288 
Agriculture of Denmark. 
culturo. Far the largest quantity of arable land in Denmark 
is, as shown, in the hands of the yeoman class, and only about 10 
per cent, of the whole belongs to properties having more land than 
constitutes 12 tons of " Hartkorn." The yeoman-farmer culti- 
vates his own land, and it is quite an exception if he lets part of 
it. The proprietors of large estates (Herrcgaarde) frequently 
farm themselves, with the assistance of a bailiff, who directs the 
details of the husbandry. The English tenant-system is here 
exceptional. Of the 1715 properties having above 12 tons of 
" Hartkorn " of land (including entailed estates), there were in 
1850 only 388 thus let. A few years ago this system was more 
in vogue, and the rent was then frequently so low that the ex- 
perienced tenant (Forpagter) could make money. But the 
advance in corn-prices, improvements in cultivation, and the 
increase in the value of property, caused rents to be raised to an 
extent disproportioned to the true increase in the land's value ; 
the landed proprietors, unable correctly to estimate the change of 
times, and observing the prosperity of the old tenants, demanded 
too high rents, and consequently the able farmer declined to 
speculate, though persons without means sometimes did so, to the 
ultimate loss of the owner. 
The tenantry-system having decreased, that class which for- 
merly rented land now prefers investing money in its purchase ; 
but as their capital is seldom large, and generally only sufficient 
to satisfy the vendor, they frequentlv buy to disadvantage. It is 
not uncommon that a man with 1000/. buys a property worth 
5000/., and is obliged to pay from four to six per cent, interest 
on a large part of the value of the property, which, as a rule, 
does not pay ; whereas if a larger capital were employed the farm 
might yield a good profit. A sufficient working capital is very 
uncommon among the agriculturists of this country. 
The high prices paid for landed properties at the end of last 
and the commencement of this century, as a consequence of 
speculation and high grain-prices, fell to the opposite extreme 
Ijetween 1810 and 1826, partly on account of the deranged state 
of the finances, and partly on account of wars ; so that estates 
now worth 5000/. were then sold for 250/. to 350/. But, with 
improved financial administration and the revival of com- 
mercial confidence, the prices of landed property rose again vmtil 
1857, when the monetary crisis produced an effect which con- 
siderably reduced their imaginary value, and doubtless has 
caused speculators to be more careful than during the period 
185(5-57, when almost ridiculous prices were paid. 
The price of landed property in Denmark may now, on an 
average, be said to be between 220/. to 330/. per ton of "Hart- 
