Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-14
FIELD DAY
Ut Kennebec County Patrons
at Island Park.
Perfect Weather and a Program FuI1
OF Interest to All.
a Day OF Pleasure and Profit to, Large
Gathering.

Gathering.
Everything smiled on the Kennebec
county Patrons of Husbandry, Thurs
DAY morning, and Ceres, the goddess of
harvest, left her haying to grace their
assembly. The Car loads of people from
everywhere began to arrive soon after
nine O'Clock, and by half past ten it was
evident that the meeting was going to
De one of the largest on record. The
lainlllcs who own Kennebec county
came, all sizes and conditions together.
There was the gray bearded patriarch,
and the sproutng youngster, painfully
conscious of his Sunday best. There
was the omnipresent camera-fi end, and
the Kid with the fshpole. Fully 1000
were there and all were happy. Those
who came early amused themselves by
boating, or strolling about the pleasant
little island
At II A. M, Lafayette's Band struck
up the music, and the big crowd in the
pavilion began to quiet down. AS
Worthy Master Collins was absent,
Master Obediah Gardiner of the State
Grange presided, and introduced the
speakers. He was greeted with enthu-
siastic applause as he came upon the
stage.
Brothers, sisters and friends" he
said, Il feel both pleasure and disap-
pontment, this morning. Pleasure
because of our pleasant surroundings
and our goodly gathering, and disap-
pontment because l must diSappoint
you. For l am unable to present to you
the speakers from out of the State who
have been advertised. Over one year
ago l asked Governor Bachelor tC
come to Maine and speak to the Grang-
ers here and he agreed to do so. Some
little time ago he notified me that he
lWould be unable to devote more than
one week to Maine and I planned to
have him at the central meetings of the
State, having this one especially in
| mind. He came to Maine but last night
was obliged to leave on account of most
| urgent business demands. l had en-
gagged Past Master Brigham of Wash
| inGtGn ID. c., to be here in Maine, from
| August 10 to August %. Ten days ago.
he notified me that he would be unable
| to come, because of official duties, but
would send an able speaker in the per-
| son of Professor Hamilton.
Night before last. Professor Hamil-
ton notified me that previous engage
ments would prevent his coming. Con-
sequently, all the forenoon speakers be-
| ing absent, we shall have to spend the
| time in impromptu addresses. l take
the liberty to call upon Brother Edward
| Cook of Vassalboro.'
| Mr. Cook said in part: 81 don't see
the need of so many apologies for the
| lack of out-of- the State speakers when
you can substitute me Oaughter).
have been a farmer all my life. Was
born up in Milo, Me, in very early
times. and they tell the story that a
litter of pigs came the same night. 1t
was very cold, and there being so much
excitement the pigs were neglected and
died After I grew up, my folks were
sorry they didn't save the pigs daugh-
ter and applause.)
| 81 believe in farming with all my
might. that is, I believe with all my
might. I believe in extensive farming.
| We Maine people need waking up.
We don't fully appreciate our Oppor-
tunities. We went to go west and see
| how they do things, out where they
drive the reapers in long procession all
day long at full speed, killing horses to
save grain. For the most part, we are
content to farm pretty much as our
| fathers did, an acre of corn, "a half acre
| of potatoes, little grain and three or
flour COWS. It's time we stopped it.
lThere have been as great improve
ments in agriculture as in other things,
and we ought to take the benefit of
them. We want more extensive inten-
| sive agriculture, | say. Plough up the
| fields and put on fertilizer, and raise so
much hay that your barns won't hold
it. Don't be content with making liV-
ing. Live as we'll as the best, and keep
| a bank account.
you may think this is all humbug,
but / am just getting awake myself,
and I want to wake everybody else
up. It's morning. Get up and set
out apples on your rocky hillside. Set
| out a thousand. and in 10 or Is years
| you'll have an income larger than any
lawyer in the county. l know Il farmer
| i'm western New York who shipped 1000
barrels of apples to Liverpool, last
wear. and got SO to So a barrel. We
can raise better apples here than he
can, and they have a better reputa-
ton, too. | believe in extensive, in
tensive education for our children
Educate them along the line of least
resistance mentally. If they want to
learn Greek, let them learn it; they