92,656, having a total 

 acreage of 155,766, or an average per farm of r6 statute acres 

 each ; from 6 acres to 24^ acres, 66,491 estates of 836,658 acres, 

 or an average of i2 - 6 statute acres each ; over 24J acres, 73,889 

 estates of 5,5 14,978 acres, or an average of 747 statute acres each. 

 The average size of the holdings in Denmark is 23! statute 

 acres each, and 90 per cent, of the occupiers are proprietors. 



The Report of the deputation which visited Denmark in 1903 

 on behalf of the Irish Department of Agriculture, states that the 

 system of transfer from the large land owners to the peasants 

 was gradual up to about the year 185 1, when a great stimulus was 

 given to the desire for ownership by the establishment of com- 

 panies in Denmark, who provided capital to the would-be 

 proprietors on mortgages of the acquired holdings. These 

 mortgages, which amounted in most cases to about one-half of 

 the value, were repayable with interest by annual instalments 

 for fifty years as a minimum, so that at the present time those 

 who availed themselves of these financial societies, on their 

 minimum number of years' purchase, are now absolute holders. 

 Most of the purchasing occupiers, however, took longer periods, 

 some even up to one hundred years, for repayment of the capital. 



The interest and repayment of these loans are still a very 

 heavy drag upon the farmers ; but at the same time they are 

 cheerfully borne. The farmer feels, if he is a young man, that 

 he will one day benefit by having no further instalments or 

 interest to pay, and practically the whole of the profit from 

 his fanning will be for his own use; while the load is carried 

 lightly, seeing that he takes a more intelligent interest in his. 



