Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-13
Weekly Bureau of In
formation for All Who
Til the Soil or Are In
teyested in Making Hemes
BANKERS AND PORK

SiHSc hoSS dhoio VIC qulChcSN iHcdus
OF increasing our meat supply. con.
tinued and extended efforts Of public
: spirited bankers in furtherinE the or
ganization of pig clubs by advancing
TO club members the money needed
\ for the purchase of pure-bred SOW pigs
is doubly desirable and greatly ap-
preciated at this time.
Pig clubs have Increased very rap
(, idly during the past seven years. the
I specialists point out. In 1910 there
were iifty-ninc members in the Unitcd
States! to-day the number exceeds 30.
200. found principally in Arkansas
q Ala bama, California. North Carolina
Louisiana. Georgia, Texas. Oregon. Nir-
ginia. Nebraska. Kentucky. Indiana
and Massachusetts. These States con-
tanned 2l.6I3 members last year, but
pig clubs are being formed rapidly in
other states. The demand for gifts
and bred gifts by club members is un-
precedentcd. even al the high prices
at which they are held.
There are not as many of these clubs
/, III Virginia as there should be. but
under the encouragement and with
the financial assistance of banks in
several sections of the State they are
increasing. 1t is TO be hoped that more
banks will this year take interest in
This matter.
Financial assistance to the pig club
members has been the means of in
Producing pure-bred hogs in places
where otherwise this might have been
impossible. and has helped TO build up
the agriculture of the communities
which the banks serve. These clubs
stand not alone for greater pork pro-
auction. BY increasing the amount of
live stock they encourage the produce
iion OF much OF the Iced on the farm.
and as their activities are co-incident
with or follow club work in the grow
ing or corn and forage crops, they are
part OF system that favors Il sound
diversity in agriculture and a rotation
of crops that Will maintain the ter
iIiiy OF the soil
Two plans have been followed by
bankers III providing the SOW pigs
necessary 10 enable the boys and girls
TO engage i'll pig club work. One meth
Cd is the so-called promissory note
plan. The banker makes individual
contracts with the pig club members.
In each case he agrees 10 lend them
a certain sum of money at per cent
Interest Tor one year. or longer if
necessary. The member agrees TO keep
up a membership in a pig club, to in :
vest the loan under the direction of
the county agent or county club rep
resentatire. and to repay il at ma
turity out of the proceeds of the sa Ie
oi the original stock or the increase
AS security for the loan, the banker
takes the members promissory note.
+ he members parent consents TO the
contract, in writing, and agrees not
10 claim any right in the pigs pur-
chased or their proceeds
The other metho', is called the end
less chain plan. This also involves
a. Il1
agrees 10 furnish registered :ow mir
The boy or girl agrees to join a local
pig club, obey its rules care for the
SOW according to instructions. breed
her AT not les than eight months OF
age 10 a registered boar OF the same
breed. raise the little according to the
rules OF the club and deliver to the
tanner TWO choce gifts (not less
than eight weeks ODD from the frs,
inter The member agrees Is take
ont Tes!stratio: papers for all the first
lttie. PIGS not sold for immediate
Slaughter. when these agreements
are met The original SOW and the re-
naming piCs become the members
property !. ,ae member is unable 70
return go son pigs OUT ot the mrs,
!.,,=r n agreement continues until
ans : i2Ss!r-e Il The original SON
d-=& o=tp-+ :4-.oviag healthy litter
80 se.A-- LEAFS ne loss II the
.asrat=: does aot :g!ai al agreements,
:-Efa = tn SOW and h-1 progeny s-e
torte.'=- TA= 1--e1: agrees 10 ,as
'os.ir--t. . ~'-.,lag. ard acEro~!etz@s
:a-i tn= 50. sHd increase shall belong
70 the boy cr girl
When me banker receives n. ,sa
.o~ p-ss rom the raemb=. and purs
tasn oui Win otae. boys or g.r-s IN
Ger the --re agreement The endless
chain feature % the activities i stc
IN motion 4'bis plan may be varied IA
details sui. coalitions For in.,4 nee.
the banker may require the 4.turn q:
only one SOW pig. and stipulate ;ha,
the by or cir! must Join Z corn OF.
peanut CLUB, raise al least half an acre
OF green Iced. and exhibit The SOW and
her offspring at the county TAI. or live
stock show
Under similar arrangements. BOYS
have received calves 10 raise, and both
boys and girls have received eggs O.:
purc-brcd chickens for Matching.
1t is urged that bankers in the
South who have taken part in these
projects heretofore continue their aid.
and others. both in the North and in
the South. take up the work as IL is
patriotic duty at this time 20 in
crease the nations supply Of food
County agents, State agricultural col
leSes, and the Department Of Agri-
culture Will answer gladly any uues-
lions regarding details OF these activi-
ties.