The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-07-29

oeiore LocKhart orange. Caldwell
county, Texas,
Worthy Master, Brothers and
Sisters: Education is one of the
paramount objects of our Order. No
subject is more closely connected
with the welfare of agriculture
than education. The earth is the
great repository of Gods blessings
to man, and its rich and bountiful
products can not be fully under.
stood and developed without the
aid of education and we'll direc ted
labor. The great problem to be
solved is how to produce crops at
profit and at the same time not
only maintain but increase the fer
tility of the soil. One should have
sQale knowledge of chimistry to
ascertain the properties of seeds
and to analyze the soil to ascer
tain what kinds of crops are best
adapted to it. Without this knowl-
edge, a man might sow wheat
for instance on land that has no
lime in its composition and raise an
inferior crop, because wheat re-
quires large portion of lime in the
soil to produce a profitable crop.
Thus he would be enabled, without
the delay that is unavoidable in ex-
perimenting to ascertain these facts;
and he should be well acquainted
with business pursuits and be able
to keep his own books, to know to
cent his profit and loss and all other
matters pertaining to the farm,
The farmer is brought into business
relations with almost every other
profession and to be successful he
must have aCCuIaIc knowledge
of business and the laws of trade,
and there can not be found so
much practical knowledge on the
subject of agriculture and the gen.
eral business system in farming as
| in our Grange, and our Grange lit
terature for the same amount of
money. So our Grange papers be-
come almost indispensable in &C
curing a correct knowledge of the
grand purposes of our Order. And
when the necessity of giving the
Grange press a stronger support is
properly understood by Patrons it
will engender more respect and
power for our Grange press and it
will enable us to better cooperate
with each member in their joint in
terests, which is now seen to be so
necessary to secure protection to
| the farmers against monopolies,
RINGS and the combinations of other
classes, and it will enable us to
reap the blessings that more per-
| feet union would guarantee to us.
| Patrons, the farmers of this coun-
trv never before stood so much in
need of information in business and
political economy. They are virtu-
allv interested for they bear the
principal part of the burdens. Yet
for the want of knowledge and that
concert of action, which knowledge
makes practical, they are at such
disadvantage in business co-opera-
tion that other classes, inferior III
numbers, rule and Cypress them
with merciless severity. Of course
under such circumstances, the poor
farmer can make no progress. The
press of the country-political, lit
erary, scientific, religious and agri
cultnral-are under the control o.
the town and city classes, and it Il
onlv here and there that Grange
journal makes an honest effort tt
advocate the true interests of thu
farmers-and these few Grangt
napers generally get but scan
support-to inform and present tt
them in their true light the grea
questions of the day that shoult
, have their earnest and intelligen
consideration. Other classes are ma
,, king rapid, wonderful progress IL
knowledge, wealth and power by
organizing and combining their ct
forts. and their demands for infor
nation upon all matters pertaining
TO their interests is promptly sup
nlied by their press,-pollticai, IN
dustral. professional, religious, lit
erary and scientific. But the farm
ers are without this help. He cal
find in none of these public journal
;, tbe information of the principle
and workings of co-oPerat'o11
! which he SO much needs. Ano
E as previously stated the few :. ora an :;
: papers that are devoted 70 tnel
: Cause are so illiberally Patrenize'
= that they reach but small numDe
comparatively. IF farmers desir
to keep up with this Progresslv
!, ACE az they must rally to the Grang
: and support their own press; Unit,
: thew do this they can never keep u
: wi, with the spirit of the times an
maintain their rights. s patTo m
think of the facts Sc. forth that IN
j newspapers of this country are no no
: run in the interest Of the farmers
= that these papers only treat OF sub
: iects that enlighten other classe
e who get their living of OF the iap'