The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-09-25
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THE CHANGERS.

Once q month many of the neighbor-
ing farmers may be seen quietly moving
about our streets and filing into the
front entrance of the Odd Fellows Hall
in ones and twos. On these periodic
occasions the Patrons of Husbandry
who have society here, better known
as a Grange, assemble to transact the
routine duty Of the association, and
attend to whatever work that may be
suggested, likely to benefit the farming
interest and the association individually
and collectively. Many persons are
opposed to the form rather than the
object of the Granger associations; the
form of their organization requiring
secrecy. The three most weighty reas-
ons for secrecy in this peculiar agricul-
tural organization, are, (D it admits
none to membership, except persons
who are engaged in practical agricul-
ture; (2) it proposes to buy of first
hands and sell without the employment
of middlemen. Buying and selling in
large quantities, and dealing on cash
basis, goods can be obtained at the
lowest prices, and the minimum of ex-
pense incurred in the sale of produce.
(3) A secret organization is more easily
controlled, more cheaply and speedily
effected, and is more tenacious than any
other. The society is protected, where
none but members are admitted to its
meeting, from the friction with the
public, which, like the current of a
great stream, disintegrates and bears
all that it touches along its broad
source. The advantage which secret
society has over an open one, is not
unlike the advantage a raft or boat
builder has in working in still cove
in place of out in the current of the
stream. A great deal of mischief has
been done in secret societies, but they
possess the peculiar advantages above
cited, and the evil which they have
been the convenient means of organic
ing has had its roots in the hearts of
bad and ambitious men, rather than in
the organizations where it has been
carefully nursed before it has been
launched upon the world.
But farmers have no object to con-
coct mischief They are. not ambitious
to overturn empires and produce dis
turbance in the world. They have no
new doctrines to establish in govern
ment, philosophy or religion, and are
not a dangerous class, like men with
idle hands and mischievous brains, and
are not likely to convert these organi-
cations, whether secret or open, into
engines of abuse The simple, cheap
and easy mode of organization is mainly
their reason for choosing the secret
mode used by the Changers.
They have derived sufficient solid
profit from this mode of organization,
wherever oranges have been establish
ed, to largely repay them for the
trouble, in the merely primary attempts
which we have enumerated, while their
organization is capable of producing
infinitely greater advantages in time,
not far distant, if intelligently con-
Quoted. How to make what is within
immediate reach of the farmer pay
best, has been solved to the satisfaction
of every farmer who has tried it; but
how shall the farmers of any section of
country expend their labor so as to
produce the greatest profit, is problem
which should occupy the most thought
and investigation of these organiza-
tions. That there is ga power" of
labor lost on the farm in this county,
none who are engaged in the noblest
and most independent business in the
world, ever deny. The routine farming
of blowing and reaping which has been
in vogue since the county was organ
lied, is source of encouragement to
tie majority of those who still pursue
it for want of better system, which
they do not feel able to inaugurate
without encouragement, and the expert
ence of their brother farmers. Grain
raising is very uncertain in the product,
while the price is never remunerative,
never can be while the products of the
virgin soils of the West meet them in
competition in the Atlantic markets.
Stock raising and feeding, on the other
hand, is attended with less hard labor,
far greater profit, and a constantly
advancing market. Lambs, calves,
sheep, wool, horses, cattle and dairy
produce command high prices and a
steady market which is never depressed
by an overstock
To organize this business and devise
means of Transforming the old unprofit-
able, and exhausting system Of farming
in vogue, into a new and vastly more
remunerative plan, is a field which
invites the most advanced and public
spirited men among the farming classes.
A great work lays before the Changers,
inviting their noblest efforts. A work
which can hardly be estimated in its
benefits to the farmers of our county.
Improved stock and stock raising, and
the proper care requisite to insure sue
cess, is noble work inviting the COOP
Grafton Of the oranges, and the sooner
they set about it the better. The pro-
ducts of country or division of coun-
try which will pay the best, is naturally
one of the most important subjects for
the investigation of the farmer.
TWO CELEBRATED WHEAT GROWERS.