The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-12-10
From the Vermont Earnc
Patrons of IIusbandry.

From the Vermont Farmer.
Patrons of IIusbandry.
Many people are inquiring these days
what benefit it would be to them to be-
long to the above mentioned Order, And
perhaps it would not really be any bene-
ct 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 a greater or less ben
eft 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 together occasion
ally and interchange views in relation to
their business matters, and have a good
social visit. Also the members can, if
they chose to do so, make the greatest
proportion of their purchases for them
selves directly of manufacturers and job
bers, and thus save the profits Of all mid
dle.men, which would amount to at least
twenty-five per cent. That would give
them the same amount of goods for sew
enty.fve cents that they now pay one
dollar for. And it can be done on a
mere nominal capital, and with very lit
tie expense. In tho first place the State
Grange should make arrangements with
manufacturers and iobbers-as l under
stand they intend to do-so that each
subordinate Grange can send in their or
ders 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 Que hundred
dollars which may be raised by IA loan or
by contribution OF the members a Grange
Of % families might buy almost all that
they are Obliged to buy, systcmat zing
the business. For instance we will first
buy bill of groceries. Each member
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,
q small percentage being added to the
cost to pay freight and expense Of doing
the business. Then the same 500 can
be used to buy another 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 :he same way
Every farmer can tell at this 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 9
station in each county, for the severa
Oranges in the county, or to the State
Grange to be distributed from that, thus
saving the expense Of travelling agents t.
take orders for them, and the merchants
commission. And when people can SAVE
from $40 to s25 on horse rakes anC
moving machines it is an item wortl
looking after
To do this it would be necessary t.
have place Of deposit for the goods
which can be had in almost every village
and Il competent person for an agent
But it would not be necessary Tor an az
ent to employ his whole time for so small
business. One day in week at mos
would be sufficient.
Some people might object to this wa
Of doing business for the reason that
would be injurlng the merchants. We'll
ifany people are so conscious or tende
hearted as to wish to pay tribute to tn
merchants to their own detrment whe
they can do better, let such keep out 0
the "ring." AS far as my knowledg
extends | do not believe that the mer
chants need the charity of the farmers a
much as the farmers need to say tina
" charity begins at home" While tn
merchants are making from three to fv
thousand dollars year out of the farm
ers, who with an equal amount Of capita
invested, can hardly bring the yea
round" believe it is not only thei
privilege but their duty to look out 70
themselves. However, do not wish t
dictate to any one what to do, l merel
wish to tell them what they can do
they choose. Besides buying, they ca
sell in similar way. They can just a
we'll send their butter, eggs, and the lk.
to market themselves, and realize the flu
market price excepting commission fo
selling, as to pay an agent here a CON
mission for sending it for them.
Some might say that it is not necessar
TO belong to this Order. to do all thes
things. Perhaps not but it would b
necessary to have some organization, an
some system, and some understanding
about it. And when twenty, more {
less, individuals want 20 90 into SON
corporate business, they generally get il
corporated by the State Legislature fc
the purpose; out State Legislatul
could not incorporate individuals all ov'
the United States and Canadas.
l have great confidence 10 the benef
in store for the members of this Order,
they only persevere and do what the
may. But it is something new in tn
section of the country, and people outsiC
Of the Order do not really know what
think Of it, whether to venture in or ket
out, and therefore await results. hol
that no Grange or member of Gran,
will be disheartened or impatient at Il
slow prog ess Of the Order in developil
the full objects and benefits hoped to
realized from it, but wait and see A
ready thousands of farmers at the We
have realized large amounts of mon,
sared in buying farming utensils by mea
Of the Order which can DE done he
when the business is in full running {
der. A PATRON.