CHAPTER X. 

 THE ORDER OF PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 



WHAT IS A GRANGE f 



Webster says that the French word grange signifies a 

 farm; grangier, a farmer; the Spanish word grangear, is 

 to cultivate, and grangero a farmer. In Scotland, the build 

 ings belonging to a grain-farm are called a grange ; since, 

 originally, the place where the rents and tithes due to the 

 priesthood, and payable in grain, were deposited, was the 

 grange, from the Latin word granum, grain. Shakespeare 

 and Milton both use the word grange as meaning a farm 

 house, with the buildings and stables attached. 



In England, &quot; grange&quot; is generally used to signify an old 

 farm or manor house, surrounded by ancient trees, and 

 sometimes by a moat or ditch. During the civil wars 

 which devastated England up to two centuries ago, these 

 manor houses and farm strongholds were made the scenes 

 of bitter strife between tbe contending factions, and were 

 often stubbornly defended. Hence, the term may be liber 

 ally construed as &quot; stronghold &quot; happily expressive of the 

 sense in which the Patrons of Husbandry use it. 



The wealth of the farmer consists in his lands, buildings, 

 stock, implements, and grain. Upon his cattle and grain 

 are dependent, not only himself and his family, but also the 

 entire community. In time of civil war, or other great na- 



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