The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-08-25
SOUTHERN DAIRYMEN PROSPER;
COTTON GROWERS ASK LOANS
Merchants in Town Surrounding Milk
Producing Districts Report Business
to be Exceptional y Good.

A comparison of the financial condi-
ton of dairy farmers and dairy COM
munities with cotton farmers and cot
ton communities in Mississippi brings
out the fact that while 80 or 90 per
cent of the cotton farmers owe banks
money and are asking for extensions
on their notes, there are few instances
of notes held against dairy farmers.
The merchants in towns surrounded by
the best dairy communities report
their business throughout last fall and
winter as remarkably good.
This statement is made on the au-
thority of the extension dairy hus-
bandman, who for Eearly 10 years has
engaged in the movement carried on
by the United States Department of
Agriculture and the State AGrlcul-
tural College of Mississippi to build
up dairying in that State and furnish
the farmers with g source of income
after the boil weevil had reduced the
production of the South's great staple.
To farmers of this section, these
facts should lend encouragement to
break away from the one-crop system,
the specialist says; to the bankers and
business men they should be convinc-
ing proof that greater farm prosper
ity, attained by more permanent and
constructive type of farming, benefits
the entire community. The growth of
the dairy industry throughout the
South is limited III a very large de-
gree by the willingness and ability of
bankers and other moreyed interests
to france the cotton farmer Of the
past in buying cows and ilaking the
necessary changes in order to branch
out in a new line.
The experience of the business peo-
ple in a western Pennsylvania town,
which became interested in promoting
dairying and improved agriculture
generally, should be Illuminating to
many of the southern bankers who
have not been converted to diversified
farming. In 1915, a creamery was or
ganized in this Pennsylvania town.
and one of the two banks in the place
became very active in promoting dai-
rying and financing the industry. 1t
took the initiative in bringing in cows
to sell to the farmers at cost, and in
convenienced itself in many ways TO
accommodate the farmer.
In five years there was built up a
large membership in various dairying
associations; 43 members in the cow
testing associations, 96 in bull asso-
Citations, 1877 in breeders, and 69s in
creamery patrons associations. A
Young Farmers Club had roll OF 49,
and there were rs members of the
Bows and Girls Dairy Club. Thirty
farmers became members of the
chamber of commerce, thus making
the farmers feel that town and coun-
try were inseparably bound together
in one big community. The dairy
herds, after five years, had 1,1OO pure
bred cows, 292 purcbrcd bulls, 1850
purebred heifers, 4,513 tuberculln-
tested cattle, and 176 accredited herds
During the year ended June 3o'
1920, the creamery paid out s41O,125.-
Is to its patrons. The bank which had
promoted the agricultural develop
ment made a gain in deposits OF ss6S'
s47.12; while the older bank, which
also gained because Of the greater
general prosperity in the town, show
ed a gain of s542,3s3.01. About ST.
100000 in these two banks was de-
posted by farmers, an increase OF ST.
100000 in farmers deposits in five