every neighborhood in the United States, 
and all held together by the powerful bonds 
of fraternity and self-interest. To establish 
libraries and disseminate such periodicals as 
are suited to rural wants, to listen to essays 
and lectures, and engage in discussions, are 
among Llie first measures proposed. To-day, 
with all the support wc give to speaking 
talent, there is no place on our lecture lists 
for an instructive popular lecturer on any 
branch of agriculture. Very true, there may 
be few such lecturers. T he deluge of oratory, 
which follows every winter solstice, showers 
upon us little manna for the farmer’s mind. 
But the demand will create the supply, and 
with the growth of our Order, and under its 
patronage, entertaining and instructive lec¬ 
tures upon the myriad themes of agriculture, 
will help to relieve the stagnation of country 
life. Whoever can enlist the attention and 
enlighten the understanding of farmers, gar¬ 
deners and housekeepers, will be enabled to 
find place and pay through our wide-spread 
system of Granges. 
In obtaining information of value to the 
tillers of the soil, Patrons of Husbandry will 
enjoy especial advantages. 
The entire membership is a corps of self- 
constituted Agricultural Detectives. Upon 
the appearance of any new seed, fruit, fer¬ 
tilizer, machine, or implement, it will be the 
duty of the Grange nearest at hand to test 
its merits by thorough experiment and ex¬ 
press an opinion by vote in a Grange meet¬ 
ing. This opinion would not be from one 
or two men simply, but from a large and at¬ 
tentive membership. The conclusions of a 
subordinate Grange being made known to 
the State Grange, other trials would be 
made with the most scrupulous care, and 
whenever the National Grange becomes 
satisfied that proper precaution has been ex¬ 
ercised, then the conclusion so carefully 
reached will be forwarded to every Grange 
in the United Suites. Need I urge how 
greatly this will advance the true interests 
of formers, and how completely it will de¬ 
moralize the quacks and humbugs of agri¬ 
culture ? Farmers, as a class, are trouble^ 
to know just when to market their produce, 
and while some hold too long, others sell too 
soon. Aside from the fluctuations of the 
money market, the price of all commodities 
is governed by the law of supply and de¬ 
mand. This law the dealer in form pro¬ 
duce studies with care, and applies with 
success. Patrons of Husbandry propose 
also to study and apply it. By meaus ot 
systematic forms, accurate statistics can be 
obtained as to all growing and harvested 
crops, product of dairies, increase of stock, 
clip of wool, &c., and these statistics being 
compiled will be transmitted in n condensed 
form to every Grange. The matter of 
foreign demand can be investigated by our 
Older whenever its members wish it, just as 
readily as now the produce merchants obtain 
this information months before it is known 
to the farmers. 
The Patrons of Husbandry wiSx to bring 
the producer and consumer into more im¬ 
mediate relations. 
There is no real antagonism between the 
two. The mass of mankind are, or ought to 
he, producers of one sort or another, and all 
are certainly consumers. That society sup¬ 
ports too mauy drones has come to be an 
axiom, and how to get rid of them is no new 
problem. As a step in t hat direction Patrons 
propose that farmers cease to employ so 
many of them. Why should grain or other 
produce pass through so many hands in 
reaching the warehouse, when by Granges 
the farmers can ship it themselves at the 
lowest freight tariffs, and obtain the price 
paid by the warehouseman, saving to them¬ 
selves all the profits of these middle-men? 
Why should warehousemen lie longer en¬ 
couraged to perjure themselves by mixing 
second rate grain with the best, and classing 
that, as third which they really sell as second, 
when by Granges farmers can find a plenty oi 
dealers who will treat them fairly ? Why 
should cotton factors annually take advan¬ 
tage of their own statements of large crops 
or small crops, as best suits their purpose, 
when by Granges planters can know precise¬ 
ly wlmt the yield of cotton is, and can mar¬ 
ket it themselves ? Why should formers and 
planters pay a half dozen men commissions 
on nursery stock, agricultural implements, 
fertilizers, etc., when by Granges they can 
ascertain what are the best of all these, and 
order from first hands ? By these and other 
meaus, and without injury to any class of 
producers, farmers may greatly benefit them¬ 
selves. The losses of the producer in getting 
bis produce to market, are not gains to the 
consumer, but to the drones who nibble at 
the cheese as they pass it along. 
Patrons of Husbandry would retain in the 
country all who ought to stay there. 
We arc reversing the natural order of af¬ 
fairs, and cities and towns are absorbing 
quite too much of the activity and intellect 
of the nation. The plans above alluded to 
for increasing the profits of forming will 
tend to keep more farmers’ sons and daugh¬ 
ters in the country. It is not enough that 
they are warned of the terrible disappoint¬ 
ment usually in store for them in the city. 
arstman 
NOTES FOR HORSEMEN, 
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY, 
appropriate, which is designed not only to 
charm the fancy, but to cultivate and en¬ 
large the mind and purify the heart, having 
at the same time strict adaptation t® rural 
pursuits. Patrons of Husbandry really mean 
business, as will be seen by those who enter 
the Order, but under Us peculiar workings 
and discipline, pleasure is, in a prudent de¬ 
gree, combined with business. Instead of 
aiming to repress the natural and proper de¬ 
sire for social pleasures, we would cultivate 
the amenities of life in a familiar and har¬ 
monious circle. 
Our Order will assist in alluring from the 
city those who ought to be in the country. 
Within the Granges would always be some 
one ready to transport to green fields any 
little wanderer that t he good Samaritans of 
the city would rescue from the career of 
crime which awaits it upon the pavement. 
Operating through the Granges t here could 
he no danger of imposition upon either side. 
Neither need any willing, able-bodied man 
or woman want food in our abundant land. 
There is enough for all, ami at some price or 
other there arc. always chances for work in 
the country awaiting those who are willing 
to seek it. Through opr Order this demand 410 and 432 Ills, respectively; L, Chandler, 
for food upon one hand, and for service upon one eight months, weight 413 lbs.; M. C. 
the other, could be at least partially sup- Burt, one eight months, weight, 420 lbs.; 
plied. It i;> a most encouraging foct that Enos Burt, one nine months, weight 450 
there j» a growing inquiry among young lbs.; D. S. Mekrell, two nine months, 
men for opportunities to serve us appren- weights, respectively, 425 and 507 lbs. 
tiecs to farmers. By a notice through the A. E. McEwen killed the boar that sired 
Granges, and, if desired, every Grange in the the above pigs, which dressed 714 lbs.; also 
Union could receive notice in ten days, bow two sows that weighed,respectively, G27 and 
easily could every such young man find a 038 lbs. E- Burt killed a sow fifteen months 
home aud a competent instructor. old that raised a litter of pigs last fall, which 
Pass we no ’/from this hasty sketch of were taken from her the first of October; 
wluit Patrons of Husbandry are, and what she was killed on the 15th of January, and 
they hope to be; to consider briefly the only dressed 005 lbs. Wm. B. Taggart killed 
objections which have yet been made to three of one litter, fifteen months old, that 
the Order. First is its secrecy. Thisobjcc- weighed, respectively, 614, 606 and 701 lbs. 
lion is usually founded upon prejudice, and There has been a strife in this town the 
is, in that case, unanswerable. People who past season, occasioned by Mr. Claiik’s 
object to things concerning which they making, in 1868,461 lbs. pork from a ten- 
luivc no knowledge, cannot be convinced by months-old pig, and a challenge to any one 
argument. Those who have never entered to Beat it. Mr. McEwen sold about forty 
a secret society cannot know very much pigs of that breed last spring to different 
about them 
ITEMS FOR SWINE-HERDS 
a political organization. Article 12 of the 
Constitution reads as follows:—“Religious 
or political questions will not be tolerated 
as subjects of discussion in the work of the 
Order, and no political or religious tests for 
membership shall be applied.” History is 
witness of the rise and fall of so many secret 
societies, based upon ephemeral questions, 
that we are especially anxious to be dis¬ 
tinguished from all these orders. 
Our Order is founded upon the axiom that 
the products of the soil comprise the basis of 
all wealth, and to increase these products is 
our principal aim. 
Without these products mankind could 
not live, and except for them there could be 
no art, no manufactures, no commerce. Our 
Order is therefore universal in the extent of 
its benefits, and will become well nigh uni¬ 
versal in its membership, for it permits those 
to become candidates who are interested in 
agriculture, both male and female, who have 
attained the respective ages of eighteen and 
sixteen years. The fees are trilling, and al¬ 
though not a health or life insurance com¬ 
pany, every Grange is boumUto assist those 
of its members who may be in sickness or in 
want. 
The Master of the National Grange is 
William Saunders of Washington, D. C., 
whose name will be a sufficient guaranty of 
the merits of the Order among those who 
know him, and who is too well known 
among agriculturists and horticulturists to 
need further mention here. The Constitu¬ 
tion and further information concerning the 
Order can be obtained by addressing him at 
Washington, D. 0., or O. II. Kelley, Secre¬ 
tary of the National Grange, Itasca, Minne¬ 
sota. All letters should enclose stamps to 
pay return postage. 
The Order of Patrons of Husbandry is yet 
in its infancy, and of course it. is impossible 
to prescribe limits to its work, but among 
the proper matters for consideration, which 
have occurred to its founders, may he men¬ 
tioned the following: 
To increase the products of the soil by in- 
I creasing the knowledge of the producer. 
How, why, and wherefore, are questions 
which the tiller of the soil must otlener ask. 
To secure the largest permanent returns for 
our labor, is the direct aim of agriculture, 
and the quality and quantity of these pro¬ 
ducts depend upon fixed laws. To discover 
the principal underlaying each agricultural 
operation, to know why we do precisely this, 
instead of something else, is to obtain a key 
to all mysteries, and to bring to our aid the 
good genius of the field who will guide us 
through all difficulties of varying soil and 
changing seasons. The first step towards 
wisdom is a. desire to know, 'l'he desire for 
ij© 1 knowlego is natural, but we need the incite- 
i l . , meat of competition, the encounter of mind 
with mind to awaken that desire to a living 
purpose. Ignorance aud conceit go hand in 
hand, and to enlighten the one and banish 
the Other, we must bring farmers into sympa- 
‘rSftlS unison and intercourse. In short, 
whatever arguments may be used in support 
of farmers’ clubs, apply with equal force in 
our favor. We propose a formers’ club in 
Valuable information will be 
imparted to the members of this Order, and 
as none but members collect, collate and dis¬ 
seminate this information, it is only fair that 
members should first share its benefits. At 
the same time the general principles and 
laws which may be deduced and elucidated 
within the Order, will from time to time be 
given to the world, in such manner as may 
seem most expedient. 
In short, the Order was made secret sim¬ 
ply and solely “ to promote efficiency, ex¬ 
tension and unity, and to establish among 
its members confidence, harmony and secu¬ 
rity.” All similar organizations, none of 
which were secret, seemed to lack unity and 
force, and it was determined by the founders 
of this Order to test the efficiency of a secret 
society, with ritual, signs and passwords. 
The efficiency of other secret societies is 
well known, at feast to those on the inside, 
and we believe that our success will be com¬ 
mensurate with the magnitude of our work. 
We cordially invite those opposed to secret 
societies to unite with us, and if they are 
not pleased with what they see, they can 
withdraw with honor, by paying all dues 
to tbe date of withdrawal. 
The second objection urged is the admis¬ 
sion of ladies into a secret society. Wc 
are confident that this regulation carries 
with it its own vindication. Founded upon 
the requirements of country life, this order 
would utterly fail of its mission without the 
co-operation of woman. 
That our Order is destined to a rapid and 
permanent growth, and to an influence us 
ample as it will be useful, its Patrons enter¬ 
tain no doubt. The experience of the Order 
furnishes cumulative evidence of this, but in 
the nature of things these results are inevit¬ 
able, for its foundation is abiding and its 
objects will always interest mankind. 
The times are auspicious for the introduc¬ 
tion of this Order. “ Grim visaged war has 
smoothed his wrinkled front." The Patrons 
of Husbandry know no North, no South, no 
East, no West, and we tolerate, no discussions 
of political questions. Our simple and sole 
aim is to increase the profits of agriculture 
