Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-29
For the vBRyost FARHER.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

| mhny people are lnqulring these DAYS
what benefit it would be to them to belong
to the above mentioned Order. And per-
haps it would not really be any benefit to
them. That would depend upon what the
Order may do for their benefit. But that
there are various ways by which the Order
might be greater or less benefit to every
member, according to the amount Of their
business transactions, there can be no doubt.
1t might be some benefit to them to meet to-
gether occasionally and interchange views in
relation to their business matters, and have
good social visit. Also the members can,
if they choose to do SO, make the greatest
proportion of their purchases for themselves
directly Of manufacturers and jobbers, and
thus save the profits of all midde-men,
which would amount to at least twenty Eve
per cent. That would give them the same
amount of goods for sesenty-ese cents that
they now pay one dollar for. And it can be
done on a mere nominal capital, and with
very little expense. In the first place the
State Grange should make arrangements
with manufacturers and jObbers-as l un-
derstand they intend to do-so that each
subordinate Grange can send in their orders
at any time for such goods as their members
want, or they can report what they want to
the State Grange, and have them ordered for
them. Thus with a permanent capital or
fund of one hundred dollars which may be
raised by a loan or by contribution of the
Members Grange of 25 families might
buy almost all that they are obliged to buy,
systematizing the business. For instance we
will first buy a bill ofgrocOries. Each mem
Der may make out list OF such articles as
he wants-say supply for three months
and hand to the agent, and he orders the
whole from the grocery house, and upon the
arrival Of the goods, each member takes
what he ordered and pays for them, a small
percentage being added to the cost to pay
freight and expense of doing the business.
Then the same 800 can be used to buy an
other line Of goods in the same way, and
thus keep the money and business revolving
from week to week and from month to month
All farming utensils can be bought in the
same way. Every farmer can tell at thin,
time nearly how many scythes, rakes, forks,
shOvels, hoes, &C., he is going to want next
spring. He can report the same TO the
agent, and have them sent to each Grange, or
to a station in each county, for the several
Oranges. in the county, or to the State
Grange to be distributed from that, thus saw
ing the expense of travelling agents to take
orders for them, and the merchants commits
sion. And when people can save from $40
to s25 on horse rakes and moving machines
it is an item worth looking after.
To do this it would be necessary to have
place of deposit for the goods, which can be
had in almost every village, and compe-
tent person for an agent. But it would not
be necessary for an agent to employ his
whole time for so small business One day
in a week at most would be sufficient.
Some people might object to this way Of
doing business for the reason that il would
be injuring the merchants. Well, if any
people are 50 Conscientious or tender hearted
as to wish to pay tribute to the merchants
to their own detriment when they can do bet
ter, let such keep out of the ''ring.' AS
far as my knowledge extends do not be-
lieve that the merchants nee'l the charity of
the farmers as much as the farmers need to
say that "charity begins at home" While
the merchants are making from three to FIVE
thousand dollars a year out of the farmers,
who with an equal amount of capital invested,
can hardly "bring the year round" believe
it is not only their privilege but their duty to
look out for themselves. However, do not
wish to dictate to any ono what to do,
merely wish TO tell them what they can do
if they choose. Besides buying, they can
sell in similar way. They can just as we'll
send their butter, eggs, and the like, 10 mar.
ket themselves, and realize the full market
price excepting commission for selling as to
pay an agent here commission for sending
ii for them.
Some might say that it is not necessary to
belong to this Order, to do all these things.
Perhaps not but it would be necessary to
have some organization, and some system,
and some understanding about it, And when
twenty, more or less, individuals want to 90