Agriculture of .Denmark. 
297 
remunerative in this country, but farming is scarcely suflicicntly 
achanccd to make its general adoption at present very probable. 
DiiAiNAGE was not practised in Denmark until within the 
last ten or fifteen years, and is as yet only in its infancy ; as 
the usual prejudice against innovations has in this instances been 
surmounted, the great drought of our late summers and the 
crisis of 1857 are no doubt the causes wliy the practice has 
not been more generally adopted here, fin' its great advantages 
are admitted by large as well as small farmers. 
There exist no official statements as to the area of land which 
has been thus improved, but I am informed, upon good autho- 
rity, that from 12,000 to 15,000 acres of land Jiave been drained, 
namely, about 5000 on the islands and the remainder in the 
peninsula. 
On the islands of Lolland and Falster, resembling the English 
fen-counties, drainage is much required, but, the country being 
flat, it will be attended with considerable expense. On the 
inland of Sealand about two-thirds of the land will require drain- 
ing, but here the land is more undulating. On the island of 
Funen the north and north-western districts are flat, and the soil 
a stiff clay, much requiring drainage. The central part has lighter 
soil, and will not need it. In the south the land is rich and 
hilly, and much resembles that of Sealand. On the surrounding 
small islands draining will scarcely be required. 
In the peninsula the soil varies so much that it is difficult to 
pass any opinion as to the extent of drainage required ; it is, 
however, principally needed on the east coast, whilst on the 
west it is almost inapplicable, as the land frequently lies so low 
that it is at times inundated by the sea. The general expense of 
draining in Denmark may be estimated at 21. lbs. to 5/. per 
acre, depending on local circumstances. 
As land is seldom let for a longer period than four or eight 
years, tenants rarely undertake any drainage ; in some instances, 
however, a special contract is made to the effect that the land- 
lord defrays the expense of draining, and the tenant pays from 
five to seven percent, on the capital employed. By this arrange- 
ment both parties are interested in getting the work well, buj; also 
cheaply, executed. Young Danish farmers now frequently travel 
in England, Belgium, and Germany, to obtain practical know- 
ledge of the different methods of drainage, but the Government 
has taken no steps to facilitate draining operations. 
Manure. — Its inestimable service has so long been generally 
admitted that it is surprising that in an agricultural country 
like Denmark, no true interest has been shown, until the last 
ten or twelve years, in the improvement of this important 
branch of husbandry. A great deal remains to be done, but yet 
