Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-12-14
To the Editor of the Husbandman:

tA1 $1,000
alive and doing well. The Grange COM
menced last winter to build q hall 50X22 in
the clear, with a twelve foot story, but
spring work on the farm set in, and one
month after another passed away and no
more work was done on the hall until last
week. A few commenced, and now work
is being carried ON in earnest. 1t is hoped
that we can complete it by the holidays, but
we cannot see our way quite clear enough
to announce a dedication ball on New Years
Eve.
Many oranges, during the summer, have
had but few meetings and accomplished but
little, but. as the evenings grow longer, l
hope there will bea re-aWahening and a good
and profitable winters work done. 1t seems
to me thatit is about time that the Changers
of Montana take hold of the business fea-
ture Of the Order, and see what can be done
in that direction. 1t seems to me as though
we could make a great saving in the pur-
chase of farm machinery, as we pay a great
er percentage to agents for agricultural inn
plements than to any other dealers or mer-
chants, and now is the time to make up our
orders so rs to ship early in the spring. 1t
can not be expected that our business agent
will or can travel all over the Territory,
giving the Patrons the price that he can OBJ
tain this or that for, and each individual
Patron does not care to write to him asking
for price list.
| think if there was a Pomona Grange>es-
tablished in each district, it would facilitate
the business feature of the Order and our
agent could visit those oranges while in ses-
sion, and much could be accomplished with
but little loss of time and not much expense,
besides they would be of great advantage to
the subordinate oranges.
Farmers are often heard to complain that
the merchant puts the price on our produce
as well as on his own wares. This is true
to a great extent, but the farmer is to blame.
Farmer A. goes to market with q load of
oats, steps into Mr.. BIS. store and asks if
they want to buy some oats. :" Well, yes;
what are they worth" "Well, | don't
know; what are you paying?:' swell, | can
give you two cents if you trade a part OF it
out.'' The farmer concludes to trade and asks
the price of his coffe, and he tells him thirty
five cents.
In the first place, the farmer don't know
whether he is selling his oats at a loss or
not; he has no idea what his oats have cost
him to raise and market them, while the
merchant knows exactly what his coffe cost
laid down in the store, and the per cent. he
must charge to make a fair profit on his
coffe. Now, it the farmer had kept a COR
rect account with his oat crop, he would
have been as wise as the merchant. and if
would know he was doing a losing business,
and he would try the next year to get his
produce into market cheaper. Let every
Patron keep a correct account with each
crop he raises, charging it with seed, team,
and every days work he does on it until it
is i'll his granary, and then he will know
exactly what his grain cost him, and sell
accordingly. If his neighbor produces his
grain cheaper than he does, he will COM
mence to examine his system of farming,
and w%herein.she tails to raise his grain as
cheaply as be does, it will lead to more econ
omy, closer attention to business, better
farming, and will certainly be a great salts
faction. | have thought if the Territorial
Grange-say its business managers-would
offer a premium for the best kept farm ac-
count, it would stimulate the farmer in keep
ing a farm account. | think to enlighten
him, is to educate him liz his business.
X.
Madison Valley, NJ. T.. Nov. 80, 1876.