Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-19
BANKERS URGED TO
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4 &OutIuucu lroHu poSo
"The popular notion among city people
is that all that the farmers have to do Is to
scratch the ea rth, and then SIT down and
wait for abundant crops to burst forth:
This is one of the most foolish fallacies OF
the present day. There is no industry
that has so many difficulties to contend
with as farming. No matter how much
care is used in the preparation OF the
soil, how much plant food and seed is
used, no man can predict what the harvest
will be. A hot wind may burn up the crop,
or a hail storm or cyclone entirely destroy
1t. -,
"a declining agriculture is vital evil
dence of state or national decay and must
be prevented at all hazards.
''On the whole, the farm situation In
Delaware presents the same difficulties as
elsewhere. 1t has been only very short
time since the u. S. Department OF Agrl-
culture was very free to say that Sussex
county, Delaware, offered greater pos
sibilities for farming than anywhere IN the
United States
'Modern farming to be successfully
carried on requires large outlay oi
money for live stock, seeds, fertilizers and
machinery. and like any other business
enterprise. this capital must be available
or the business fails.
"The farmers must, therefore, look to
the bankers to furnish them the capital
necessary to carry on their operations.
The larger the land unit, the larger amount
of capital required, and under proper con-
ditions, the net income will be larger per
acre.
"The banker, in return, viii receive his
loan with the interest and in many cases a
largely increased line of deposits. There
are many other ways In which the banker
and the farmer may cooperate.
'The health, happiness and successful
financial operation of the rural COM
munities depend entirely upon the amount
of knowledge that is available for the
solution of the problems that arise from
day to day, So that the banker can aid
immensely in the development of ef-
ficent school systems, that will bring
health, happiness and wealth to the farm
dwellers, by financing school building
operations, by offering scholarships for
farm boys and farm girls IN our State
college, prizes for Boys and Girls Club
work. and in many other ways.
'The Delaware banks hold an enviable
record as to their stability. A closer CO.
operation with the farmer and assistance
rendered in the development of the farm
family will strengthen our banks yet more,
and add lame TO the state
PANKs AND THE FARMER.
G. A. McCue. dean and director of the
Agricultural Experiment Station, Della
ware College, spoke of the help that banks
could and should give+to farmers so that
the farmers NAV not be handicapped Tor
lack of funds when they wish to increase
their activities He said:
Agriculture is recognized as the basic
industry of the earth. Unless the soil
produces bouutifully and adequately for
the food needs of the world all other IN
dustries must ultimately fail. Unless
those engaged in producing food crops
from the earth receive an adequate return
for their labor our so-called civilization Is
in danger Of decadence.
"The prosperity of our country rests
solidly upon the foundation of agricul-
ture. Transportation facilities have so
increased during the last 80 years that no
nation can longer live unto itself. We
draw our food products from the far ends
of the earth and we are dependent upon
many countries for our daily menu.
Bread. meat, butter, milk, corn and
potatoes we can produce at home. Yet
during the late war we came to realize
that for even these things we were, IN 8
measure dependent uDon a supply OF
potash from the old world.
Even here In Delaware today we car
see in our cornfelds the results OF four oil
FIVE years of potash starvation. We thus
see that if this nation and State is to sur
vive, progress and prosper. we must moi
neglect our agricultural interests.
3EThe banks and bankers of this country
can and are playing a most important
part in the onward march of agriculture
In many places throughout the country
we can trace to the local bank the change
from a wasteful and destructive type o!
farming to a type that not only conserve.
the natural resources of the soil, but make:
for real progress and contentment.
.fBv a sympathetic and intelligent
handling of credit the local banker can dC
much to make the farm communities con
tiguous to his bank better place to liv'
and prosper. As the community prosper
90 will its banking institutions prosper.
''The modern country bank, If It is Il
fulfill its greatest duty and reach 1T
greatest profitable development, must re
gard itself as an institution of service ant
It's officers must realize that only through
service can they hope to build up pro
pressiye and remunerative Institution
The country banker should be the God
father to the farmers of his community
1t is not enough that he understand bank
ing, he must be Judge of human natur
and be literally endowed with human
sympathy.
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM AT DELAWARE
Dean McCue then spoke of the, agricul
.tural program started by the Delawar
State Bankers Association last year. Si
Recommendations of the bankers agricul
tural committee concerned Delawar
College. They were:
First, that the association encourage i
Delaware boys and girls agriculture
clubs, and advise its members to loa
money on interest-bearing notes to re
liable club boys and girls.
Second, that the association reques
each member bank to contribute 81
toward free scholarship in the club wee
course, arranged by the college.
Third, that the association co-operat