The Raymer enterprise., 1917-08-23
URGE BANKERS TO
BOOST PIG CLUBS
Uncle Sans Agricultural Experts
Seek Increase in Country's
Meat Supply.
10000 BOYS NOW MEMBERS
Work Of Encouraging Young Farmers
Has Grown Rapidly In Few
Years-Two Methods Of
Financing Followed.

flndUCin8 robo"Se'
Since hogs afford the quickest
means of increasing our meat supply,
continued and extended efforts Of pub
lic-splrited bankers In furthering the
organization of pig clubs by advancing
10 club members the money needed for
the purchase Of purebred SOW pigs Is
doubly desirable at this time, accord
Ing to Uncle Sans agricultural ex-
perts.
pig clubs have increased very rap
idly during the past seven years, the
specialists point out. In 1910 there
we're 50 members In the United States
today the number exceeds 10000,
found principally In Arkansas Ala
bama. California, North Carolina,
Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, Oregon,
Oklahoma, Nebraska. Kentucky, lndi-
ana, and Massachusetts. These states
contained 2l,G73 members last year,
but pig clubs are being formed rapidly
Ia other states. The demand for gifts
and bred gifts by club members Is UNI
precedented, even at the high prices
at which they are held.
Financial assistance TO the pig club
members has been the means of intro
ducllg purebred hogs in places where
otherwise this might have been I'M
possible, and has helped to build up
the agriculture of the communities
which the banks serve. These clubs
stand not alone for greater pork pro
duction. BY increasing the amount OF
live stock they encourage the produc'
tion OF much Of the feed on the farm,
and as their activities are coinciden'
with or follow club work In the grow
ing Of corn and forage crops, they are
part of system that favors sound
diversity In agriculture and a rotation
OF crops that will maintain the fertili.
ty Of the soil.
Two Plans Followed.
Two plans have been followed by
bankers In providing the SOW pigs
necessary to enable the boys and girls
to engage in pig work. One method
Is the so-called promissory note plan
The banker makes individual con
tracts with the pig club members. In
each ease he agrees TO lend them o.
certain sum OF money at 9 per cent
interest for one year, or longer II
necessary. The member agrees feI
keep up a membership In pig club, T.
invest the loan under the direction oi
the county agent or county club rep
resentatlye, and to repay II at ma
turlty out Of hefrroeeeds of the sale
OF the original stock or the Increase
As security for the loan, the banker
takes the members prOmlssory note
The members parent consents to the
contract, In writing, and agrees not tc
claim any right In the pigs purchased
or their proceeds.
The other method Is called the "end'
less-chain" plan. This also involves
individual contracts. The banker
agrees to furnish registered SOW pig
The boy or girl agrees to Join local
pig club. obey its rules care for tho
SOW according to instructions, breed
her Mt not less than eight months u
age to a registered boar Of the SAME
breed, raise the litter according tc
the rules of the club, and deliver tc
the banker two choice gifts tnot less
than eight weeks oldD from the first
litter. The member agrees also to
take out registration papers for all the
first Hitter pigs not sold Tor immediate
slaughter. When these agreements are
met, the original SOW and the remaining
pigs become the members property
II the member IL unable to return two
SOW pigs out OF the first litter the
agreement continues until this Is pos
sIble. II the original sow dies before
farrowing healthy litter the banker
bears the loss. II the member does
not fulfill all agreements. rights tc
the sow and her progeny are forfeited
The parent agrees 10 the contract
In writing. and acknowledges that the
SOW and increase shall belong to the
boy or girl.
Endless Chain Established.
When the banker receives the two
SOW pigs from the member and puts
them out with other boys or girls nm
der the same agreement, the endless
chain feature of the activities Is set IN
motion. This plan may be vnried In
details to suit conditions. For In
stance. the banker may require the re
turn Of only one sow pig, and stipulate
that the boy or girl must loin q corn