1910.] State Assistance to Agriculture in Denmark. 57 1 



through which State aid to forestry is administered in Den- 

 mark. The objects of this society are the planting of the 

 heath lands (especially in Jutland) with trees and the reclama- 

 tion of heath and marsh land. The society gives gratis advice 

 to anyone who asks for it on these subjects, sends an expert 

 to examine the conditions on the spot, makes the necessary 

 plans, and supervises the work — the actual labour being done 

 by the individual. The society further inspects and adminis- 

 ters many of the plantations. 



The State subvention to the Heath Society on the Budget 

 for 1909-10 amounted to Kr. 546,400 (,£30,355), and was 

 expended on buying up heath land ; the administration and 

 technical departments of the society ; assistance to purchasers 

 of trees; advances under the regulations of the Ministry of 

 Agriculture of February 26th, 1901, to purchasers of heath 

 land which they intend to plant with trees, and which they 

 undertake shall always remain forest land ; for small planta- 

 tions and hedges; assistance in the purchase and transport 

 of marl, and for various other objects. 



The administration of this money is left to the Heath 

 Society, which renders an account of what it does to the 

 Ministry of Agriculture. The applications for assistance are 

 made to the society, which, among other methods of instruct- 

 ing its members, issues a periodical and maintains a staff of 

 experts besides a considerable number of foresters and forest 

 assistants. 



There is further a State loan to communes in the heath dis- 

 trict, which is accorded to them on the recommendation of 

 the Heath Society. 



General. — It will be seen that the connecting link between 

 the Ministry, i.e., the State and the individual, is always the 

 Provincial Agricultural Association, or, in the case of 

 forestry, the Heath Society. On questions of wider import- 

 ance the State asks the advice of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society, or the Co-operating Danish Agricultural Societies, 

 among whose members are not only all the most pro- 

 minent agriculturists in the kingdom, but also representatives 

 from every district in the country. On questions concerning 

 the dairy industry, the Ministry would also consult the boards 



