Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-15
kennebec Pomona Grange.

kenenbec Pomona Grange was held, @ S
announced, with Silver Lake Grange
China, Wednesday, Feb. Sth. The day
was d fine one, and the travelling ex-
cellent, and at the appointed hour a
company of interested members num-
bering lis were present and ready for
business.
1t soon developed, however, that
there was a dearth of officers, Worthy
Master Collins and his wife being the
only ones present; and to delay awhile
seemed to be advisable, as the pres
ence of the secretary is of the greatest
Importance. In this connection the
writer would take occasion to urge
upon the attention of the officers, the
Importance of their presence, one and
all, at every meeting. The position
occupied by kennebec Pomona, IN
grange work, is a responsible one and
upon its officers depends to a large de-
gree is usefulness; and when they ac-
cept the position they should do so
with a full realization of the RESPONSE
bilities it carries with it, and be ready
to meet them.
This matter is mentioned here for
the reason that the fact has become
widely known and commented upoh'
that the officers of Kennebec Pomona
with the exception of the master tWho
is on his third year and has not mlsseu
a meeting since first elected) are olteii
conspicuous by their absence. MS
detracts to Il large extent from the use
fulness of the meeting, as the tlllle IAN
en- up in arranging to supply this ue-
ficiency, and the incompletenesS OF tie
work which it necessitates, Is so lliuch
taken out and lost, to the iocalty
where the meeting is held, and tends
to belittle the Importance and lnfiu-
ence of the Pomona Grange. Hence 1t
is sincerely hoped that the example set
by their chief officer will be emulated
in the future by all other officers of
Kennebec Pomona.
Owing to difficulties mentioned
above, it was 11.40 A. NJ. when the
sound of the gaVel of the worthy mas
ter was heard and the opening eXer-
cises commenced. After the opening
exercises and routine work were COM
plete1 a class of 70 were instructed IN
the 9Th degree in the shortest manner
possible. During the progress OF this
work the setward-elect and wife VINO
was Flora-elect. appeared in the hall.
and were after it's completion, duly in
stalled by Worthy Past Master I. A.
Benson, thus making four officers pres
ent. A recess of one hour was now
taken for dinner.
At 1.45 the gavel again fell and upon
motion it was voted to hold an open
session while engaged with the pro-
gram. A series of interesting literary
exercises consisting of songs, feclla-
tions, declarations, ETC., which were
all pieasingly rendered We're presented
as a part of the program by Sister }.
C. Wilson of Albion, lecturer pro TEN;
after which the question, "What is the
most profitable crop for the farmer
IN raise" was announced, and a dis
cussion of the same was opened by
Brother Chas. Dutton of Silver Lake
Grange. Brother Dutton took the
position that no one could say Whit
would be the best crop for ms neiSh-
hor and fellow farmer wherever locat-
ed. as the question of adaptapilltS
PLAYED such an important part poth DIS
regards the land and the farmer him
self. Brother f. w. Metca1 also vi
silver Lake Grange, who makes some
thing of q speciality of onions anu
strawberries, agreed with the nrst
sneaker and claimed that MS OWL
course was all right as far as ne was
| concerned. and closed with the remark
that the crop which would bring the
| most money with the least work was
! tba hest for anybody. o. a. Abbott OF
| Nassalboro Grange, a well KNOW II
f,rmer and breeder of thoroughbred
! sheen favored a diversity of crops but
would make corn leading crop
his practice both yellow ana s"ee.
; corn are produced, the former soio
mostly for seed, the latter sold 10 .he
canning factory; the slower OF poth oe-
ing fed to stock.
T. f. Smith of Winslow Grange
agreed fully with the first speaker am
illustrated the point by citing the cd9'
Of an acquaintance who tried various
occunations and failed to make a ilNlils
at either and finally decided to u!
farming. Having only six acres U
land and that being an alder swamp IN
outlook seemed to be somewhat dls
| COuraging. success however
his efforts. and $50 bushels OF onions
were produced from an acre OF iaiiu
which besides the cash received for IN
onions. secured to him premium o
: $3.50. for the best acre of onions. Bro
; smith here expressed his doubts as I
Brother Abbott being able to grow cor
upon such land, as to grow an amour
to the acre on any land, that would Il
any way compare with the onions.
This induced a reply from Brothe
Abbott and some humorous sparrln
was INDUCED in by the two much TO Tn
amusement of the audience. An
Brother Otis Meader believed no on
crop could be set down as the best Gro
To the exclusion of all others, but 4 Jul
dicious rotation of crops should be Sc
lected. and the land so worked, that al
ter growing each. the fertility OF IN
soil would be increased instead of oil
unfinished a matter which should o
foremost in the minds of every farme
He believed it possible to do TINS, o
1.-The continuous cultivation of the gras
crop only. The question proved TO o
n very interesting one, and the discus
sion was continued by Brothers Gar