The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-30
LIVE STOCK EXTENSION,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUITURE
BEGINS NEW WORK In THIS
STATE.
Trained Live Stock Men Will Be
Sent by Department. to Work in
Cooperation with Farmers OF South
Carolina In Development of In
dustry.

Washington, July 25.-Representa-
tive Lever today completed arrange
ments with the department Of agri-
culture by which live stock raising is
soon to be begun in South Carolina.
The department. in pursuance of
the plan agreed to. will at once send
an expert to st. Matthews to confer
with j. A. Banks of that place, one OF
the best known advocates of live
stock raising in South Carolina, on
the possibility of forming cooperative
organizations to increase interest In
live stock and bring into use the best
methods of animal husbandry. The
departments idea Is that the best
results can be obtained through a
selfgoverning organization. with the
aid and advice of experts to be sup
piled by the government
Assistant Secretary Galloway's let
ter to Mr.. Lever, explaining the plan,
follows:
1--WE are very much interested in
this proposition Of yours to encour-
age the greater production OF animals
in South Carolina. 1 have discussed
the matter somewhat fully with. the
secretary. and he is of the opinion
that much can be done toward stim-
ulating interest in the subject Of ami
NAL husbandry and has made a mum
ber of suggestions as to how the
work might be carried out.
"As i understand 1t, your plan
Is to encourage the production of live
stock by organizing cooperative live
stock societies OF associations and
have them develop the work on a
community basis.
Such a cooperative society. while
making live stock the central feature
would. of coCrse. necessarily have to
consider practically. all phases OF ag-
riculture-rotation Of crops, kinds OF
crops to grow. marketing. rural credits
and so forth.
Before proceeding in a matter of
this kind II would seem highly desir-
able that we should have some first
hand information as to the conditions
in the region where the work is to be
organized. There should be sort
OF reconnaissance study of the situa-
tion. so to speak. by some experienced
man I'm the department, who could
visit the section and confer with the
people to the end OF shaping up q
definite plan or project for the organ
ization OF a cooperative live stock as
sociatiOn or industry. The functions
Of the department I'm this field would
seem to lie in the direction of proper
supervision and direction Of the work
rather than attempting to do the
work itself The department In an
educational way can first determine
the conditions as they exist. can poin,
the means OF organizing under these
conditions. can indicate to a larg,
measure the proper procedure In
handling such an association as Is
under contemplation, but could no,
very well assume the responsibility
for the direct management Of such ar
association. This management should
be left to the association itself, which
feeling the direct responsibility OF
management. would in all probability
move along more prosperously than
IL the government should assume tina,
responsibility
"As explained to you, we will take
immediate steps to find a good man
to send to st. Matthews to get i'm touch
with Mr.. Banks, and will give you
the name OF this gentleman within q
few days"
MIR. Lever is enthusiastic at having
been able to direct the attention OF tho
department to the great problem, a,
ne expressed 1t. "of reinforcing our
cotton crop with strong right arm. =
The live stock industry, not only
cattle. but hog raising. has been wo-
fully neglected In the South, due to
the character of our labor and to the
mistaken idea that it is more profit.
able to grow cotton and buy meats
and other home necessaries than il is
to supplement the cotton crop by the
production Of these essential neces-
saries tn every farmer" is the way Mr..
Lever argues the proposition. "The
meat supply Of the nation is falling TO
keep pace with the number Of mouths
to he supplied. and we are up against
the proposition either of eating less
meat supply of the nation Is failing to
mort trade I'm beef has practically