494 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



and selling, may enlarge the boundaries of the zone somewhat 

 or at least widen the neutral belt. The farm homes in neutral 

 territory, which are so situated that they may go to more than 

 one trade center, hold a position of decided advantage in de- 

 termining trade policies of merchants in two or more competing 

 small cities. 



The village or city homes and the farm homes in the same 

 trade zone have a common interest in the same trade agents 

 to a certain degree, perhaps particularly the grocer, dry- 

 goods merchant, or clothing merchant. Even in cases where 

 these lines are specialized for farm trade or village trade, it 

 it found that the village homes will be patrons of the 

 " farmers' store," and the farm homes patrons of the "city 

 store." 



Banking Zones. As the trade zone, so a banking zone of 

 farm homes surrounds each village or city having a bank. 

 The size of the banking zone compares favorably with the 

 size of the trade zone, and ignores township, county, and 

 state lines; has a belt of neutral or common territory; and 

 reaches about half way to the adjacent banking centers. The 

 banks are used all but universally by the farmers, and appar- 

 ently the bank acts in the same capacity for the distant farmer 

 as for villager or city dweller living within the same banking 

 zone. 



As in the trade zones, farm homes in the same banking 

 zone use frequently the same roads, are under the operation 

 of the same factors of efficiency and integrity in bank man- 

 agement ; village homes and farm homes in the village bank 

 zone have an identical interest in bank control and policy; 

 farmers in the neutral belt occupy positions of special 

 power. 



Local Newspaper Zones. Apparently a local newspaper is a 

 necessity in a complete civic center. The paper zone conforms 

 closely in shape to the trading and banking zones, and shows 

 that more than half the farm families are subscribers to this 

 agency of local acquaintance and information. Evidently the 

 village editor and his paper serve the same purpose on the land 

 as among the clustered roofs. 



Village Milk Zones. The milk industry is organized in the 



