The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-11-27
Number go.
TO THE CON&
TION AND DIGEST.
The constitutional amend


The constitutional amena
submitted by the National Grar#
at its last session. has not been RI
fed by a sufficient number of Stats
Grange to give it effect, and the
Constitution remains unchanged. j
Radical changes in our organic law.
do not seem to be demanded: bus
there is a very general desire thaY
girls at fourteen wears of age b.
admitted to membership, and | caf
see no good reason why this reN~s
quest should not be granted.
l deem it also of great importance
to the welfare of the Order that the
members of the State Oranges be
in possession of the full published
proceedings of the National Grange
at the first meeting of their State
Grange thereafter. The National
Grange meets in November, and
most of the State Oranges in De
cember following, before the pro-
ceedings have been published and
distributed. The State Oranges are
therefore unable to profit by the
work of the National Grange when
most needed, or act upon the
recommendation while the caus
es for action exists; and the
whole is passed over, and much
of the value of the proceedings is
lost to the Order. 1t is of the high
est importance that the proceedings
of this body be published and dis
tributed at the earliest possible mo-
ment after the final adjournment.
All amendments and additions
that have been made to the Digest
oc the Laws and Rules of the Ma
tional Grange, or that may be made
at this session, should be carefully
compiled, and printed in form suit
able for an appendix to that volume,
and sent to the SubordinateGranges.
Harmony among Oranges, uniform
ity of work and obedience to Jaw
cannot be expected unless the laws
are understood.
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT,
AND GOVERNMENTAL AID TO
AGRICULTURE.
Admitting the correctness OF the
axiom that ''the earth is the source
of all wealth and labor develops ii"
every rejecting mind must be i'm
pressed with the fact that the wealth
and prosperity Of a nation depend
largely upon the condition and pros
perity of its agriculture. Hence a
wise craftsmanship would seem to
require that agriculture should be
fostered and protected by Govern
mental aid This principle in political
economy has been acknowledge
and is practiced by most of the ma
tions Of Europe, and the advantage
which accure from this police
government are everywhere admit
ted to be of inestimable value,
some instances saving the very lite
of the nation itself. But there, as
general rule, the moneyed powsA
own the soil, control the labor,
constitute the Government; u
fore it is not so difficult to
legislation for the protectIc
advancement of agriculture,
this country where the soil is ON
BY the farmers who perform thS
Dor and content themselves with be
ing an inert factor of the govern
ment.
If departments of agriculture}
perimental stations, agricultuH
leges, academies and schools,
of agricultural chemistry,
physiology and technology4
dairy and experimental a.
necessary there to preserve ano
crease the fertility and product1
ness of the soil, they are just as
portant and would be quite as VI
able here. Educated and skille8
Dor, and the application of Sc
are quite as necessary to secure
cess in agriculture as in manuf
lures and the mechanic arts.
is good craftsmanship and wise
economy to maintain such institu-
tons there at public expense, does
j not wisdom and the best interests of
our Government demand them here,
where the whole people constitute
the Government, and its success and
perpetuity depend upor, their intelli-
gence, prosperity and contentment?
The establishment of the Agfi-
cultural Department was step in
the right direction; and the efforts
of the present Commissioner to re-
move it from the influence of poll
tics and make it serve the interests
] of agriculture, must meet the hearty
approval Of all good citizens, espe-
cially those engaged in the cultiva-
! Concluded on fourth page.I