Show I II I 0 Y Nirl b II lit h s' s n d. d N All I h AID FOR PIG CLUB MEMBERS Increased Membership Will Be Great Grea Help In Increasing Production f of Ne Needed Pork Prepared by the United United States Department Depart Depart- Department ment of Agriculture One of the most potent ways of i Increasing In creasing the number of ho hogs s is by encouraging en- en encouraging en ea more boys and girls to join joh pig clubs In the past these clubs club have been markedly successful They have been the means menns of of Introducing purebred hogs Into many communities ties and raising the standard of hogas hogs hog as well as improving the fhe conditions condition under which they are kept kept- kept and and the c care re given them The Tire number of pig clubs in the Northern states on June Jun 30 1917 i totaled 1037 in the South the number of community clubs is between be be- tween 2000 and 2500 and in almost almos every club are found members of pig clubs Although the number Is large it is possible to increase it greatly by forming more more clubs In hi counties where there are agents to direct properly the efforts of the young oung people In order to stimulate these activities the department during the past year has added to its force several pig club specialists and a number of the agricultural agricultural agricultural agri agri- cultural colleges have done likewise In this tills work worl It is of first importance that proper instructions be given to the members In regard to all phases phase's of swine husbandry so that clubs will be he successful in bringing to market a large percentage of the pigs under their care Clubs should not be organized organized or or- unless there Is ample assurance assur assur- assurance ance lince that sufficient feed will be available available available avail avail- able to bring the pigs to maturity Swine breeders' breeders associations have been active for a number of years In assisting pig club members to secure purebred hogs at reduced prices This has made it possible for members member's to obtain good good stock with which tolay the foundation for a n herd of purebred swine The result has lIas been the introduction introduction introduction intro intro- into many communities of desirable desirable de de- breeding stock and the stimulation stimulation lation of more widespread interest in good quality hogs Swine breeders' breeders associations doubtless will be willing willingto to continue In the future the assistance I given to club members in the past Bankers in many states have realIzed realized realized real real- the value of pig clubs as a means of materially improving rural conditions conditions condi condi- and at the sanie time Increasing t. t r A Aa Ac c a Enthusiastic Pig Club Member With His Prize Pig the production of meat and teaching the members good business methods Not a few bankers l have e a made it possible pos sible sable for worthy club members to secure secure secure se se- cure pigs on their personal notes In InthIs Inthis Inthis this way a well-bred well pig Is obtained through the efforts of a county agent or pig club leader or specialist and anda a banker The member is given the opportunity to pay for it from the proceeds proceeds proceeds pro pro- of the pig as a meat animal or from the sale sale- of offspring In case of a breeding animal Often the member enters Into a business agreement with the parents' parents consent with the banker bank bank- er and thus secures a pig when otherwIse otherwise oth oth- It would have been impossible for the child to have haye j Joined the club In other Instances the bankers have bought bred gilts to be bred an and t given them to club members with the understanding that two pigs were to be returned for the original gilt loaned These pigs in turn are lent to other children This plan is the so-called so endless chain haIn contract contract Either plan I I nas has resulted In Increasing Interest in pig clubs with its accompanying expansIon expansion ex ex- In Ia the supply of pork products and the instruction in swine husbandry which Is a part of the club work The Tile banker anker thus helps to lay a f foundation for tor the prosperity which will be lastIng last- last Ing ng The money received from the tiro sale of hogs will be e expended ended In further further further fur fur- ther developing the county Every merchant In the county will profit the banks anks will get more deposits and the farmers will have more money with which further to develop their farts farms |