174 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 





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'U v. 



■S:-. 



Not only have such 

 loans proved to be 

 "gilt-edged" from the 

 financier's standpoint, 

 but they have been a 

 direct source of in- 

 creased revenue and 

 business for the bank. 

 A Texas banker re- 

 cently bought 326 pigs 

 for club members in 

 his county and was 

 able to trace $75,000 

 direct increase in his 

 deposits as a result of 

 the cordial relations 

 established with the 

 successful club mem- 

 bers , and their fam- 

 ilies. 



In 



financing 



astride: two hundred pounds of seven-months'-oud pig 



One of the by-products of the boys' and girls' club movement 

 throughout the United States is the instilling of a love of animals, 

 which will result in young people taking a greater interest in farm 

 life. 



BANKERS FINANCE PIG-CEUB BOYS 



One of the most interesting develop- 

 ments of the pig-club movement has been 

 the establishment of cordial business re- 

 lations between bankers and boys who 

 want to raise pigs. There are bankers 

 in practically every State who are glad to 

 supply club members with the necessary 

 funds for their start as pork-producers. 

 The State of Arkansas furnishes a typical 

 example. Last year the bankers of that 

 Commonwealth financed 2,400 boys and 

 girls out of the total pig-club member- 

 ship of 2,700. 



clubs the bankers co- 

 operate with the joint 

 representative of the 

 State agricultural col- 

 lege and the U. S. De- 

 partment of Agricul- 

 ture, known as the 

 State extension lead- 

 er, who designates a 

 pig-club agent to or- 

 ganize a county club. 

 All of the efforts of 

 the members a r e, 

 therefore, under the 

 supervision of a 

 trained leader and 

 practical teacher. 



Two methods of fin- 

 ancing have proved 

 popular. The usual practice is to lend a 

 club member the sum necessary for the 

 purchase of his pig, the only security 

 given the bank being the member's prom- 

 issory note, bearing a nominal rate of in- 

 terest. The note is paid when the pig is 

 sold or, in case of a sow-and-litter proj- 

 ect, when the weaned pigs are marketed. 

 The second method is known as the 

 "endless - chain contract." Under this 

 plan the bank distributes a number of 

 weanling gilts among the club members, 

 with the understanding that these mem- 

 bers return to the bank two weanling gilts 



